Prattens on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
F. Pratten and Co Ltd, commonly known as Prattens, was a business located in
The business was founded in 1912 by 26 year old Frank Pratten, a coal miner's son from Westfield, He had previously worked for another local firm, W. Edgell, but acquired a small premises off Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton, and began making prefabricated buildings with Frank Bourne. They manufactured ammunition sheds during
Raising of the school leaving age in the UK to 15 in 1945 prompted the HORSA hut programme. The subsequent increase to 16 in 1972 led to ROSLA classroom blocks. Both generated demand for prefabricated classrooms. Expected lifespan of the huts was only twenty-five years but many survived long after. Some examples from the 1950s – 1970s are still in use.
Prattens also manufactured
Pratten Terrace is built at the former factory entrance and The Timbers opposite it, their names echoing the firm and its
Prattens factory, 1933
Pratten hen hut and maker's plate
Midsomer Norton
Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills in Bath and North East Somerset, England, south-west of Bath, Somerset, Bath, north-east of Wells, Somerset, Wells, north-west of Frome, west of Trowbridge and south-east of Bristol. It has ...
that manufactured prefabricated
Prefabrication is the practice of assembling components of a structure in a factory or other manufacturing site, and transporting complete assemblies or sub-assemblies to the construction site where the structure is to be located. Some research ...
buildings. Production included portable classrooms that were widely used after World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
History
Early years
The business was founded in 1912 by 26 year old Frank Pratten, a coal miner's son from Westfield, He had previously worked for another local firm, W. Edgell, but acquired a small premises off Charlton Road, Midsomer Norton, and began making prefabricated buildings with Frank Bourne. They manufactured ammunition sheds during World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
.
Post war, Frank's brothers Ernest and Bertram joined the business. Economic difficulties during the inter-war years made low-cost prefabricated buildings attractive and business grew. In 1922 the firm offered garages from as little a £12 15 s delivered. Prattens described itself as a "Horticultural Builders" and between 1924 and 1926 incorporated as F Pratten & Co Ltd.
During World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, in common with many other workplaces, the company took on female factory workers to cover the shortfall left by men joining the armed forces.
Post-war boom
Raising of the school leaving age in the UK to 15 in 1945 prompted the HORSA hut programme. The subsequent increase to 16 in 1972 led to ROSLA classroom blocks. Both generated demand for prefabricated classrooms. Expected lifespan of the huts was only twenty-five years but many survived long after. Some examples from the 1950s – 1970s are still in use.
Prattens also manufactured shed
A shed is typically a simple, single-storey (though some sheds may have two or more stories and or a loft) roofed structure, often used for storage, for hobby, hobbies, or as a workshop, and typically serving as outbuilding, such as in a bac ...
s, greenhouse
A greenhouse is a structure that is designed to regulate the temperature and humidity of the environment inside. There are different types of greenhouses, but they all have large areas covered with transparent materials that let sunlight pass an ...
s, office units and garage
A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Specific applications include:
*Garage (residential), a building or part of a building for storing one or more vehicl ...
s, which were exported throughout the world.
In 1968, the firm employed 250 staff and its factory was "completely mechanised in spite of being housed in old buildings".
Beazer
The company remained a family business until 1980 when it was sold toBeazer
Beazer was a family business for six generationsC.H.Beazer (Holdings) Prospectus, July 1973 before expanding in the 1980s into an international home construction, housebuilding, construction, and building materials group. After becoming overburd ...
. The acquired firm's fortunes declined and the factory in Charlton Road was demolished in 1994 for housing development.
Asbestos
Legacy
Pratten Terrace is built at the former factory entrance and The Timbers opposite it, their names echoing the firm and its carpentry
Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, Shipbuilding, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. C ...
activities.
Two social club
A social club or social organization may be a group of people or the place where they meet, generally formed around a common interest, occupation or activity with in an organizational association known as a Club (organization), club. Exampl ...
s founded for Pratten's staff survive, both in Charlton Lane.
Prattens Sports and Social Club previously supported a Carnival Club that continued for some years after the firm closed.
Prattens Bowls
Bowls, also known as lawn bowls or lawn bowling, is a sport in which players try to roll their ball (called a bowl) closest to a smaller ball (known as a "jack" or sometimes a "kitty"). The bowls are shaped (biased), so that they follow a curve ...
Club was started in 1928 by Mr Thomas, a cashier at Prattens, and built using voluntary labour. For many years it had a male-only membership, and the members had to be employed by Prattens. Membership of both clubs is now open to all. Prattens Bowls Club was the site of a fatal hot air balloon
A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carri ...
accident in 2011.
A Pratten hut is used as community centre and live entertainment venue at Warminster Athenaeum
Warminster Athenaeum is a Victorian theatre in Warminster, Wiltshire, England, and a Grade II listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special pro ...
.
See also
*Shepherd Building Group
Shepherd Building Group Ltd is a family owned business, based in York, that manufactures, leases and sells modular buildings in the UK and Europe. Its brands include Portakabin and Portaloo.
The company was one of the largest privately owned Gen ...
External links
Prattens factory, 1933
Pratten hen hut and maker's plate
References
{{coord, 51.2764, -2.4720, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Family-owned companies of the United Kingdom Companies based in Somerset Manufacturing companies established in 1912 1912 establishments in England