200 years ago in 1816 two brothers George & James Haden established a business in Trowbridge Wiltshire.


I worked as Company Training Manager for the direct successor to this business from 1996-2008. Haden Young took great pride in perpetuating its tradition through its “built to last” slogan and portraits of the founders hung in every office.  Sadly in 2009 it’s by then parent company decided to merge it with another organisation and abandon the brand, just a few years short of the bicentenary milestone.  A number of other businesses shared this Haden heritage including the former Australian Branch which still uses some Haden branding and Haden International (Drysis) was a huge business until relatively recently.    

 

The history of Haden is also an integral part of the history of Boulton & Watt. Both brothers followed their father George senior into that iconic business by serving Apprenticeships.  

 

This is set out here http://www.hevac-heritage.org/electronic_books/haden/1-haden.pdf  http://www.hevac-heritage.org/electronic_books/haden/2-haden.pdf  http://www.hevac-heritage.org/electronic_books/haden/3-haden.pdf  http://www.hevac-heritage.org/electronic_books/haden/4-haden.pdf

 

Many current careers were nurtured by Haden Young which continued for nearly two centuries the traditions of training via Apprenticeships that the founders had followed. In the post war period the commitment of GN Haden (still family owned then) to the National College is still recognised at London South Bank University.

 

For anyone local to Trowbridge I received the following from Hannah Lyddy at the Trowbridge Museum. We have some objects and information relating to Hadens on permanent display within the Museum and more in our Reserve Collection if you ever wished to have a look through,although this would be by appointment.

 

I have also been in communication with CIBSE and Frank Ferris who contributed to the publication linked above. Haden Family members were highly influential in the formation of IHVE (now CIBSE) with 3 family members holding the presidency. I understand that plans are in place for another reunion of Haden Bristol Branch members.