Padgett & Braham Ltd
Padgett & Braham Ltd was a significant London-based manufacturer, known for producing and trading in silver and gold wares, fine cutlery, luxury accessories, and objets de vertu. Established as a small enterprise, the company went on to acquire and absorb several prestigious silversmithing firms, expanding its influence in the British silver trade.
The company was founded by Stanley Padgett (1897–1986), a skilled entrepreneur and silver expert, in collaboration with J. Braham Ltd’s former manager. At the age of 25, Padgett purchased his first business, starting with just four employees—three silversmiths and a polisher—initially focusing on the production of cigarette cases. The company expanded rapidly between the 1930s and 1960s through strategic acquisitions of several established manufacturers.
Among the firms that became part of Padgett & Braham Ltd were Wakely & Wheeler, renowned for their fine silversmithing; Pairpoint & Sons, distinguished gilders and platers; the Flute Makers’ Guild, specialists in precision craftsmanship; and Birmingham-based W.H. Manton, known for their silverware. In addition, the company partnered with Monarch Shield Ltd, the pioneering firm responsible for introducing tarnish-free silver protection to the UK market. In 1969, H. Aston Ltd, Birmingham’s leading manufacturer of gold wedding rings, also joined the group.
By 1966, Padgett & Braham Ltd had grown from its modest beginnings to employ 70 staff members. Stanley Padgett’s son, John Padgett, continued the family tradition, overseeing further expansion. Under his leadership, the company incorporated another prestigious name in British silver history—Edward Barnard & Sons, one of the country's oldest and most respected silversmithing firms.
During the 1980s, Padgett & Braham Ltd took over Garrard’s insignia workshop, further cementing its role in British silversmithing. However, as demand for commercially produced silverware declined, the company struggled to maintain its former success. The market contraction led to financial difficulties, and in 2006, Padgett & Braham Ltd ceased trading, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in British silversmithing history.