Where Mordex was
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2020 6:15 pm
I've done a bit more searching through old telephone directories and I think I can now give a defnitive account of where Mordex was in Sheffield.
They turn up first in 1951 where they're listed under Mordex Precision Industries as being a manufacturer of tools and jigs at 134 Porter Street. Porter St was part of an area of rundown housing and small industrial premises near the bottom of The Moor in Sheffield. Like The Moor itself and many other streets around it, it suffered significant damage during the Sheffield Blitz in late December 1940 when 350 tons of high explosives and incendiary bombs were dropped over a 9 hour period. Most of the damage actually took place away from the presumed targets - the steel and armaments factories in the East of the city - occurring instead in residential areas and the city centre. Mordex are here until 1955 when I suspect the area was cleared as part of the post-war rebuilding programme, it's likely their site is now occupied by either the city's covered market or Decathlon https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3735167 ... 312!8i6656.
In 1956 they move about half a mile to the Laycock And Sons building at 37 Suffolk Road near the railway station, which they share both with Laycock and with Hill Bros, Silversmiths https://www.google.com/maps/@53.375842, ... 312!8i6656. At this time they drop the Precision Industries part of their name and the reference to tools and jigs. In 1961, still at Suffolk Road, they add the description 'Fishing Tackle' to their name.
In 1963 they're found at 34 Walker Street, a mile or so away, in a part of town known as The Whicker, an area of small industrial units in buildings dating back to the mid 19th century, they've dropped Fishing Tackle from their name (though it's still there in their Kelly's listing).
The next year they've moved again, though less than 100 yards, and they're in what will remain their home for the rest of their time: Seal House on Andrew Street. They're now describing themselves again as 'Engineers'. In 1972 they acquire additional premises at Snow Lane, another nearby area of small back street industrial units but by 1980 only Seal House is listed. Their last listing is in 1983. Not long after buildings in this area start being razed to make car parks and if Seal House didn't go then, in 2005 Andrew St itself is flattened to build the final part of Sheffield Inner Ring Road (now known as Derek Dooley Way). Here's a view of Andrew Street just before this happened: https://www.picturesheffield.com/fronte ... 6&prevUrl=. It's possible that one of the older buildings you can see in the middle distance was Seal House.
I think I need to go and change my anorak.
They turn up first in 1951 where they're listed under Mordex Precision Industries as being a manufacturer of tools and jigs at 134 Porter Street. Porter St was part of an area of rundown housing and small industrial premises near the bottom of The Moor in Sheffield. Like The Moor itself and many other streets around it, it suffered significant damage during the Sheffield Blitz in late December 1940 when 350 tons of high explosives and incendiary bombs were dropped over a 9 hour period. Most of the damage actually took place away from the presumed targets - the steel and armaments factories in the East of the city - occurring instead in residential areas and the city centre. Mordex are here until 1955 when I suspect the area was cleared as part of the post-war rebuilding programme, it's likely their site is now occupied by either the city's covered market or Decathlon https://www.google.com/maps/@53.3735167 ... 312!8i6656.
In 1956 they move about half a mile to the Laycock And Sons building at 37 Suffolk Road near the railway station, which they share both with Laycock and with Hill Bros, Silversmiths https://www.google.com/maps/@53.375842, ... 312!8i6656. At this time they drop the Precision Industries part of their name and the reference to tools and jigs. In 1961, still at Suffolk Road, they add the description 'Fishing Tackle' to their name.
In 1963 they're found at 34 Walker Street, a mile or so away, in a part of town known as The Whicker, an area of small industrial units in buildings dating back to the mid 19th century, they've dropped Fishing Tackle from their name (though it's still there in their Kelly's listing).
The next year they've moved again, though less than 100 yards, and they're in what will remain their home for the rest of their time: Seal House on Andrew Street. They're now describing themselves again as 'Engineers'. In 1972 they acquire additional premises at Snow Lane, another nearby area of small back street industrial units but by 1980 only Seal House is listed. Their last listing is in 1983. Not long after buildings in this area start being razed to make car parks and if Seal House didn't go then, in 2005 Andrew St itself is flattened to build the final part of Sheffield Inner Ring Road (now known as Derek Dooley Way). Here's a view of Andrew Street just before this happened: https://www.picturesheffield.com/fronte ... 6&prevUrl=. It's possible that one of the older buildings you can see in the middle distance was Seal House.
I think I need to go and change my anorak.