Frederick Nettlefold

Frederick Nettlefold 6 April 1833-1 March 1913 was a British industrialist, one of the "Nettlefolds" in "Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds".

He was born in Acton to John Sutton Nettlefold, who founded the brass fixing company Nettlefold and Chamberlain with Frederick's cousin Joseph Chamberlain.

After his father retired and cousin left the business to concentrate on politics, Frederick took over the running of the London part of the business as Chairman, while his brother Joseph was sent to Birmingham to manage their new foundry. Nettlefolds Ltd. was launched as a limited company in 1880 and the Nettlefold brothers went on to establish a dominant position the British wood-screw market through many mergers and acquisitions, becoming "Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds"

In 1878 Frederick and his wife Mary Catherine moved into Streatham Grove (now called Norwood Grove), on its vacation by P&O magnate Arthur Anderson. Their residence is now noted by a blue plaque.

Frederick retired from Nettlefolds in 1893 and helped develop Samuel Courtauld's silk and crepe company. He also dedicated more effort on philanthropy; he was active in the Unitarian Church, was president of the Sunday School Association, gave land for a library and endowed the Nettlefold Hall at West Norwood

Mary died at Norwood Grove in 1906 followed by Frederick in 1913, and they are buried in West Norwood Cemetery, although their monument is believed to have been destroyed sometime in the 1980s.

External links

* [http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/parks_and_open_spaces/norwoodgrove.asp Norwood Grove]
* [http://www.fownc.org/newsletters/no29.doc Note on grave by Friends of West Norwood Cemetery]