| COMPANY HISTORY |
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| 1888 |
T H Baker was founded in 1888 by Thomas Henry Baker, a watchmaker and jeweller from Calne in Wiltshire. The business was purchased at 95 High Street, Brierley Hill, which is still open today. |
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| 1915 |
Thomas Henry Baker's daughter Phillis and her husband, Frank Higgs, bought the business in 1915. They had three sons and a daughter. |
| 1916 - 30 |
The trading years between1916 and 1930 were very difficult, struggling through the First World War and then the depression of the 1920's. |
| 1931 - 38 |
During the period between 1931 and 1938, Mr. F.H. Higgs, grandson of Thomas Henry Baker, qualified as an Optician and joined the business together with his younger brother Rupert. |
| 1939 - 45 |
Between 1939 and 1945 all three brothers served their country during the Second World War, and thankfully returned safely home to once again drive the business forward. |
| 1945 - 52 |
Two further branches were opened in Walsall and Wolverhampton between 1945 & 1952. |
| 1952 |
In 1952, T.H. Baker & Company (Est.1888) Limited was formed. |
| 1953 - 72 |
Over the next twenty years between 1953 - 1972, further branches were opened with some proving more successful than others. |
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| 1973 |
Alan Higgs, great grandson of Thomas Henry Baker, joined the Company this year. He had qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was appointed company secretary. |
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| 1987 |
Upon the retirement of Alan's father, F H Higgs, and both of his uncles, he was appointed Managing Director in 1987. |
| 1988 |
1988 was the Company's Centenary year and also the year in which Alan bought out the other shareholders in the Company, making him the sole owner of the business. |
| 2001 |
2001 was the Company's first occasion where a store was bought outside the central part of England. The store purchased was in Horsham and is now one of our most sucessful stores for Swiss watch brands. |
| 2002 |
A further store in the South East of England was added in 2002, located in Brighton. |
| 2004/5 |
Both Great Great Grandson's of Thomas Henry Baker joined the Company, becoming the 5th generation to carry on the family business. |
| 2005 |
Andrew Higgs, great great grandson of Thomas Henry Baker, joined the Company this year. He had qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was appointed company secretary (following in his father's footsteps) |
| 2005 |
The Watch Hut and The Jewel Hut websites were established in October 2005 just in time for the first Christmas trading period. Both websites started with questionable success - little did we know what a useful part of the business the internet would become. |
| 2007 |
T H Baker Group company was formed to safe guard the future of the family business. |
| 2008 and onwards |
T H Baker has recently gone through major changes and develpments; these are all still ongoing and further updates will be added soon to the website. |
