Wilden Ironworks - The Baldwins and After

The Baldwins and After

The works were acquired by E., P. & W. Baldwin, who had previously had an iron foundry at Stourport. In 1870, Alfred Baldwin bought out his relatives to become the sole properietor of the firm, but continued to trade under the old name. In 1888 he brought his 21 year old son Stanley Baldwin, who would later become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, into the business. The firm was incorporated as E. P. & W. Baldwin Ltd in 1898, and gradually acquired other tinplate works, mainly in south Wales. Eventually in 1948, it amalgamated with Richard Thomas & Co., to form Richard Thomas and Baldwins Ltd. They decided to close the Wilden Works (by then a tinplate works), declaring the workforce, many of whom lived in the village of Wilden redundant. The works were acquired in 1964 by Wilden Industrial Estates Ltd, and it became an industrial estate, which it remains today.