Archibald Kenrick (1760 – 1835) arrives in Birmingham

Archibald enters his first business partnership with buckle-maker Thomas Bolton and acquires his first shop

With the decline in sales of buckles, Archibald begins manufacture of cast iron articles and establishes ‘Archibald Kenrick, Ironfounder of West Bromwich’

Archibald leases over 4000 sq yd’s of land at the Spon Lane site bordering the Birmingham canal, and commences foundry work. This site remains Kenricks headquarters today

Kenrick’s begin manufacture of cast–iron hollow–ware, particularly for culinary use

Kenrick’s introduce steam powered machinery, and are the first company to manufacture saucepans with rims.

Archibald’s nephew Stephen Kenrick becomes a partner, and the company becomes known as ‘Archibald Kenrick & Co’

Archibald purchases 26 acres of freehold land adjacent to the Spon Lane works, followed by a further 25 acres in 1823

After 15 years Samuel withdraws from the company to establish his own business. Archibald is joined by his son Archibald Jnr, and 'Archibald Kenrick & Son' is organised

The Kenrick’s catalogue now includes door furniture, saucepans, a waffle iron and a humane man trap!

Kenrick’s begin casting hinges

A new foundry is erected next to the canal wharf

Kenrick’s first travelling salesman is appointed

With over 700 employees now on the payroll, new offices and warehouses are erected.

With agents appointed in South America and South Africa more than 30% of all output is sold overseas

Archibald Kenrick & Sons becomes a limited company, with John Arthur Kenrick directing the firm’s affairs

Kenrick’s acquire the Birmingham Hollow-ware Co, and the pay the passage for Mr JK Merritt to travel to Australia, where he becomes principal agent until his retirement in 1931

Kenrick’s amalgamate with principal competitor A & E Baldwins, emphasising their determination to become the largest supplier of cast iron butt hinges in Britain. Steel is substituted for iron, and stamping and pressing begin to replace casting

Kenrick’s acquire the bedstead castor business of Parry & Wythes of Birmingham

New offices are opened in Glasgow, Dublin and Leeds

Kenricks’s acquire brassfounders Thomas Pemberton, and employ a further 400 people

With unfavourable market conditions and the rise of aluminium in the hollow – ware industry Kenrick’s turn their attention to the manufacture of baths. Bath sales will account for 39% of turnover by 1935

Kenrick’s begin production of cylinder door locks

George Kenrick is Lord Mayor of London and has his knighthood conferred

Various steel hinge businesses under the company’s control are amalgamated to form United Hinges Ltd, whose operations are carried on from premises adjacent to the works at West Bromwich

Kenrick’s produce grenades and shells for the war effort, and by 1918 military contracts account for 80% of total sales

Kenricks return to munitions supply, and begin the transformation from iron–founding to die–casting

GF Shepherd, a retired engineer living in Australia, agrees to license the company to manufacture and sell his patented castor

William Kenrick oversees production of the first set of Shepherd castors, and pressure die casting now replaces traditional sand die casting

With the huge success of the castor business the Kenrick tinning department is closed after 150 years, following the closure of the bath department in 1950

After lavish promotional campaigns between 1954 -57 production of the 1,000,000th set of Shepherd castors is achieved in Feb 1958. Castor sales now account for 64% of total sales, and the event is marked by the presentation of one gold plated set of castors to the inventor

West Bromwich Football Club purchase land formerly used as a Kenrick recreation ground

Castor sales continue to soar as the Shepherd Minicastor is introduced

Kenrick’s first plastic castor, the patented ‘Meteor’, is manufactured under license

Kenrick’s 173 year history as an iron–founder comes to an end as the decision is made to close the foundry. Die cast products now account for 80% of output, and Kenrick’s are now described technically as zinc alloy die–casters, and generally as hardware manufacturers

Kenrick’s diversification continues with the introduction of aluminium extruded hardware (window handles and letterplates), aluminium racking systems and aluminium twinwheel castors

A range of bathroom accessories are introduced

New gravity die casting services lead to the manufacture of phone box casings, socket covers, engine mountings, and sophisticated prototyping services

The Suroy industrial castor complements the existing castor range, and is followed by the Textile castor in 1991

The launch of the groundbreaking Sabre Lock shootbolt for windows re-asserts Kenrick’s influence in hardware design and manufacture

The popular Sentri Lock system is launched and Kenrick’s Window Test Centre is opened

The Rapier shootbolt from 1996 is succeeded by the groundbreaking patented Excalibur shootbolt

Can Opener production commences at the West Brom site and the new plating shop is introduced

The Centurian shootbolt complements the existing shootbolt ranges, and mushroom espags follow in 2003

The Excalibur provides the inspiration for the time saving Easi Fit espag, and the new Kenrick window and door test facility is opened in 2005

Following a successful showing at Glassex, the premier glass and glazing exhibition, Kenrick’s Excalibur door lock reaches the market

The Centurian Fast Fit confirms Kenrick’s commitment to continuous improvement and new product development

The introduction of the twin cam Interceptor confirms Kenrick’s commitment to new development to meet customer demands

Kenrick’s introduce a comprehensive range of cylinders to complement its door lock range

Kenrick’s introduce a split spindle door lock to simplify fabrication and offer wider range of handle fitting options