Woodger Chainmakers
The chainmaking firm of G. L. Woodger, The Chain Works, Masbrough Street, Rotherham was a family business established in its craft for over two hundred years in 1970, so it must have been founded about 1750 to 1760.
I can find very little information about the firm of G. L. Woodger or about chainmaking in Rotherham, though the Woodger family was extensive and the making of chains an important industry.
The first Woodger I've come across in my reading was a fork maker at Blackburn Mill in the 1820s. By the time of the 1851 Census George Woodger who had been born in 1807 was still a Fork Maker and he and his family were resident at Barber Wood. By this time there were several Woodger families resident in Rotherham in the chainmaking trade:-
- John Woodger born 1801 and his family lived at Maple Buildings, Masborough. He was described as Beer House & Chainmaker.
- George Woodger born 1803, likely cousin to t'other George, was resident with his family in Wellgate and described as Chainmaker.
- Joseph Woodger born 1807 was resident with his wife and son at Pool Green and described as Chainmaker.
- William Woodger born 1816 was resident with his wife and family in Doncaster Gate and described as Chainmaker.
In 1970 the chain works manufactured and repaired all types of lifting gear, including higher tensile steel and mild steel chains, chain blocks and Pul-lifts, case and barrel slings, load binders and shackles. The firm closed down in 1979.