2021 Announcement
As a result of a review during the ‘2020 Covid-19 Lockdown’ it was decided that the retail outlet in Liverpool be closed and that all the sales should be carried out via the eshop. The Birmingham office was also closed
The full range of snooker/pool tables and accessories, including Bingo, Darts and Trophies are available at :- www.thurston.co.uk
and phone lines orders handled during office hours but also just leave a message at any other time just phone – +44 (0)151 482 2700
The ‘old’ retail space has been transformed into the biggest showroom for Pool & Snooker Tables in the North West – just give us a call on 0151 482 2700 to arrange a VIP appointment to select the Pool or Snooker table that is right for your home.
Reluctantly at the same time due to the lack of service work with the clubs being closed due to the lockdowns the Service/fitting work also was withdrawn.
Padmore & Sons
Billiards, Snooker & Pool in Birmingham.
This famous Birmingham Billiard (Snooker) business now trading under the name of Thurston has a long and enviable reputation not just in the UK but also anywhere the sport of Billiards has been played. It seems that like some of the other significant Billiard (Snooker) businesses that money could be made in the mid 19th Century in the billiard trade. The family house Thomas Padmore built as mentioned in the article is quite impressive.
The family house of Thomas Padmore, the founder of the firm, and the report about it in 2006
Letter from Gordon Padmore concerning the article about the ‘old’ family house published in the local newspaper
It was Thomas Padmore, who moved from London to Birmingham, established the business in 1830 in Little Charles Street as an ivory, wood turning and cabinet makers. As a result of demand for Billiard equipment he turned his hand to Billiard tables and accessories. After his death in 1871 his sons’ John and Edwin, who had joined the firm some years earlier, continued to expand the business and built their factory and offices in 1871 at 118 Edmund Street in Birmingham. In time the third generation joined the partnership and the cousins Frank & Douglas Padmore increased production of Billiards equipment. These premises were almost destroyed in March 1910 by a major fire.
The Edmund Street premises 1910-1940
From the front cover of the album of pictures after the fire
Some of the Newspaper articles about the fire
Internal views of the office and factory after the fire
They were able to reopen after the fire and survived the 1930’s depression. During the WW1 Edgar Padmore joined up leaving the older generation to run the business. During this period it was mainly involved in the war effort. The early Padmore catalogues show that the business was heavily involved with the production of the metal accessories for Billiards, from the gas lighting units to the brass rest heads and other brass items such as Billiard Cue clips and Cue ferrules, which they not only retailed but also sold to the rest of the trade.
Padmore were also suppliers to the Billiard Trade for brass table fittings as this early catalogue shows
picture from their catalogue showing the stand at the 1925 British Industries Fair
It seems that in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the promoter of Billiard Championships started to get the Billiard firms to pay for the privilege of installing a table, still true in the late 20th century and early 21st.. So for the 1909 Billiard Association Professional Championships played at the National Sporting Club, Covent Garden in March 1909, between Melbourne Inman (who won) and A.E. (Albert) Williams, a Manchester professional. It is reported that championships suffered a heavy deficit, even when the gate receipts were included in with the amount obtained from the table maker for the privilege of erecting the table!
The above reference and copy letter is taken from another of the early Padmore catalogues. It is worth noting that the Padmore name at the top of the left hand page has the ‘P’ extended over the rest of the name. This is one of the earlier uses of this trade mark introduced by Edgar Padmore in the 1920’s, which eventually was became the accepted way the Padmore name was shown on all their stationary.
An early T. Padmore & Son plate which is on a folding bagatelle table
In 1933 the World Billiard Championships between Walter Lindrum, Joe Davis , Tom Newman and Clark McConachy was played on a Padmore Table. Padmore’s were able to publish a letter from these players in subsequent catalogues.
Walter Lindrum from Australia, probably the greatest exponent of the game of English Billiards, endorsed Padmore Billiard Tables and equipment. As can be seen from the catalogues of the time.
It was during the 1930’s that Terence Padmore joined the business but when he and his cousin Neville Padmore enlisted it left Edgar to manage the business during World War II. During the war years the metal working side of the business made amongst other things parts for bicycles and stacking units for gun shells!
Thos Padmore Billiard Table Price List
Padmores Accessories Price List
The top Billiard Players of the day endorsed Padmore Billiard Tables
A very fine Padmore designed Billiard Table The ‘Tudor’
A Tudor table in a very fine setting
Padmore did the full range of Billiard & Bagatelle tables
118 Edmund Street on 26th October 1940
In the blitz of 1940 the St. Edmund Street premises were destroyed. The business then moved into temporary accommodation until after the war when premises at 3 Coleshill Street, Birmingham were obtained. Prior to moving to Coleshil Street the business was temporarily housed in rooms at the Grand Hotel 95 Colmore Street. the following two items are associated with that address.
