Since the creation of Portland Works in 1879, a number of businesses have occupied the building. While this is not a comprehensive list, we are able to know the details of each businesses that paid a subscription to be entered into the cited trade directories.
1879 White’s Directory
- R.F. Mosley, manufacturer of table cutlery
- George Gill, cutlery manufacturer
- William H. Green, spring knife manufacturer
1883 Kelly’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley, cutlery manufacturer
- John Green & Sons, Spring Knife manufacturers
1888 Kelly’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley, cutlery manufacturer
- William Green, spring knife manufacturer
- George Gill, spring knife manufacturer
1893 Kelly’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley, cutlery manufacturer
- William Green, spring knife manufacturer
- George Gill, spring knife manufacturer
1898 Kelly’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley & Co. Ltd., cutlery manufacturer
- W. Mammott & Sons, electro-plate manufacturers
- George Gill, spring knife manufacturer
- John Thomas Johnson & Sons, steam manufacturing joiners
1901 White’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley & Co. Ltd., cutlery manufacturer
- W. Mammott & Sons, electro-plate manufacturers
- John Thomas Johnson & Sons, steam manufacturing joiners
1905 White’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley & Co. Ltd., silversmiths & cutlery manufacturers
- John Thomas Johnson & Sons, steam manufacturing joiners
- Ellis Frost, caretaker
1912 White’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley & Co. Ltd., silversmiths & cutlery manufacturers
- John Thomas Johnson & Sons, steam manufacturing joiners
1919 White’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley & Co. Ltd., silversmiths & cutlery manufacturers
- John Thomas Johnson & Sons, steam manufacturing joiners
1934 Kelly’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley & Co. Ltd., cutlery manufacturer
- Clark Company Ltd. (The Alexander Cutlery Works)
- John Thomas Johnson & Sons, steam manufacturing joiners
1957 Kelly’s Directory
- R. F. Mosley & Co. Ltd., cutlery manufacturer
- Allen’s Silversmiths (L. Allen proprietor)
1970 Kelly’s Directory
- O. Hobson (engineers), general & precision engineers
- Hadon Litho Ltd., lithographic offset machine plate manufacturers Fabricated Products, fabrication in steel
- Swales & Hobson, tyre pressure gauge manufacturers
- Wardle & Mathews Ltd, pewter-ware manufacturers
References:
1) Historical Directories 2010 Digital library of local and trade directories for England and Wales
