Frederick Nettlefold
Encyclopedia
Frederick Nettlefold 6 April 1833-1 March 1913 was a British industrialist, one of the Nettlefolds in Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds. He was a leader in the Unitarian Church, ending up as lay president of the international organisation.
He was born in Acton, London
to John Sutton Nettlefold
, who founded the brass fixing company Nettlefold and Chamberlain with Frederick's cousin Joseph Chamberlain
, father of Austen
and Neville
.
After his father retired and cousin left the business to concentrate on politics, Frederick took over the running of the London part of the business as chairman, while his brother Joseph
was sent to Birmingham
to manage their new foundry. Nettlefolds Ltd. was launched as a limited company
in 1880 and the Nettlefold brothers went on to establish a dominant position the British wood-screw market through many mergers and acquisitions
, becoming Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, now GKN
.
In 1878 Frederick and his wife Mary Catherine moved into Streatham Grove (now called Norwood Grove), on its vacation by P&O
magnate Arthur Anderson
. Their residence is now noted by a blue plaque
.
Frederick retired from Nettlefolds in 1893 and helped develop Samuel Courtauld
's silk and crepe company. He also dedicated more effort to philanthropy; for example, he gave land for a library and endowed the Nettlefold Hall at West Norwood
. He devoted much of his energy to the Unitarian Church
, was president of the Sunday School
Association and later the British and Foreign Unitarian Association
, and was one of the main supporters behind the construction of the 1886 Essex Hall, the headquarters building for the denomination. His daughter Edith was better known as Mrs Sydney Martineau
, from 1929 the lay president of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
, the successor to the organisations her father presided over.
Mary died at Norwood Grove in 1906 followed by Frederick in 1913, and they are buried in West Norwood Cemetery
, although their monument is believed to have been destroyed sometime in the 1980s.
He was born in Acton, London
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
to John Sutton Nettlefold
John Sutton Nettlefold
John Sutton Nettlefold was a British industrialist and entrepreneur.-Life:In 1823, Nettlefold opened a hardware store at 54 High Holborn, London. This was followed in 1826 by a workshop to make wood-screws based in Sunbury-on-Thames...
, who founded the brass fixing company Nettlefold and Chamberlain with Frederick's cousin Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
, father of Austen
Austen Chamberlain
Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain, KG was a British statesman, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and half-brother of Neville Chamberlain.- Early life and career :...
and Neville
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
.
After his father retired and cousin left the business to concentrate on politics, Frederick took over the running of the London part of the business as chairman, while his brother Joseph
Joseph Henry Nettlefold
Joseph Henry Nettlefold was a British industrialist, the Nettlefold in Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds....
was sent to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
to manage their new foundry. Nettlefolds Ltd. was launched as a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
in 1880 and the Nettlefold brothers went on to establish a dominant position the British wood-screw market through many mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions refers to the aspect of corporate strategy, corporate finance and management dealing with the buying, selling, dividing and combining of different companies and similar entities that can help an enterprise grow rapidly in its sector or location of origin, or a new field or...
, becoming Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, now GKN
GKN
GKN plc is a multinational automotive and aerospace components company headquartered in Redditch, United Kingdom. The company was formerly known as Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds and can trace its origins back to 1759 and the birth of the Industrial Revolution.GKN is listed on the London Stock...
.
In 1878 Frederick and his wife Mary Catherine moved into Streatham Grove (now called Norwood Grove), on its vacation by P&O
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
magnate Arthur Anderson
Arthur Anderson
Arthur Anderson may refer to:*Arthur Anderson , Scottish businessman and co-founder of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company *Arthur E. Andersen , founder of Chicago-based accounting firm...
. Their residence is now noted by a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
.
Frederick retired from Nettlefolds in 1893 and helped develop Samuel Courtauld
Samuel Courtauld
Samuel Courtauld may refer to:*Samuel Courtauld , American-born British industrialist*Samuel Courtauld , businessman and art collector; great-nephew of the above...
's silk and crepe company. He also dedicated more effort to philanthropy; for example, he gave land for a library and endowed the Nettlefold Hall at West Norwood
West Norwood
West Norwood is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is primarily a residential suburb of south London but with some light industry near Knights Hill in the south....
. He devoted much of his energy to the Unitarian Church
General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is the umbrella organisation for Unitarian, Free Christian and other liberal religious congregations in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1928, with denominational roots going back to the Great Ejection of 1662...
, was president of the Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
Association and later the British and Foreign Unitarian Association
British and Foreign Unitarian Association
The British and Foreign Unitarian Association was the major Unitarian body in Britain from 1825. The BFUA was founded as an amalgamation of three older societies: the Unitarian Book Society for literature , The Unitarian Fund for mission work , and the Unitarian Association for civil rights...
, and was one of the main supporters behind the construction of the 1886 Essex Hall, the headquarters building for the denomination. His daughter Edith was better known as Mrs Sydney Martineau
Sydney Martineau
Sydney Martineau was a British fencer who took part in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, and the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's épée....
, from 1929 the lay president of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is the umbrella organisation for Unitarian, Free Christian and other liberal religious congregations in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1928, with denominational roots going back to the Great Ejection of 1662...
, the successor to the organisations her father presided over.
Mary died at Norwood Grove in 1906 followed by Frederick in 1913, and they are buried in West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
, although their monument is believed to have been destroyed sometime in the 1980s.