Our purpose
Our story defines our purpose – to create the most distinctive, unique printed stationery, packaging & envelopes for individuals, businesses, and organisations across London, the United Kingdom, and the globe.
Our approach is rigorous, we use the following principles in all that we do:
- Multi-Sensory: to see, taste (envelope gum) and touch our fine products is to feel the depth of their appeal
- Meticulous: understanding materials means we deliver & demand the best
- Cost: to achieve value for money
- Ingenious: apply creative skills to find new ways to produce stationery
- Provenance: refining & imparting techniques through generations is part of our heritage.
Read the full story in our award-winning book…
An account by The Gentle Author, with designs by David Pearson: For anyone with a serious interest in print, design, publishing, and typography, BADDELEY BROTHERS tells the dramatic story spanning four centuries of how the Baddeley family created one of today’s foremost specialist printers.
This book is embellished with fine tipped-in samples illustrating the range of BADDELEY BROTHERS’ bravura print techniques, an anatomy of envelope design, a glossary of printing terminology, drawings by Lucinda Rogers and a foldout map by Adam Dant or available from all good bookshops.
Limited availability: £20 from our online shop or for more details, click here
A timeline
Baddeley Brother’s ancestry goes as far back as the mid-17th century when they were clockmakers and diemakers for the pottery and jewellery industries in Staffordshire.
19th century
Baddeleys were working as plate engravers for the printing industry, and creating seal dies for embossing presses in Hackney, East London.
1859
John Baddeley opened the first bank account for the engraving business. Having worked for his father, the eldest son John James (JJ), started working out of premises in Little Bell Alley.
1865
William Henry (John’s fourth son) joined the business.
1885
A factory was built for the company at Moor Lane, near John Keats’ birthplace, in the City of London. It produced a wide range of engraved and embossed stationery items, including seals and rubber stamps.
1894
An extract from the London Provincial & Colonial Press News on Baddeley Brothers- “It is always instructive, and sometimes particularly interesting, to hear or to read of the rise and progress of great business establishments, more especially of those that have attained a position of importance and prominence after the drudgery and trials of small beginning…whose owners, by sheer force of practical skill, judgment, and foresight, have gained eminence in the special spheres they have made their own.”
1940
Unfortunately, the premises were utterly destroyed in the Blitz. The firm was able to continue trading in loaned premises and run by WB Baddeley (JJ’s grandson).
1946
David Baddeley re-joined, and we opened new premises at 92 Paul Street in London’s EC2, while welcoming back many employees from the pre-war years.
1961
David Pertwee joined his uncle David Baddeley.
1966
… quickly followed by his brother Roger. The company is still family-owned by the Pertwees, who are directly related to the original Baddeleys.
1989
In the hands of the fifth generation, we moved into larger premises in the neighbouring Boundary Street.
1993
Further relocated, this time returning the business to our roots in Hackney.
2001-2005
Roger’s sons Christopher and Charles Pertwee joined Baddeley Brothers, respectively, returning the company to full family ownership.
2017
The journey continues, settling in South Woodford.
Present day
Now in our 22nd home, with Art déco features that our forebears would recognise, along with a few technological improvements that they may not. In 2019, we celebrated our 160th year; we continue to manufacture high-quality engraved stationery, packaging, and envelopes.