Business History Explorer Supported by the Business Archives Council

Southall Bros & Barclay Ltd

Other Business Names:

  • Southall, Thomas
  • Southall, William
  • Southall, Francis F
  • Southall, T & W & W
  • Barclay, Sir Thomas
  • Southalls (Birmingham) Ltd
  • Sangers
  • Smith & Nephew Ltd

Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:

  • Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, West Midlands, England
  • Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Hereford & Worcester, West Midlands, England
  • Norway

Sectors:

  • Other goods production Healthcare products manufacture inc dressings, hygiene products, sutures, etc
  • Chemical production Pharmaceutical production & research
  • Distribution - retailing Pharmaceutical, cosmetic & toilet goods & medical equipment retailing
  • Distribution - wholesaling, broking, market trading, etc Pharmaceutical, medical equipment, cosmetic & toilet goods distribution

Notes:

Traced origins to Thomas and William Southall in 1820 as a retail pharmacy in Birmingham. Subsequently developed by Alfred Frances (sic) Southall, 1884-1951, into a leading healthcare product wholesaler and pharmaceutical manufacturer. By 1851 known as T & W & W Southall. Sometime had cod liver oil factory in Lofoten Islands. From 1861 [Sir] Thomas Barclay joined as a partner. 1880 developed first disposable sanitary towel. Incorporated 1898 as Southall Bros & Barclay Ltd, a public company, to acquire Southall Brothers & Barclay and T & T & W Southall. 1898 public company when wholesale druggists / chemists; pharmaceutical and analytical chemists; manufacturers of surgical and sanitary dressings; cod liver oil makers in Norway; etc. Developed major factories at Saltley and Bromsgrove. c1930s retail business sold to Sangers when renamed Southalls (Birmingham) Ltd. 1958 acquired by Smith & Nephew Ltd [2023]

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