HARRY BREARLEY

                              PRINTER, STATIONER ETC.

A history of a local printer

                                                



Harry Brearley 1876-1966

The printing career of Harry Brearley, former renowned printer of the Bradford district of West Yorkshire, started at the printing company of G. F. Sewell in the late 19th century. Little did he know then that his name would be carried through two changes of century, two world wars and three generations of family.

George Frederick Sewell and William Augustus Sewell dissolved their business partnership on the 30th June 1884, leaving George to continue in the business of "G. F. Sewell, Typographical Music Printer and Book Publisher".

The company was acquired as a partnership between two employees, being Harry Brearley and Albert Charles Dowson, trading as Printers, Lithographers, Stationers and Paper Merchants, 52 Godwin Street.

Harry had worked in the G. F. Sewell style now for some twenty one years, latterly as manager and cashier. This partnership was dissolved by mutual consent on the 13th June 1909. Albert and his wife continued trading in this style until Ann formerly closed the business in February 1937.

                                              

In 1909 Harry formed a new business partnership with John Longbottom, formerly of Longbottom & Lister, Law Stationers. John William Longbottom and William Lister dissolved their business partnership on the 30th December 1866. The new business of Longbottom & Brearley ran from 80 Sunbridge Road for less than three years and was mutually dissolved on the 8th January 1912.

From 1912 Harry continued with his business as sole proprietor trading throughout the First World War from 58 Sunbridge Road. He later acquired from Arthur Rawson the printing business "Parker Brothers, General Printers".

The company now operated from 9 Barry Street, these premises were used until August 1924, when the businesses located at a new address being 14 Union Street, now the Norfolk Gardens.

Harry's elder son, Frank, now sixteen was duly employed and seized of the opportunity of a grammar school education started in the business as errand boy and apprentice for the next seven years.

The employee base of around thirteen was greatly reduced with the advent of the Second World War, losing skilled men to the war effort and losing Frank for six years, four of those being served overseas in Malta, Cyprus, Palestine, Libya, North Africa and Italy.

Frank returned to Bradford and the business after the war, taking total control from Harry in 1950.

The business continued to move forward and re-located in 1959, away from the city centre this time, to Marshfield Street, Manchester Road. Frank ran the  business with several employees until 1975, when younger son Paul joined the business as apprentice.

After serving his  four year apprenticeship, Paul and father Frank formed a business partnership which continued with extreme success and totally transformed the business, replacing letterpress with "modern" litho printing.

After several attempts, Frank finally retired in 1991, leaving Paul to continue as sole owner and proprietor. (Sadly, Frank passed away on 6th March 2018 age 100 years and 8 months of "old age"). 

Harry Brearley, Printers finally closed its doors and books in January 1996. The end of an era, but the start of a new one as Paul embarked on a new future in print by forming a new company along with another printer.

This company traded for more than eleven years, embracing new technology such as digital print. But, in an ever-changing financial climate and feeling disillusioned with a constantly changing industry, the company was placed in voluntary liquidation in 2007, with all the remaining assets being sold on.

You may (or may not) be wondering about the author of this little story in history ? Well, my name is Paul, happily retired from printing, and I am the full point.

All photographs, images, text, narrative, etc. copyright Paul Brearley, all rights reserved.