A look back over 95 years of trading oil and paint
Did you know that the Witham family business began life back in 1921? The company started with humble beginnings on the side of the Brayford Pool in Lincoln, an area then renowned for its industry. Using the river Witham to transport raw materials, the business started off as the Witham Oil & Candle Company making bicycle oils, candles and carbide for the local area.
Brayford Pool, Lincoln, 1920’s
As the demand for machinery and industrialisation grew and transport evolved from horse and cart to vans, tractors and cars, so the business expanded. Its product range changed with the times to make lubricants and greases for engines and a wide variety of the new machinery and equipment being installed in a whole range of local industries.
In 1952, the company moved premises from the original site on the Brayford to Webb Street in Lincoln and there the company started its path to further success. On earth floor, the company blended lubricants for many customers.
Webb St, Lincoln, 1960s
Agriculture was changing and needed oils and greases for tractors, combines, sprayers and haulage to transport the produce. This became one of Witham’s specialisms. Knowing the local farming communities well, unique and high quality products were developed to serve the prosperous agricultural heartland of Lincolnshire and East Anglia.
The company kept on growing geographically and in 1983 new customers were using the business in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, including in 1984, the much prized Sandringham estate business for the first time.
Witham at an agricultural show
By 1987, the Webb street premises were not going to be large enough to cope with the growth of the business and so the business moved to our current site on Outer Circle Road in Lincoln.
In 1996, a strong Paint Manufacturing business in Lowestoft called United Paints was purchased to help in the product offering to the customers. Customers who needed lubricants in their machinery and vehicles also usually need to paint the machinery and the workshops and buildings they are housed in.
Perhaps one of our Company’s most proud moments is when we were appointed the Royal Warrant to HM The Queen. The Appointment was only the start of a magical journey which has culminated in us supplying much of the oil for the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, the paint for a pair Royal Gates along with paint for many of the estate houses as well.
With our geographic heartland in Lincolnshire and Eastern England, we now operate throughout the UK and abroad. We provide quality products to an enormous variety of customers. Specialising in agriculture, automotive, haulage and marine industries, we also supply other markets such as engineering companies, plant machinery, international race circuits and pipework producers, all with reputable lubricants, greases, paints and coatings that can be relied on year after year.
Qualube display, 1980s
We are extremely proud of our heritage and how far we’ve come in 95 years of trading. We hope that our commitment to delivering quality products and putting our customers and people first will allow our success to continue to reach 100 years and beyond.
The Witham team at a show, 1990’s
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