Company History

"A good quality product and good service are fundamental principles if any business is to become, and remain, successful".

Those words could have been spoken by any of todays leaders in commerce. They were in fact spoken by William Henry Ware shortly after he founded the company in 1893.

"W H" set up as a master bookbinder in one small room at the back of a shop in Bristol havinq first served his seven year apprenticeship. His original trade indentures are still held by the company.

By 1900 trade had expanded so much that he bought premises near the Colston Hall in Bristol. Both sons of W H followed him into the company in 1907, with Robert Ware being responsible for the introduction of Goldblockinq. Adjacent buildings were purchased in 1910 to meet increasing demand. By now the company employed 10 staff and were producing a continuous flow of high quality leatherbound books, library books and account books.

The period in between the two world wars saw the introduction of mechanisation within the company, including machine ruling of account books, folding machines, machine sewing and the part mechanisation of foil blocking.

In 1946 David Ware, son of Robert, joined the company. Highly trained in Electronics and Engineering, David had received job a offer from the BBC. Due to their lack of urgency over a starting date, and his shortage of money after demob from the navy, David decided to work for the family business until the BBC contacted him. He soon developed a love for book manufacture and forgot the BBC. This proved to be a milestone for the company. David's enthusiasm, knowledge of engineering and capacity for hard work resulted in the rapid modernisation of all equipment.

Early investments in the 1950's were Brehmer sewers and a Perfecta three knife trimmer, plus, most importantly, a Brehmer coverinq machine These were installed in the modernised premises in Bristol. This allowed the company to offer a trade service to local printers and publishers. Pitmans, Butler & Tanner and Arrowsmiths were early customers of W H Ware & Sons Ltd. Towards the end of the 1980's business had further expanded resulting in the Bristol premises being too small and totally unsuitable. David then purchased a two acre site in Clevedon, North Somerset, adjacent to the proposed M5 motorway This foresight ensured that when the motorway network was extended in the 1970's the company was able to broaden its customer base nationally, and still provide an excellent local service.

In May 1985 Tina, his dauqhter joined the company, followed in the September of that year by her husband Terry, thus ensuring a fourth generation of family control. By the early 1990's, David retired, satisfied that Wares would continue to develop apace. He still enjoys calling into the factory once a week to take in the Clevedon air and to keep himself up to date.

Investment and innovation remain the key to the development of the company. In 1998 we achieved accreditation to ISO 9OO2, thus further enhancing our commitment to quality.

We have invested at least £750,000 in new equipment in each of the last four years. In March 2002 we moved into our new custom built factory on a new industrial park in Kenn, Clevedon.