Middlemores Saddles
Middlemores Saddles was an English manufacturer of horse saddles, military saddlery, bicycle saddles, and related accessories with origins in nineteenth-century Birmingham.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Middlemores Saddles was an English saddlery and bicycle-saddle business whose documented history stretches from the early nineteenth century to its liquidation in 1991. The enterprise originated with Richard Middlemore at 31 Holloway Head in Birmingham. Following the dissolution of Richard Middlemore & Sons on 31 December 1831, his sons William and James settled the firm's debts and recommenced the business as William Middlemore. William and James initially operated jointly, but William assumed control by mutual agreement in 1841. The Birmingham operation became an important manufacturer of horse saddles and associated equipment during the pre-motorised era. Its work included supplying military customers, and the company grew into a substantial employer. In 1860 it reportedly employed around 400 people, placing it among the larger industrial employers in Britain. A House of Lords Select Committee investigation into wages paid by government contractors recorded William Middlemore as paying particularly high wages compared with other firms in the sector. The business remained connected to the Middlemore family for several generations. William retired in 1881 and was succeeded as head of the firm by his son Thomas Middlemore, who was also known for mountaineering. Thomas retired from the business in 1896. The company broadened its activities during the late nineteenth-century expansion of cycling. In 1896, William Middlemore combined with Lamplugh & Co. to form Middlemore & Lamplugh Ltd. Around the same period, the business acquired a factory at 89 Little Park Street in Coventry, where it produced bicycle saddles and accessories in addition to its established saddlery interests. This diversification helped transfer part of the brand's identity from traditional horse equipment to bicycle components. A corporate reorganisation in 1920 divided the activities. The Holloway Head factory was absorbed by D. Mason & Sons Ltd, while the Coventry bicycle-saddle operation became a separate company, Middlemores (Coventry) Ltd. Contemporary advertising described the Coventry company as the successor to Middlemore & Lamplugh. Products made after this transition commonly carried the Middlemores or Middlemore name, applied either as a side stamp, a rear badge, or both depending on the model. The Coventry business continued developing bicycle saddles through the mid-twentieth century. It expanded to premises on Torrington Avenue in 1953, although the Little Park Street site remained in use until 1961, when a compulsory purchase order connected with local redevelopment forced its closure. Documented products included the tri-sprung B3 and the sport-oriented B89 and B89N. The B89N incorporated a narrower cutaway-sided design, and its nosepiece bore a patent number associated with an application made in 1960 and granted in 1961. The company also produced rebadged saddles for bicycle manufacturers, including the M89 for Moulton and saddles carrying Trusty or Viscount branding for Trusty of England's Viscount bicycles. A former employee recalled that the firm made a saddle for Princess Margaret, although the specific model and date are not established here. Middlemores retained a presence in the bicycle-component market into the late twentieth century, but the company ultimately became insolvent. At an extraordinary general meeting held on 21 May 1991 at 141 Great Charles Street, Birmingham, members resolved that the company could not continue because of its debts and agreed to voluntary liquidation. The brand is therefore best understood as a defunct British manufacturer with a long industrial lineage spanning military saddlery, equestrian equipment, and bicycle saddles rather than as a contemporary consumer brand.
History
Middlemores Saddles developed from a Birmingham saddlery business associated with Richard Middlemore at 31 Holloway Head. After Richard Middlemore & Sons was dissolved at the end of 1831, William and James Middlemore paid the firm's debts and restarted the enterprise as William Middlemore. The brothers initially shared control, but William became the sole controlling partner in 1841. The firm supplied horse saddles and related equipment to military customers during the period when horse transport remained central to military and civilian life. By 1860 the company employed approximately 400 workers. Its employment practices attracted favorable attention in a House of Lords Select Committee inquiry into wages paid by contractors, which identified William Middlemore as paying comparatively strong wages. The business remained a family concern. William retired in 1881, after which his son Thomas became head. Thomas left the firm in 1896, the same year in which the company entered a new phase through its combination with Lamplugh & Co. The resulting Middlemore & Lamplugh Ltd acquired premises at 89 Little Park Street in Coventry and manufactured bicycle saddles and accessories there. The move reflected the rapid growth of cycling and gradually gave the Middlemore name a second industrial identity beyond horse saddlery. In 1920 the corporate structure changed again. The Holloway Head operations were absorbed into D. Mason & Sons Ltd, while the Coventry bicycle division was separated as Middlemores (Coventry) Ltd. Advertising presented the new company as the successor to Middlemore & Lamplugh. The Coventry business marked its products with Middlemores or Middlemore branding. Depending on the model, a saddle might have a side stamp, a rear badge, or both. The range included the B3 tri-sprung saddle and the B89 and B89N sports saddles. The B89N used a narrower, cutaway-sided form and carried a patent number linked to an application made in 1960 and granted in 1961. Middlemores also manufactured saddles for other bicycle companies. Its M89 was supplied for Moulton bicycles, while saddles for Trusty of England's Viscount range used customer branding rather than the standard Middlemores marks. The Little Park Street site continued after the 1953 move to Torrington Avenue but closed in 1961 after compulsory acquisition for redevelopment. The company nevertheless remained active in bicycle saddles and accessories for decades. A former employee also recalled a saddle made for Princess Margaret, though available material does not identify the model or establish a date. The business survived on paper until 1991. At a meeting on 21 May that year, held at 141 Great Charles Street in Birmingham, members concluded that debts made continued trading impossible and voted for voluntary liquidation. Middlemores Saddles consequently represents a long-lived British manufacturing lineage that transitioned from military and equestrian saddlery to bicycle components before disappearing as an operating company.
