Booth and Brookes Ltd                                               formerly Palmer and Booth (Mildmay Ironworks in Burnham)

Booth and Brookes Ltd operated as a general iron foundry located in Burhman on Crouch, where they manufactured a diverse array of castings, ranging from stove components to architectural panels. During both World Wars, they also produced grenades and parts for aircraft. Nevertheless, their most notable contribution was in the production of piano frames, and at various points, they supplied nearly all of the renowned piano manufacturers. 

 

Their founder and principal director James Booth was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1849, as the son of John Peter Booth and Harriet. His father was engaged with the prominent manufacturers Booth and Fox at Levitt’s Quay, Cork, who were the inventors and patent holders of the Down Quilt. James, along with his siblings Frank and Caroline, relocated from Cork to reside with their stepmother, Hannah Booth, in Bristol, where James took up an apprenticeship as an engineer. In 1874, he wed Sarah Cridland. The newly married couple settled in St Pancras, where he secured employment with Ransome’s in London and devised the pattern for an iron piano frame. In 1889, he secured a patent for the design of string fastenings for pianos; however, the subsequent year, his business was declared bankrupt. This situation prompted him to establish a piano business as an agent for Colebrook Dale Iron Foundry.

James and Sarah were blessed with seven children: sons Christopher and Paul, and daughters Christabel, Hannah, Kathleen, Jeanine, and Sarah. James had a passion for sailing and acquired a yacht named Sarandon, which he kept at Burnham on Crouch, leading to his early membership in the Royal Burnham Yacht Club. Throughout his life, he bought and sold several yachts, including Firefly, Moreen, Cateran, Idris, and Danea. James became a skilled yachtsman, making the journey to Ireland at least three times aboard the Cateran yacht. In 1900, the Booth family moved to Western Road, Burnham on Crouch, before relocating to the Limes on Crouch Road around 1913. The frequent trips to Burnham prompted James to contemplate a venture based in the town, as he believed the area would be a healthy place for employees to live and work in a foundry. He entered into a partnership with R T Palmer, and they acquired land off Station Road, now known as Foundry Lane and established the Foundry Ironworks under the name Booth. James utilized his expertise effectively, and the business specialized in casting metal Piano Frames. Booth and Palmer experienced rapid growth, and a few years later, they rebranded as Booth and Brooks, employing 250 individuals and producing more piano frames than any other foundry globally. As technology advanced, so did their operations, as they began casting thousands of turntables for the increasingly popular gramophones. Under James's leadership, Burnham Foundry strengthened, with his sons Christopher and Paul significantly contributing to its progress.

James was appointed as a Justice of the Peace and regularly served on the Southminster bench. He had a keen interest in mental health, visiting several mental hospitals and frequently checking on prisoner welfare at Chelmsford Prison. His wife, Sarah, passed away in 1925, and in March 1926, he remarried Bertha Christina Fox, who, like James, was born in Cork and had ties to Booth and Fox. They relocated to Bournemouth before returning to Essex, where they resided at Tower House, Springfield.

James passed away on April 10, 1931, at Tower House following a sudden illness, having been at Burnham just a few days prior.

The Company was dissolved in 1980, with the foundry being demolished shortly thereafter.

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