HOW HARLOW HAS EVOLVED
1920s In the 1920s, Harlow Brothers began operations in the depths of the recession when brothers Reg and Vernon — who had been making ladders and wheelbarrows in the back garden of the family house — decided to go into business on their own. The business of making small sheds and chicken huts began in a field, which had been left to them by their mother in Long Whatton’s Hathern Road, and that’s where the company’s headquarters stands today.
1930s The business prospered and the thirties saw the brothers employing some 30 members of staff, mainly from the local village. Vernon Harlow’s poultry knowledge enabled the business to expand and he set up an accredited farm on the green at Long Whatton, where poultry houses were designed and manufactured. This became the main part of the business, in addition to the greenhouses, sheds and garages. Developing their craft, the brothers moved in to making prefabricated wooden bungalows. Some of these can still be seen in the village today on Turvey Lane, just as they were when built 80 years ago.
1950s World War Two brought forced changes to the business. The enterprising Harlow Brothers manufactured air raid shelters until supplies of sheet steel were exhausted. This was followed by the production of ladders for the fire service — essential during the Blitz. In response to imported timber shortages, a sawmill was built for English timber production. Woodland was purchased and timber converted for essential uses like railway sleepers and pit props. Vernon’s sons Bill, Bob and John returned to the firm after active wartime service and the manufacturing business restarted. At this time, the company produced farm trailers and started to return to poultry house production, although business was slow due to continued restriction on imported timber.
2000s The turn of the century brought investment into engineered timber products with the acquisition of a local truss rafter manufacturer, H&S Timber Systems, in 2001. Further investment in a new plant and machinery resulted in doubled output and a move to new purpose-built premises in 2004, when the company was re-branded Harlow Timber Systems.
Today Still a family-owned operation, Harlow Bros employs five members of the family and more than 200 employees in its various operations across 10 sites. It strives to provide a personal service to each and every customer.