Page 166 - Redditch People

Redditch People

needle and fish hook manufacturers. He married Elizabeth Spawforth, commonly known
as Elisa, in 1841 and they lived on Fish Hill, now Prospect Hill.

In the 1840's Joseph's factory, the Eagle Works, was on Chapel Green. The factory was
so successful that the family became very wealthy. Following the building of the new St
Stephen's Church in the early 1850's, new properties at the north end of the Green were
built. The rather grand and opulent Beech House, built about 1855, was one of these;
this became the home of the Warrins. It is likely that the Eagle Works was behind the
house.

The 1861 Census shows that Joseph and Elisa, with their four children, were living at
Beech House. Next door, at the then number 7 Church Green East, were James and
Sophronia Warrin, Joseph's younger brother and sister. James Warrin was listed in the
census as a fish hook manufacturer and also worked at the Eagle Works.

Joseph and Elisa's children were: Emily Beatrice, Ellen Rose, Edward Spawforth and
Joseph Horsfall. By 1871 the two boys were classified as needle makers and the company
name had changed to Joseph Warrin and Sons. By then they were 24 and 20 respectively.

Joseph Warrin looked after his workers well and there are numerous accounts of his
treating them to a meal and a night out at the White Hart Inn at Headless Cross. Joseph's
brother, John, had bought the newly built White Hart so this was a case of keeping it in
the family.

Joseph himself also used his wealth to invest in buying properties in the town. One
account shows him buying Ivy Cottage on Church Green West for £3000. Another
describes him distributing soup to his tenants. He was a railway shareholder but also
subscribed to the fund for extending St Luke's Church in Headless Cross.

At some stage, Joseph became the owner of the New York Needle Factory, a needle
making and distribution works. Another of Joseph's brothers, Thomas, emigrated to New
York and he may have helped to set up the factory.

Thomas was an active citizen and became well known at the time for introducing many
reforms to local government and, in particular, helping to rid the state of the tax-sales
system which cost the local authorities more than they collected. Sadly, Thomas was
killed in 1888 in an accident on the overhead section of the New York railway system.

Joseph died in 1879 and Elisa in 1886 but in 1888 the Eagle Works was still listed as
Joseph Warrin and Sons. The two daughters never married and lived at Beech House with
the wealth and income from the properties they owned. Emily died in 1925 and Ellen in
1931. The Warrins had lived at Beech house for over 70 years.

Beech House

(Source:Derek Coombes)

An original sign for Joseph
Warrin Needles

(Source:Forge Mill Museum)

Page: 166 © RLHS 2015