Three Industrial Giants

Pre 1900s 1900s

Hawker Siddeley was formed in 1935 through a series of mergers and acquisitions during the previous 20 years. Three people born in what we know as todays Greater Manchester area were significant in the formation of what was to become one of the most important aircraft manufacturers of World War 2 and then became one of the largest industrial businesses of the 1960's. The nationalisation and merger in 1977 of Hawker Siddeley with BAC and Scottish Aviation formed British Aerospace, now BAE Systems. This is the story of the emergence of Hawker Siddeley.

Sir Joseph Whitworth
1st Baronet FRS FRSA
21/12/1803 - 22/01/1887
Born John Street, Stockport.

Sir Joseph Whitworth born in Stockport in 1841 devised the British Standard Whitworth system, which importantly for the Industrial Revolution provided an accepted standard for screw threads. Although he died in 1887, his Whitworth Company merged with the W.G. Armstrong & Mitchell Company to become Armstrong Whitworth in 1897 forming a major British Manufacturing company of the early 20th century.
On his passing Whitworth left much of his fortune for the people of Manchester, with the Whitworth Art Gallery, Whitworth Park, Whitworth Street and the University's Whitworth Hall in Manchester named in his honour. Christie Hospital was partly funded by his money. Stockport recognised its famous son with a blue plaque (See Photograph Top Right) mounted on the walls of the Courthouse on John Street.

Sir John Davenport Siddeley
1st Baron Kenilworth CBE
05/08/1866 - 03/11/1953
Born 4 Lister Street, Chorlton on Medlock (now Longsight), Manchester.

Sir John Davenport Siddeley from Longsight, Manchester was an apprentice hosier and attended night school to be a draftsman. In his early 20's he left home and became involved in early 1900's car manufacturing eventually forming the successful Siddeley-Deasy Motor Car Co. Ltd in Coventry.
As the First World War unfolded the company also built aeroengines and aircraft.

Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe OBE, Hon. FRAeS, FIAS
26/04/1877 - 04/01/1958
Born 262 Liverpool Road, Patricroft, Eccles (now Salford Borough).

Eccles born Sir Alliott Verdon Roe founded A.V Roe and Co Ltd and left a legacy of many iconic aircraft carrying his name.
A blue plaque (See Photograph Bottom Right) is found at Brownsfield Mill on Great Ancoats Street in Manchester where Alliott along with his brother Humphrey started the A.V. Roe business.