William Gaymer & Son Ltd Round Black Backed Steel

William Gaymer & Son Ltd blacked backed steel tray dating from the 1930s.

Origins of the Norfolk Firm

The origins of the Norfolk firm date from the 17th century.
The modern founder of the business was the second William Gaymer who, by the mid 1800s, built the family business to the point where it employed 400 men, had a London office, held a Royal Warrant, traded strongly in the export market, and was a household name.
Before the turn of the 20th century Gaymers had won seven awards at Royal Agricultural Shows and The Royal Horticultural Society's silver Banksian Medal.

The Attleborough Factory

In 1896 Gaymers moved its business from Banham to Attleborough.
The Company was registered in 1906 as William Gaymer & Son Ltd.
In 1940 the factory was seriously damaged by enemy bombing, which resulted in a reconstruction which was completed in 1947.

Showerings Ltd Acquisition

In 1961 the Company was acquired by Showerings Ltd in Shepton Mallet.
Showerings merged with Allied Breweries Ltd in 1968 and the Company became Allied-Lyons plc.
The cider business was demerged via a management buyout in 1992, and a new Company called the Gaymer Group was formed.
In 1994 the Gaymer Group was purchased by Matthew Clark plc which transferred all its production to Shepton Mallet.
The Attleborough factory was closed in 1995.
Matthew Clark was purchased by Constellation Brands in 1998 which sold the Company to the C&C Group PLC in 2010.
In 2016 it was announced that production would be transferred from Shepton Mallett to Clonel in Ireland.

The manufacturer's mark states - Made in England by B.A.T.Co.Ltd Smethwick