Pattern Shop at Hardy and Padmore 1903.
Wooden Patterns had to be made slightly larger than the required casting to allow for shrinkage. In the GKN pattern shop I had a special ruler to measure everything oversize. All the timber was well seasoned and sealed with internal battens to stop shrinkage.The H&P patterns were sold when the company closed. Max

In 1814 Brothers Robert and John Hardy from Scotland. began the Hardy and Company Foundry, they were joined in 1818 by Richard Padmore, in 1829 he was taken in to partnership to form the business known as Hardy and Padmore.
Robert Hardy retired in 1851 and returned to Scotland.
The company was owned in later times by the Southall family.
In 1967 the firm went into voluntary liquidation and the works closed.

The Southall family.

In admiring lovely old boats it is easy to forget they were created for the passengers enjoyment. In 1910 the Southall family are captured in a light hearted moment off the Lyme Regis coast on a paddle steamer.In reversed cap is Joseph Southall who ran the Hardy and Padmore Worcester Foundry and was a brilliant inventive engineer. He had a string of patents for improvements to oil, gas and hot air engines which were manufactured in large volume for supply all over the world.
On the left is Frank, in his Kings School Blazer, who was wounded in the Royal Artillery in the 1914-18 conflict and became Works Director and the older lad was Tom later Managing Director. My late wife Jocelyn’s Uncle Bill was Sales Director and travelled all over the world selling and installing Engines, and Stone Crushing and Sand Washing plants. Max.

Works director Mr Frank Southall with his wife and daughter Jocelyn, stand on the London Embankment in front of of their cast iron dolphin lamps. Max

Hardy and Padmores Original poster.

The inventive Joseph Southall patended a wide range of industrial oil engines from tiny hot air watchmakers lathe candle powered engine to larger rock and stone crushing machines.

Large type engine, Exhibit at Much Marcle Show.

Hardy and Padmore, Southall gas engine circa 1897.

Small Hardy and Padmore engine, with operator seen at Much Marcle Show.

Hardy and Padmore seat at The Commandery Worcester.

Hardy and Padmore doorstops.

The original patterns were carved by a Victorian Cathedral Stonemason in Worcester.

Boot remover made in cast iron at Worcester.

Hardy and Padmore’s Patent Combination Hot Air and Laundry Stove.
Sad or Sadd Irons.
The old English word Sadd meant heavy or leaden, rather like my Fruit Cakes or Bread.
In Victorian times virtually every household had one or more Sadd Irons which were used for domestic and commercial ironing of the household linen. The irons were heated by placing them on the hot stove or close to the fire until they were very hot. If the iron was spat on and sizzled it was ready for use.While one was being used another one was placed on the stove to heat up.
Thousands of these cast iron pieces of useful equipment were produced by the family business Hardy and Padmore in Worcester and delivered all over the country. For the larger Commercial Laundries they also manufactured large heating stoves as illustrated on page 26 of their 1885 catalogue. Made in a variety of forms, with the iron holders blanked off, they could be used to heat premises quite effectively and are still found in Churches and Chapels.
In recent times Sadd irons have become collectible and are often used as doorstops if the household doesn’t own H&P Punch or Judy proper door furniture. They were made in a huge range of sizes and some were extremely decorative. Collectors from all over the world can be found on web sites by entering Sadd. Max

Ornate Hardy and Padmore Lamp standard.

Hardy and Padmore made very decorative lamps for Eastbourne. All along the seafront their multi coloured globes made a colourful scene.They wouldn’t survive the modern vandal. Max.

Worcester Fireplace in cast iron.

Cast iron tables, with or without marble tops.

Hardy and Padmore handweight.

Black Stove.

The black stove in the kitchen at The Commandery would appear to have been manufactured at The Worcester Foundry. It is illustrated in their 1885 Catalogue.
When I visited the house in the 1970’s with my elderly mother she shuddered at the sight of it. As a young girl living at The Commandery she had to black lead the grate regularly. Max

A Selection of Stoves from Hardy and Padmores Catalogue.