Help Kent Brushes celebrate 250 years

Next year, local business Kent Brushes reaches an extraordinary milestone: 250 years of continuous British manufacturing.

Founded in 1777, Kent Brushes has weathered wars, industrial revolutions, changing fashions and technological transformation whilst remaining a fixture of British craftsmanship for a quarter of a millennium.

As they prepare to celebrate this remarkable anniversary, they're launching a community-wide search for items from Kent's history that may be hiding in lofts, cupboards, desk drawers or family photo albums across Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding area.

Do you have a story about a family member who worked at Kent? A photograph of the old factory? A newspaper clipping, catalogue, product, letter or piece of company memorabilia? Perhaps you remember visiting the factory, know someone who worked there, or have a tale that has been passed down through generations?

As part of their celebrations and the curation of a brand-new historical archive, they are hoping to uncover memories relating to the old Victorian factory that once stood on the site in London Road before the current factory was built in the early 1980s.

Were you there when the building came down? Do any of the ‘KENT BRUSHES’ letters from the old chimney still exist? Could they still be sitting in a box somewhere, waiting to be rediscovered?

The history of Kent Brushes is not just the history of a company; it is the history of the people who worked there, the families who depended on it, and the community that grew alongside it. Many of the most fascinating stories never make it into official records, instead they live in family collections and personal memories – something Kent Brushes would like to change.

As part of the anniversary, the team are building a new archive that will preserve the company’s history for future generations. If you believe you may have something of interest, no matter how small, they would love to hear from you. Even the briefest memory could provide an invaluable glimpse into life at one of Britain's oldest manufacturers.

Any material shared with the business, whether a photograph, document, object, or personal recollection, could help fill in a missing chapter of their story. So, next time you're sorting through a loft, clearing a cupboard, or opening a long-forgotten family box, keep an eye out for a little piece of Kent history. You might just help them uncover a story that has been waiting 250 years to be told.

Please contact [email protected] if would like to donate or share anything with the team.