- 1991
Voluntary liquidation
[1]The company entered voluntary liquidation after members determined that its debts made continued business impossible.
- 1961
Little Park Street factory closes
[1]The original Coventry site closed following compulsory purchase for municipal redevelopment.
- 1953
Expansion to Torrington Avenue
[1]The Coventry operation expanded to a new site on Torrington Avenue.
- 1920
Coventry division becomes a separate company
[1]The Birmingham operation was absorbed by D. Mason & Sons, while the bicycle business became Middlemores (Coventry) Ltd.
- 1896
Formation of Middlemore & Lamplugh Ltd
[1]The business joined Lamplugh & Co. and expanded its bicycle-saddle manufacturing through a Coventry factory.
- 1881
Thomas Middlemore becomes head of the firm
[1]William retired and his son Thomas succeeded him as head of the company.
- 1860
Workforce reaches approximately 400
[1]The Birmingham factory was recorded as employing about 400 people, making it a major employer in the sector.
- 1841
William Middlemore assumes sole control
[1]William took over the business from James by mutual agreement.
- 1831
William and James Middlemore restart the business
[1]After Richard Middlemore & Sons was dissolved, William and James settled the debts and recommenced the enterprise as William Middlemore.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as a durable British saddlery manufacturer serving military and equestrian customers, later extending its manufacturing expertise into bicycle saddles and private-label bicycle components.
Bicycle saddle
B3
The B3 was a tri-sprung bicycle saddle in the Middlemores range. Its spring-based construction was intended to provide additional suspension and comfort compared with a rigid bicycle saddle. It is one of the identifiable models associated with the company's post-1920 Coventry bicycle-saddle production.
Sport bicycle saddle
B89
The B89 was a sportier bicycle saddle made by Middlemores during its Coventry manufacturing period. It formed part of a range aimed at bicycles where a more performance-oriented saddle profile was preferred over the broader comfort designs associated with traditional sprung saddles.
Sport bicycle saddle · 1961
B89N
The B89N was a narrower, cutaway-sided variant of the B89. Its nosepiece carried patent number 20242/60, associated with an application made in 1960 and granted in 1961. The model is notable as an example of Middlemores' mid-century product development in bicycle saddles.
Private-label bicycle saddle
M89
The M89 was a Middlemores-made saddle supplied for Moulton bicycles. Rather than carrying only the manufacturer's standard branding, examples used a metal rear badge bearing the Moulton name, illustrating Middlemores' role as an original-equipment and rebadged-component supplier.
Private-label bicycle saddle
Viscount-branded saddles
Middlemores produced saddles for Trusty of England's Viscount bicycle range. These examples carried Trusty or Viscount markings, including a side stamp and plastic rear badge, and demonstrate the company's manufacturing relationships with bicycle brands.
Brand decisions
1991
Voluntary liquidation because of debtOtherBackground
By May 1991 the company was unable to continue trading because of its debts.
Action taken
Members voted at an extraordinary general meeting to place the company into voluntary liquidation.
Aftermath
The operating history of the company ended, leaving Middlemores as a defunct historical bicycle-saddle and saddlery name.
1920
Separation of Birmingham and Coventry operationsStrategyBackground
The combined business was reorganised after more than two decades of operating horse-saddlery and bicycle-saddle activities.
Action taken
The Holloway Head factory was absorbed by D. Mason & Sons Ltd, and the Coventry bicycle division became Middlemores (Coventry) Ltd.
Aftermath
The Middlemores name continued primarily through bicycle saddles and accessories made in Coventry.
1896
Diversification into bicycle saddlesStrategyBackground
The established horse-saddlery business operated during the rapid expansion of cycling and sought to add bicycle-related manufacturing.
Action taken
The company joined Lamplugh & Co. and acquired a Coventry factory for bicycle saddles and accessories.
Aftermath
The Coventry operation became the long-term centre of the Middlemores brand after the Birmingham activities were separated in 1920.
Recent events
- 1991
Middlemores entered voluntary liquidation[1]
Bankruptcy
At a 21 May extraordinary general meeting, the company resolved that it could not continue because of debt and agreed to voluntary liquidation.
- 1961
Little Park Street factory closed after compulsory purchase[1]
Regulation · Other
The original Coventry bicycle-saddle site was forced to close after a council compulsory purchase order connected with planned redevelopment.
- 1953
Middlemores expanded to Torrington Avenue[1]
Other
The Coventry operation expanded to premises on Torrington Avenue while continuing to use the Little Park Street site for a period.
- 1920
The business was divided between Birmingham and Coventry operations[1]
Other
The Birmingham factory was absorbed by D. Mason & Sons, while the Coventry bicycle division became Middlemores (Coventry) Ltd.
- 1896
Middlemore & Lamplugh formed and Coventry bicycle production expanded[1]
Other
The business joined Lamplugh & Co. and acquired a Coventry factory, adding bicycle saddles and accessories to its established saddlery activities.
Sources1 sources
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