Group    From 1840  To 1968

J. K. Farnell & Co. Ltd.

Categories: Commerce

Manufacturing company. Founded in Notting Hill by John Kirby Farnell. Initially they produced fancy items such as tea cosies and pincushions. Farnell's daughter Agnes started making soft toys in 1870. The family moved to The Elms, Acton, in about 1898 and a new factory was built on part of the site, where the first teddy bear was produced in about 1908.

A Farnell 1921 "Alpha" bear was purchased in Harrods by Daphne Milne (wife of A. A.) for their son Christopher Robin, for his first birthday. This bear became the inspiration for Winnie-the-Pooh. The company ceased trading in the 1960s and the Farnell name was taken over by the Merrythought company in 1996.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
J. K. Farnell & Co. Ltd.

Commemorated ati

Winnie the Pooh

See J. K. Farnell for the story. Also the Telegraph article.

Read More

Other Subjects

Turk's Head - Wapping

Turk's Head - Wapping

This entry discusses two pubs in Wapping, both called the Turk's Head. The Turk's Head in Wapping High Street is said to be the pub where condemned men, on their way to Execution Dock, were given ...

Building, Commerce, Community / Clubs

2 memorials
Gatti family

Gatti family

Swiss-Italian family.  Restaurateurs, music hall, theatre and electricity supply entrepreneurs. Four generations of note, all born in Dongio, Val di Blenio, Ticino, Switzerland: Carlo; Agostino (18...

Group, Commerce, Food & Drink, Theatre, Switzerland

1 memorial
C.W.S.

C.W.S.

The Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) began in Manchester. It was a pioneer in improving working conditions for its employees. The name was changed to the Co-operative Group in 2001.

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
James Buckington Bevington

James Buckington Bevington

Of Neckinger Mills, Bermondsey, a successful leather manufacturers.  Father of Samuel Bourne.

Person, Commerce

1 memorial
John Kidd and Co.

John Kidd and Co.

Manufacturers of printing ink for the newspaper industry. Its head office was at Wine Office Court off Fleet Street.

Group, Commerce, Journalism / Publishing

1 memorial