Gillett & Johnston Employees
We are trying to create a catalogue of all employees who have worked at Gillett’s dating back to 1844. Most of the employee records sadly have been either lost or destroyed. They form a hugh part of the history of the firm and Croydon and we would dearly love to hear from anyone who had relatives who worked at Gillett’s.
The factory used to cover 5 acres of land and employed during the war years over 1250 men and women helping to make munitions, working day and night.
Gillett employees by the Freedom Bell in Croydon
Gillett employees at the Grandison Ballroom in Norbury dated 20th January 1948.
The picture below is of a staff party in 1948 and I love the notice that Jitterbugging is strictly prohibited. The picture on the left is of Gillett engineers and the Freedom Bell which was made in the factory before being sent to Berlin.