History
Established in 1810, JOHN W. LAYCOCK Ltd. is proud to be one of the longest established firms in Keighley, and the second oldest steel service provider registered with the National Association of Steel Service Centres (NASS).
Built on the values of integrity and fair-play, it remains a family-run business, proud of its heritage and committed to providing a first-class service to its customers.
Many people express interest in our long history – if you’re interested too, head to the bottom of this page to see some of our archive documents charting the company’s proud heritage.
Early history (1740-1810)
The Laycock family began making nails in Keighley in the 1740s. They broadened their service offering into ironmongery, and in 1810 John Laycock founded the Company with the vision “to supply mill furnishings, iron, steel and other branches of trade.”
Expansion during the 1800s
By the late 1800s, the Company was operating with seven members of staff. In August 1893, it moved to Low Street to new warehousing, and offices off Rear North Street, together with a ‘front’ shop on North Street offering iron, steel, and a wide range of ironmongery, furnishings, and fittings.
Development during the 1900s
In 1915, Mr. John William Laycock (Mr. John Laycock’s son) established the business as a limited liability company following the death of his son Alvery. Mr. John Sugden began work as an apprentice on 1st July 1886, and later became a Director of the Company. By 1934, the family business was under the stewardship of directors John, Jack, Willie and Frank Sugden and retained the name and brand of JOHN W. LAYCOCK Ltd.
During the early 1900s, the business expanded significantly, and established a fireplace supply and fitting service. This was later to be discontinued but the essences of quality of service and a broad product range have remained the company’s core offering. In 1979, new warehouse premises at Stockbridge were acquired to support the addition of structural sections to the product range.
Further successful development of the business during the 1980s & 90s resulted in extensions to the Stockbridge warehouse facilities in 1984, and again in 1995.
Changing times in the 2000s
The development of the business continued, and in 2011, we moved out of our old home on North Street into extended warehousing facilities and new offices at our Stockbridge site. The North Street premises were sold, and all operations were, and are still, conducted from Stockbridge, making access easier for customers, suppliers, visitors, and the team.
In 2014, the business gained CE (now UKCA) certification for structural steel and continues to develop and improve its capability and product range to ensure a first class service for our valued customers.
Service development in the 2020s
In 2022, the Company expanded its operations to a second site in Keighley. The former iconic POWERRUN building off South Street became the new home for Fire Protection Painting and Plasma Profiling services.
We have adapted the former mill conversion as an ideal facility for these two new major and exciting services.
‘Intumescent’ (fire protection) occupies the whole of the ground floor, with an end-to-end spraying, testing, ventilation extraction, and drying facility.
Downstairs in the basement, our new KRONOS plasma profiling system cuts steel plate up to 150mm thick.
A programme of investment in new state-of-the-art cutting and measuring equipment will ensure the Company keeps pace with changes in technology and the ever-developing demands of our fantastic customers.
In 2023, the old family business remains under the stewardship of the Sugden family, and takes a long term view to stability and sustainability.
