Milward's of Redditch

1730

Redditch, just south of Birmingham, was well known for its fishing tackle manufacturers, Milward's was one of the finest along with Allcock, Partridge, Wilkins, Lee, Martinez & Bird and J.W. Young, to name a few. Starting out as a needle making company, the earliest reference to the Milward's family was a James Milward who was a needle maker on Fish Hill in 1676. Symon Milward created the company of Henry Milward & Sons (aka Milward's Needles) in 1730 and from the first half of the 18th century became well known as the makers of good quality needles. It was not such a big transition from needles to fly hooks, with Colonel Henry Milward, a fervent fly angler, deciding to mix business with pleasure and created Milward's Fishing Tackle Company. A dozen workers left needle- and syringe-making to become experts in hooks, flies, devons, spoons and split-cane rods. This remarkable adventure lasted until 1965, when Milward died.

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