Two brothers, Norman and Joe Gledhill, founded a business manufacturing domestic copper cylinders in 1926, starting in small premises in Blackpool. Norman, who was married to Louise Ainsworth, had three children: Keith, Houghton, and Norma. As their cylinder business expanded, they moved to larger premises, but with the outbreak of World War II, copper supplies were severely restricted, halting production. After the war, Norman and Louise established Norman Gledhill & Co Ltd, focusing on manufacturing cylinders for plumbers’ merchants. During this time, their sons became involved in the business, with Keith delivering cylinders on a hand cart and Houghton working on the factory floor during school and holiday periods.
By the mid-1950s, Gledhills had grown into a successful family-run enterprise. Louise and Keith managed the sales side of the business, while Norman and Houghton took charge of production and development. In the mid-1960s, as Norman and Louise neared retirement, they received an offer to sell the company. The offer was accepted, and their sons continued working for the new owners, who kept the Gledhill name. During this period, Keith and Houghton travelled the world, researching different production methods.
In 1972, Keith decided to start his own cylinder-making business, setting up in the premises once occupied by his father before the war. The new company initially consisted of two coppersmiths, a driver, a salesperson, and a bookkeeper. Shortly after, Houghton joined Keith, drawn by the prospect of custom-made cylinders. They soon expanded by opening a depot in Blackburn. As their business grew, they relocated their Blackpool operation to a site next to Blackpool Airport, where the head office and stainless steel production centre remain to this day.
In 2015, Gledhill was acquired by Groupe Atlantic, an international manufacturer of thermal comfort solutions. Groupe Atlantic employs over 5,900 people worldwide, operates 20 factories across Europe, and distributes products to more than 100 countries. Keith Gledhill, who attended Arnold School, went on to become the Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire and served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1992.
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