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W H Darby is a family-owned business with a passion for fine crafted products. We are passionate about our items, as well as the service you receive from us, and are proud to that all manufacture takes place in our factory in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, by our highly skilled craftsman.
View our video to find out more about the company and read on to discover the rich heritage and history of our business.
Founded in 1886 as A.H. Darby Ltd. The founder, Alfred Horatio Darby, worked in the trade as a die-sinker and even won the Apprentice Medal for die-sinking at the age of 18. A.H.Darby were established as a company of die-sinkers, medallists and badge-makers.
Alfred’s son, William Harold Darby, joined the company in 1921 at the age of 14 as an apprentice die-sinker and learnt all aspects of the trade. In 1950 William (or Bob, as he was known), took over the company following the retirement of his father, renaming it W.H. Darby & Son Ltd.
In changing times following the war, the market for medals alone could not sustain the company, and so it diversified into sports trophies. This led to substantial growth in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, with competitors entering and dropping out of the market almost daily. However, a few companies became trophy specialists, leaving W.H. Darby & Son with a smaller portfolio of trophies, medals and enamel badges. The company continued in this fashion until 1983.
In 1983 the company was passed onto William’s daughter, Salie, and her husband, David, and was renamed W H Darby Ltd. It was the middle of the recession, leaving the company with only eight employees and few orders. The 1980s were spent building up the business through the manufacture of medals and enamel badges, instead of the sports trophies, as they were in sharp decline due to Chinese products at very low prices. At the end of the decade, China entered the enamel badge market in force, causing the company to look for new products and markets.
The company identified Council insignia as a potential area for growth and took over T J Skelton Ltd, Masonic Manufacturers, to help with production. This was a success, and it led to a major new market segment for the company. In 1991, W H Darby had the opportunity to quote for manufacturing insignia to replace those stolen by the Iraqis from the Kuwait Royal Family during the first Gulf War. The company won the order and had a foot in the market.
From there the company invested time and energy in the foreign insignia market and won a growing number of important orders and customers. Needing increased manufacturing resources, the company took over Vaughtons Ltd in 1994 and the next 11 years saw steady and controlled growth.
In March 2005, the present owners, Steve and Linda Hobbis, bought WH Darby Ltd, and it has successfully grown since then. The company has faithfully maintained the standards of quality, attention to detail and service that were set over two centuries ago, and the company has continued to grow substantially in the bespoke jewellery, insignia, medals and state gifts sector.
We have several companies within the WH Darby umbrella providing a range of services both direct to customer and to industry. Contact us to discuss your requirements and we’ll direct you to the right place, including:
W H Darby Ltd
16 Well Street,
Birmingham
B19 3BJ
