Comments on: Watkins Bible Factory

By: Zara Cook

Zara Cook — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:24:07 +0000

In reply to Dave Mann. My Grandmother and Mum lived at No 3 Jardin Street, Irene and Marlene Zari. The Farthings lived next door and the Valantines. And a lady called Vi, who was a barmaid. Her son came back from the Korean War.

By: Susan Edwards

Susan Edwards — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 19:07:39 +0000

My sister Sheila Viney worked at Watkins in the 50’s. I have a copy of a photo of her as a bridesmaid and wondered if it was a friend from Watkins. She would have been about 18 at the time. So likely to be early 50’s. There were 2 older bridesmaids and 4 children in crinoline type dresses. Does anyone have any idea who the bride might be? Thank you.

By: Ian Grindley

Ian Grindley — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 18:19:19 +0000

My uncle Ron Grindley worked as a bookbinder / gilder at Watkins until it was closed. I still have a Watkins bible and he rebuilt our family bible which had fallen apart with detached covers.

By: David English

David English — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 14:06:42 +0000

I have my Great, Great Grandmother’s Watkins bible dated March 16th 1853. Her name was Mary Cook who lived at 11, Salisbury Street

By: Robert Brodie

Robert Brodie — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 20:29:29 +0000

In reply to Lydia. Lydia, Hi there. Didn’t you marry Graham Palmer and live in Stanley for a time?

By: Robert Brodie

Robert Brodie — Sun, 15 May 2022 10:09:07 +0000

In reply to Robert Brodie. Oh, one more apprentice,, Dennis Berry.

By: Robert Brodie

Robert Brodie — Sun, 15 May 2022 10:06:25 +0000

I’ve remembered some more of the apprentices names from my time at Watkins. Fred Elkington, Graham Palmer, John (spud) Murphy. The name of the guy in charge of the cloth, leather department was Harold Franklin. Also some others.. Richard and Phillip Lines, Marie Curness (who was Jim Thompson’s sister and worked in the indexing dept). She went onto having a position in the union, SOGAT. Phillip Mills (rounding and backing machine). I remember going on a reunion boat trip up the Thames, organised by Richard Maynard, who was working those at the time. It was a year or two after closure of Watkins. But, after now, 45 years, most have lost touch and quite a few have passed away I would think. I did look up John Latuske (porter, and he worked at the BL bindery, Bloomsbury for a while) in Ancestry and think he passed away in 2009. Hope people who were associated with Watkins read my two comments and it jogs their memories of the place.

By: Robert Evans

Robert Evans — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 20:24:49 +0000

My Grandfather on my mother’s side was Kenneth Watkins-Birts, but he died before I was born. I only knew that his family business had been binding bibles, but I don’t know how many generations it went back. Watkins-Watkins suggests perhaps a father and son or a pair of brothers started it?

By: Edna Powell

Edna Powell — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 12:59:25 +0000

In reply to Linda.

Hi Linda,
My name is Edna Powell and I used to live in Chumleigh Street. Your Mum and my Mum were friends and we went to Brownies and played together!
Do you hear from anyone that lived in the area or have you lost touch with everyone?
(Annie & I share an email address, so that’s why her name might appear!)

By: Lydia

Lydia — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 12:58:05 +0000

In reply to Robert Brodie.

Hi. I can remember some of them names. I started working there in 1970 to 1975. My sister Shirley worked there before me. I trained as a book binder and moved onto the automatic machines. Also worked in what we called ‘the room’ sewing the leather cases on the bibles. Wow, so long ago – liked it there – had lots of friends.