In 1786 Richard Wall, founder of the Wall’s dynasty and father of Thomas Wall, opened his successful business in St James’s Market, London , very rapidly earning a reputation as a fine pork butcher and in 1812 Richard received the first Royal Appointment to George, Prince of Wales as “Purveyor of Pork” and Richard continued to serve him as both Prince Regent and later as King George III.

In 1817 Thomas Wall was born followed by a sister Eleanor, in 1824.

Richard Wall’s success continued and by 1834 his business was legendary. He moved the business to larger more prestigious premises at 113 Jermyn Street. However, in 1834 Richard Wall died leaving his widow, Ann, and 19 year old son Thomas Wall to run the business. They continued trading as Ann Wall and Son. Ann died very shortly after the death of her husband and Thomas Wall took sole charge of the business plus the care of his 14 year old sister.

The business continued to thrive and in 1846 Thomas Wall II was born. His apprenticeship in the business finished in1870 and then the firm continued to trade as Thomas Wall & Son. The second son, Frederick, joined the business in 1878 giving rise to the historic company and brand “Thomas Wall & Sons”. The business maintained its high level of recognition and received a series of Royal Appointments from Queen Victoria, Kings Edward VII, George IV and George V.

Despite the shortages of the first world war years and loss of able bodied men, the business continued to thrive. It was the issue of falling summer meat sales and the consequent need to lay off staff that pushed the business in the 1920s to successful diversification into ice cream.

Today the legacy of Thomas Wall & Sons is evident in shops throughout the world where Wall’s sausages and Wall’s ice cream represent distinctive and prestigious brand names , although each is now owned and marketed by separate, large multi- national companies-Kerry Group and Unilever, respectively.

Thomas Wall-the philanthropist

Thomas Wall II (1846-1930), a committed philanthropist set up the Thomas Wall Trust in 1920. Apart from his evident business acumen, he was a Westminster City Councillor and a pioneer of social advancement, having helped financially almost every educational movement of his day. He supported the adult School Movement and the Workers’ Educational Association as well as the YMCA. He made a major contribution to establish open spaces and playing fields in various outskirts of London. In setting up the Thomas Wall Trust it was his and the original Trustees’ wishes that the Trust should benefit education and social service. This included aid for both individuals and institutions. Specific mention is made also of support for poor widows and those who, through poverty, are without the means to advance their education.