The picture is taken from the Padore Leterhead printing plate (We have mirrored it so it is easier to read) and has the 95 Comore St. address added at the bottom right of the plate. It is also possible to see that the date section has had the figure 3 (from 193(0’s) crossed through.
Also showing the Padmore tempoary address in 1941 is the following letter
After the war Snooker began to be the game played on Billiard tables and slowly the equipment and tables became snooker cue, snooker chalk, snooker tables etc. In 1951 the business became a limited Company – Thos. Padmore & Sons Ltd..
Thos. Padmore’s premises at 3 Coleshill Street
Front of 1955 catalogue celebrating 125 years
a cutting from a 1955 newspaper reporting the sale of a Billiard table to Russia and also mentioning their special Anniversary Cue celebrating 125 years.
In the 1950 the Coleshill Street premises were compulsory purchased and the Company moved into 8-12 Cheshire Street, Birmingham. Edgar Padmore died in 1958 leaving Terence, his cousin, and Neville Padmore, his son, to run the Company.
In 1966 Terence retired and Neville, then the Company’s Managing Director joined with E.A. Clare & Son Ltd and Thurston to form the Clare – Padmore – Thurston Group. In the 1960’s the Cheshire Street premises were compulsory purchased for the building of the Aston Express Way and so it was that in 1969 premises at 180/182 Lozells Road were purchased.
In 1980 Thos. Padmore & Sons celebrated 150 years in the industry and the picture below of Mr. Neville Padmore in the shop in Lozells Road was taken by the local Birmingham newspaper.
In August 1983 the self proclaimed ‘most recognised man in the world’, Muhammed Ali was in Hansworth opening a social and sports centre named in his honour. On walk about before hand he paid an unexpected visit to the Padmore shop in Lozells Road. Neville Padmore was delighted to be able to have his picture taken with him when he was in the shop.
Neville Padmore shaking hands with Muhammad Ali in the Padmore shop in Lozells. You can see in the picture that Muhammad Ali was mobbed by the crowd who had welcomed him in Handsworth
Example of catalogues at the time of the move from Cheshire Street to Lozells Road
During the 1970’s the three businesses of E.A. Clare & Son, Thos. Padmore & Sons and Thurston trade under their separate identities but in the early 1980’s they traded as the Clare – Padmore – Thurston Group with a common national and international identity.
In 1969 the BBC broadcast the first of the ‘POT BLACK’ programmes Clare – Padmore – Thurston were involved from the beginning installing the Snooker table in the Birmingham studios.
Pot Black circa 1970
Ted Lowe the famous ‘whispering voice of Snooker’ commentator standing to the left of Eddie Charlton who seems to be giving John Pulman some advice on his shot(!). On a Clare-Padmore-Thurston Jubilee Model Snooker Table
In 1988 the Clare – Padmore – Thurston Group amalgamated to trade under the historic, to the Billiard & Snooker trade, name of THURSTON. The Birmingham office being run by Neville’s son Gordon Padmore the great, great, great grandson of the founder ensuring the continued family association with trade and commerce in the great UK City of Birmingham.
In 1990 the premises in Lozells Road were sold and the current (2008) premises at 273/275 Lichfield Road, Aston were acquired.
The Thurston, Padmore House shop and office are just across the road from Aston Railway Station. Parking is available just along the road and at the rear of the premises. (In 2012 the shop premises were closed as sales were mainly being made via the www.thurston.co.uk e-shop. The office remains in Birmingham)
The interior of the shop showing the extensive selection of cues and snooker/pool tables on display. A comprehensive range of Crown Green Bowls and accessories as well as darts and bingo tickets etc. are also stocked. (In 2012 the shop premises were closed as sales were mainly being made via the www.thurston.co.uk e-shop. The office remains in Birmingham)
Gordon Padmore the great, great,great grandson of the founder Thomas Padmore
Director of the Company based at Padmore House
2021 Announcement
As a result of a review during the ‘2020 Covid-19 Lockdown’ it was decided that the retail outlet in Liverpool be closed and that all the sales should be carried out via the eshop. The Birmingham office was also closed
The full range of snooker/pool tables and accessories, including Bingo, Darts and Trophies are available at :- www.thurston.co.uk
and phone lines orders handled during office hours but also just leave a message at any other time just phone – +44 (0)151 482 2700
The ‘old’ retail space has been transformed into the biggest showroom for Pool & Snooker Tables in the North West – just give us a call on 0151 482 2700 to arrange a VIP appointment to select the Pool or Snooker table that is right for your home.
Reluctantly at the same time due to the lack of service work with the clubs being closed due to the lockdowns the Service/fitting work also was withdrawn.
Please do not hesitate to ask should need any advice on snooker, billiards or pool or wish to make a purchase. Thurston
Reproduction of this article allowed only with the permission from E.A. Clare & Son Ltd.
Visit our e-shop – www.thurston.co.uk
email – thurston@eaclare.co.uk
Phone – 0151 482 2700
