Record Detail

Premises of Nichols and Co. (Sheffield) Ltd., wholesale grocers and tea, coffee and fruit merchants, Shalesmoor (on corner with Shepherd Street), Sheffield, with motor lorries parked outside, [late 1930s]

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Premises of Nichols and Co. (Sheffield) Ltd., wholesale grocers and tea, coffee and fruit merchants, Shalesmoor (on corner with Shepherd Street), Sheffield, with motor lorries parked outside, [late 1930s]
Sheffield_Netherthorpe
1920-1939
Photo Finishers (Sheffield) Ltd, Union Road, Sheff

Nichols and Co., Wholesale Grocers and Tea, Coffee and Fruit Merchants, 231 Gibraltar Street, Sheffield.

The company was founded in 1854 by Charles Nichols (1832 - 1865) and was based at 231 Gibraltar Street, Sheffield. Nichols later took on his wife's younger brother Joseph Goodall (1843 - 1918) as a partner in 1863.

The company's premises at Gibraltar Street suffered damage in the Great Sheffield Flood of March 1864 but the company still had a successful year in business, recording a cash turnover of £7,000. The following year was a more challenging one financially for the company which was also hit by Nichols' premature death in 1865, aged 32. After Charles Nichols' death, his widow Emma Nichols (c. 1836 - 1925) successfully continued the partnership with her brother Joseph Goodall and steered the company out of financial difficulties.

Charles and Emma Nichols' only son John William Nichols (1860 - 1941) joined the company in 1875, aged 15, and remained there for 65 years, eventually becoming chairman.

In May 1877, the style of the company was changed to 'E. Nichols & Co.'. Emma Nichols remarried in 1881 to Mr John Shallcross, a miller.

In 1888, the style of the company was again altered to 'Nichols & Co.' with the partners being Joseph Goodall and John William Nichols. Mrs Emma Shawcross (formerly Nichols) withdrew from the management of the business.

William Nichols (1872 - 1954) joined the firm as an apprentice in January 1888 and eventually, in 1948 (having been associated with the firm for 60 years) became a director and senior representative of the company. At this point in time there were 33 employees on staff. Apprentices like William Nichols lived at Gibraltar Street and were looked after by a matron, Mrs Wallace. They were expected to attend the Ebenezer Methodist Chapel, Shalesmoor, where the firm had its own pew.

In 1897, the turnover of the firm was reported to be approximately £74,000.

On 7th October 1899, the firm renewed its 'Challenge' tea trademark which was previously registered in the names of E. Nichols & Co., and the China & Assam Company on 29th September 1886. The new registration was granted in the names of Joseph Goodall and John William Nichols and the China & Assam Tea Company.

Nichols & Co. opened a new Tea and Coffee Department c. 1896.

In April 1893, one of Joseph Goodall's sons, Edward Holland Goodall, joined the firm and was actively involved in the business until his retirement in May 1949. Edward Holland Goodall became manager at the firm's Langsett Road premises (known as the 'Top Shop').

In 1910, the turnover of the company was reported to be approximately £92,500.

In June 1914, the Sheffield Corporation secured the company's old Gibraltar Street site which they required for street widening. Nichols & Co. relocated their headquarters to a larger, newly built premises at Shalesmoor (on the corner with Shepherd Street) - the site of which they had purchased from the Sheffield Corporation back in 1912.

In November 1917, Charles Nichols (1889 - 1917), eldest son of John William Nichols, who (prior to the First World War) was a buyer for the business, and was in charge of the sale room, died in Sheffield, aged 28, following health complications suffered whilst serving in the First World War as a Second Lieutenant with the Tank Corps, formerly the Heavy Machine Gun Corps. Charles Nichols' younger brother Private Frank Nichols was killed in action the previous year in July 1916, aged 23, whilst serving with the Machine Gun Section of the York and Lancaster Regiment.

In October 1918, Joseph Goodall died, aged 75. Following Goodall's death, Nichols & Co. was formed as a limited company on 24th March 1920, with the first directors being John William Nichols (chairman) and Edward Holland Goodall. John Henry Woodger was secretary, J. C. Clegg was appointed solicitor to the firm and Horace Cawood, auditor. In 1923, William Bradley joined the firm and became directory and chief accountant.

In January 1925, John George Butler (1871 - 1955), who was formerly employed as director and manager of William D. Yeomans & Son Ltd, Wholesale Grocers and Provision Dealers, Broad Street, Sheffield, was invited to become managing director of Nichols & Co. (Sheffield) Ltd by John William Nichols.

Edward Holland Goodall then took over as secretary from John Henry Woodger in March 1925.

In August 1938, Nichols & Co. became associated with the longstanding wholesale provision business of W. T. Johnson & Son Ltd (established 1825) who were based at 37 Bridge Street, Sheffield. In 1946, Nichols & Co. formed another association with the firm R. Bingham & Son Ltd of the Maltings, Masborough Street, Rotherham, which came about through the close personal friendship in former years between the late William George Bingham (died 1924) and John George Butler. Following these associations with the other businesses, the company was latterly known as 'Nichols, Johnson and Bingham Ltd'.

In November 1955, John George Butler died, aged 84, and his son George Butler succeeded him as the firm's chairman.

The firm opened a Chesterfield branch (known as 'Brampton Buildings') in January 1958. They also opened a 'Cash and Carry' warehouse on Shepherd Street, Sheffield, on 11 January 1960 and a Frozen Food Department at the Tabernacle, Sheffield in March 1961.

It appears the company was wound up in the late 1960s / early 1970s.

Original photograph at Sheffield City Archives: X1020/1/9.

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