Coventry firm that helped build city celebrates 90th anniversary

A firm that helped build the city of Coventry is celebrating its 90th anniversary. Hall Brothers, the firm that built areas of Coventry as the city grew in the 20th century, marks the landmark in 2023. It was in 1933 that Charles Adolphus Hall backed his sons Bob and Bill when they set up a building and joinery company in Walsgrave[1].

He was so sure of their abilities that he underwrote the venture with his own home. His faith was rewarded as Hall Bros took off to become one of the key building firms that shaped Coventry[2]‘s development, building houses across different parts of the city. But the story of Hall Bros really starts in 1900.

That’s when Charles Adolphus left his native Barbados to find work in the “mother country”, arriving in the Stoke[4] area of Coventry in 1905, via Scotland and Newcastle-on-Tyne. He became the first Afro-Caribbean to settle in the city. He worked as a millwright at Daimler for forty years, earning an award of merit and a gold medal from the engineering union.

Despite the extensive racial prejudice prevailing at the time, Charles played a full and active life in the local community, playing cricket for Foleshill[5] Albion and regularly attending Stoke St Michael’s church with his wife, Sarah Ann. His is an extraordinary story of perseverance and endeavour in the face of difficult circumstances. But when he encouraged his sons to set up their business, he could hardly have foreseen the success that would follow.

Bob, a time-served bricklayer, and Bill, a carpenter and joiner, built houses in Rotherham Road, Ansty Road, Farren Road and elsewhere. The war then intervened, and Bob Hall changed from building houses in Coventry to building airfields in Iceland and the Hebrides whilst serving as a Seargent in the RAF. In the immediate post-war years, the firm built approximately 150 council houses in Bell Green, Henley Green, Monks Park and the Barnfield.

In the late 1940s, the firm split into two departments with a building business, and a joinery manufacturing business. Bob ran the building business and his son, Robert joined the company in 1970. Bill Hall ran the joinery business and was later joined by his son, young Bill.

Over the years Hall Bros has made a major contribution to housing and infrastructure in Coventry. As well as developing a reputation for solid construction work of high quality, the company has supported training and development with a large number of local apprentices and trainees passing through the firm. Robert Hall said: “Often, I have been asked what is the biggest strength of the firm?

I always reply ‘Our employees’.” The company’s attitude is rewarded by its loyal workforce. A couple of years ago, four employees celebrated a combined 200 years with the firm.

In recent years Hall Bros has concentrated on building properties for the rental market mainly in the Walsgrave and Wyken areas. In 2006 Robert Hall was awarded an MBE for his services to the construction industry. He said: “In our 90 years we have seen it all, success and failures, highs and lows, celebrations and crises, everything.

One thing we never did, was give up. The commitment to the firm by its stakeholders and employees has been the strength and backbone of Hall Bros”. The special anniversary was marked by a celebratory luncheon at The Holiday Inn in Walsgrave.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, the Lord Mayor of the City of Coventry, Councillor Jaswant Singh Birdi and the Lady Mayoress attended the event along with 75 other guests.

Celebrations continued into the evening with a party for the employees of Hall Bros.

References

1. ^ Walsgrave (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
2. ^ Coventry (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
3. ^ Massive redevelopment of Coventry finally set to start after 13 years (massive%20redevelopment%20of%20coventry%20finally%20set%20to%20start%20after%2013%20years)
4. ^ Stoke (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
5. ^ Foleshill (www.coventrytelegraph.net)