A J Wells & Sons — the oldest British manufacturer of wood burning stoves, run by second and third generations of the same family — is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
It all started in 1972, when Alfred Wells and two of his sons, Alistair and John, started a small engineering business in Niton.
Since then, AJ Wells & Sons, the company behind the manufacture of Charnwood Stoves, has grown from its original small factory of around 1,500 sq. ft to its current site of over 50,000sq. ft.
Under the name AJ Wells & Sons, it has also become a major player in transport signage. In 1990, a vitreous enamel plant was installed, allowing the stoves to be enamelled in-house, giving birth to AJ Wells Vitreous Enamellers. This began a relationship with Transport For London, with AJ Wells becoming the principal supplier of signage for the London Underground.
The workforce has risen from the original team of three to well over 150 — many staff having worked with the company for more than 25 years.
Founder, John Wells said:
“As I look at the company now, one of the longest established British stove manufacturers selling fires to all corners of the globe I can't help thinking that this certainly wasn't part of our vision when we started back in February 1972. The main aim then was to make enough money to enable us to eat and pay the mortgage. In one sense it hasn't changed only now, with around 180 employees, it is more mouths to feed and more mortgages to pay.
“There have been many milestones along the road; the 70's oil crisis and Dutch Elm disease launched us on the path to selling fires and, because nobody made a decent small stove, making wood burning and multifuel stoves. This meant our chosen profession of metal fabricators and agricultural machinery repairers was gone forever as we embraced the brave new world. The late 80s saw the investment in an enamelling plant, initially to enamel our stoves, and the start of our thriving signage division. It also nearly bust us as (another) recession hit the country. It was possibly only the fact that banks couldn't sell houses in a depressed market that we stayed afloat!
“But stay afloat we did and our company grew with more products — both stoves and signs – more markets, more staff and of course more Wells'. What has been the basis of our success and longevity? We have great people. Our staff and the family have done amazing things over the years to produce great products and give great service — for them we are truly grateful.”
- 1994 Work for London Underground continued to grow as we undertook complete station refurbishments producing everything from doorplates to cladding
- AJ Wells and Sons was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise International Trade
- Charnwood
- IN1990~1
- Niton 1972. Established in 1972 by Alfred Wells and two of his sons. Started as a small engineering business in Niton and the Isle of Wight.
- Niton. Alfred Wells, Phil Wells and John Wells at the Niton Workshop.
- The Charnwood Cove range was launched at Priory Bay Country House. Over 100 guests from acround the world arrived by Hovercraft - landing on the beach
- THEFIR~1
- The Niton Workshop 1977
Yarmouth's Kings Head To Feature Bed And Breakfast Accommodation
New Low Cost Flats Could Come To Ryde - If Plans Get Approved
Casualty Airlifted To Hospital Following Serious Overnight Crash Near Porchfield
Engine Problems Lead To Yarmouth RNLI Callout To Osborne Bay
Ryde Academy Students Donate To Two Worthy Causes At Christmas
Road Improvement Works To Get Underway From The Very Start Of The New Year
Isle of Wight Youth Trust Benefits From Big Give Support
Council Chair 'Furious' Over Floating Bridge Replacement Fiasco
Fire Service Travel To Island Contributes To Huge Budget Overspend
Department Approaching Completion In Ryde As Opening Date Announced
Guidance Issued Over Sharps Disposal As Waste Teams At Risk
Police Warnings Over E-Scooters Ahead Of Christmas Day
Controversial Freshwater Housing Proposal Turned Down
Rare Mantis Shrimp Discovery Made In Waters Off Isle Of Wight
Man In 50s Confirmed Dead Following Newport Crash
Pedestrian In Hospital With Serious Injuries Following Early Morning Motorcycle Crash
Cowes Stately Home To Have Facilities Upgraded As Part Of Approved Renovation
Ofsted Deliver Glowing Report For 'Welcoming' And 'Highly Ambitious' Island Primary School
Help Available For Islanders To Cut Energy Bills
Cowes Lifeboat Performs Mid-Solent Rescue Of Fishing Boat
