The Kenrick & Jefferson Building - A Sandwell Gem!

The Kenrick & Jefferson Building was offices built in 1883. Grade II listed building. It was the Kenrick & Jefferson Printworks. Sadly the building has been boarded up for years.


Where is the Kenrick & Jefferson Building?

The Kenrick & Jefferson Building is at 1, Astle Park, High Street, West Bromwich, B70 8NS

 

In brief

Red brick and terracotta offices built on the West Bromwich High Street in 1883 for Kenrick & Jefferson. It was a Printing Works founded by John Arthur Kenrick and Frederick Jefferson. They bought the Free Press newspaper in 1878 to help promote Liberalism.

Kenrick & JeffersonKenrick & Jefferson Building (January 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Kenrick & Jefferson Building - history

The Kenrick & Jefferson Printing Works was founded by John Arthur Kenrick and Frederick Thoma Jefferson in 1878 when they bought the Free Press newspaper to promote Liberalism.

The building on the West Bromwich High Street was built in 1883, and by 1885 the name of the company was changed from Free Press Compay to Kenrick & Jefferson.

Kenrick & JeffersonKenrick & Jefferson Building (April 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The facade of K & J printers was a familiar landmark to local people with it's imposing red-brick exterior, but did little to reflect the work undertaken within it's walls.

By 1897 an offshoot of the printing and publishing business called the Envelope Department began to expand at it's own right, also the same year the huge Binding Department was set up.

Kenrick & JeffersonKenrick & Jefferson Building (April 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The company continued well into the 20th century, and still operating during the Second World War in the 1940s, but by the early 21st century the building has been vacant and for sale for decades.

It is near the Astle Retail Park.

Has been a Grade II listed building since 1987 as the Offices of Kenrick and Jefferson Limited

Project dates

25 Jan 2023 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Civic pride, Classic Architecture

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com