- Messers Fattorini and Sons
Messers Fattorini is a
jewellery business established by a family of Italian immigrants who arrived in the British city ofLeeds , inYorkshire ,England in the early 19th century. Antonio Fattorini opened a shop inHarrogate to take advantage of seasonal trade in Harrogate in 1831, this business is today owned and run by descendants of the founders. In the 1850s he opened a shop inBradford with two of his sons.Trophy work
They made great inroads into the local and then national market for sports trophies and medals. They made such famous trophies as the
FA Cup and theRugby League Challenge Cup - both are still in use to this day. Fattorini and Sons also marketedsewing machines manufactured by Varley.Manningham Rugby Club
The family became heavily involved with Manningham Rugby Club. Indeed, Tony Fattorini represented Manningham when the club became part of the breakaway from
Rugby Union in 1895 which resulted in the birth of what we know today as theRugby League . Manningham were the new games first champions in 1896. After a period of decline Manningham changed games and became the football club Bradford City in 1903. Once again the Fattorini's were at the forefront of the switch to football.Today
The Fattorini business is still alive and well. However, 'Fattorini and sons' is now based in
Birmingham . The Harrogate jewellery shop is owned and run by the Tindall's, descendants via the female line. The Bradford shop is now owned by the national jewellersGoldsmiths .
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