George Osborne Barratt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Osborne Barratt
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George Osborne Barratt, founder of
Barratt & Co. Ltd., Confectioners |
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| Born | 1827 |
| Died | October 3, 1906 (aged 78–79) Crouch Hill, Middlesex
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| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Confectioner |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Peterson |
George Osborne Barratt (1827–1906) was a very successful sweet maker. When he was 21, he started his own company called Barratt & Co., Ltd.. He began in a small place in Hoxton.
Many of his brothers, sisters, and children helped him. This made the business grow very quickly. By the time George Barratt passed away, his company was the biggest sweet manufacturer in the world!
Later, in 1966, another company called Bassett's took over Barratt's. Then, Cadbury Schweppes bought it in 1989. Since 2008, it has been part of Tangerine Confectionery. The Barratt sweet brand name was brought back in 2018.
George's Family Life
George Osborne Barratt was born in 1827. He was one of fifteen children! His parents were William Barratt and Caroline Jane Harriskine. His family worked as bookbinders for law books.
George married Sarah Peterson on February 18, 1849. They got married in St Clement Danes, Westminster. They had eleven children together: six girls and five boys. All their children were born in Hoxton.
In February 1899, George and Sarah celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. This is called a golden wedding. They had a big party that lasted three days! First, they had a fancy dinner. Then, they held banquets for their employees. About 200 male employees had a party one day. The next day, 250 female employees had their own celebration.
George Barratt was sick for many years. He passed away on October 3, 1906, at his home in Crouch Hill. He was buried next to his wife in Highgate Cemetery. She had passed away the year before.
People knew George Barratt as a very hard worker. He loved his business. He once said he wasn't good at making sweets himself. But he was great at "thinking" up new ones! The newspapers even called him the "King of Confectioners."
Starting the Sweet Business
George Barratt did not follow his family's bookbinding trade. After school, he worked in a lawyer's office for a few years. After he got married, he tried a short business with his brother James. They were pastry cooks.
Then, George started his own sweet-making business. He began with just one person who boiled sugar. His first shop was at 32 Shepherdess Walk in Hoxton. The business was a big success! It grew very fast. He bought nearby buildings to make more space.
George himself would travel around London. He used a pony and trap to deliver and sell his sweets. When his oldest son, George (born 1852), was about 17, he took over these trips. George senior then traveled to sell sweets across larger parts of the country for the next 20 years.
One reason for the company's success was a sweet called 'stickjaw' toffee. It was said to have been made by accident. But children loved it!
The company soon became too big for its Hoxton location. So, they moved to a former piano factory. This new place was in Mayes Road, Wood Green, north of London. The first building was ready in 1882. By 1904, they used eight buildings on nearly 5 acres of land.
They had a big fire on October 18, 1899. Five buildings were destroyed. But they rebuilt and kept going! Two years later, about 2,000 people worked there. They made 350 tonnes of sweets every week. This made Barratt's the largest sweet maker in the world!
After George Barratt's Death
George Barratt passed away in 1906. His oldest son, George William (1851-1928), took over the company. He became the new chairman.
