Adkins families

Notes for Joseph Henry NETTLEFOLD

1854: His father sent him to run the business of Nettlefold & Chamberlain. Later the Chamberlains left the business and it was re-named Nettlefolds. After Joseph Henry's death, mergers resulted in the company of Guest, Keen & Nettlefold, later known as GKN and then broken up with the rump remaining as Melrose today (2024), the company remains one of the UK's premier manufacturing engineers.

Nettlefold had a factory in Smethwick (Birmingham) in the same area as Henry ADKINS who also had a house there. After Nettlefold's death the company was merged with Guest Keen to create Guest, Keen & Nettlefold. When the area was re- developed (late 19th/early 20thC) new streets were laid out and named after many of the original industrialists of the area including Guest and Keen. Adkins had a street a couple of miles away. [Webmaster]

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