1904-1922

Gordon Russell was born in 1892 and moved to the village of Broadway at the age of 12.  Sydney Bolton Russell, Gordon’s father, purchased an inn, The Lygon Arms, in 1904 with the aim of turning it into a country hotel. Gordon attended school in Chipping Campden and left at the age of 16 to help with the family’s antique restoration and repair workshop (a business adjacent to the Lygon Arms which furnished the new hotel’s rooms). Working alongside skilled craftsmen, and an awareness of the nearby Guild of Handicraft workshops in Campden, led to an increasing interest in furniture design and the Arts & Crafts Movement for Gordon; such was Gordon’s interest, that prior to the First World War he began to design a number of pieces.

In 1914 both Gordon and his brother Don volunteered for the Worcestershire Regiment and served with distinction throughout the war in France, surviving many of the horrific battles, including Passendale, Ypres and the Somme. Returning in 1918 Gordon, having witnessed so much destruction, was determined to create work that would be valued by future generations. With his father’s support, together they set up Russell and Sons in 1922 – an enterprise that eventually would become known world wide.

1922 - 1930

At the time Gordon embarked on ‘The Broadway Adventure’, as he termed it, he clearly supported the philosophy of the Arts & Crafts Movement in terms of working conditions, housing, education, design and craftsmanship; however, his view on production methods differed somewhat. Gordon was a strong believer in the blend of hand and machine as a way of making affordable furniture for the “decent, ordinary man”- a direct comparison to the Movement’s strict no machinery ethos.

The leading pioneers of the Arts & Crafts Movement were by and large architects – Ashbee, Lutyens, Gimson, Voysey – but Gordon did not receive any formal design training; instead he was self taught, through reading and observation of traditional skills. Perhaps due to this, Gordon was especially committed to apprenticeships which eventually led to an established business employing 100 craftsmen and management.

As well as establishing a successful company, Gordon had many individual achievements including his designs for metalwork and glassware, alongside furniture, and designing over 1,000 products. It was also during this period, 1929, he opened opened his first shop in Wigmore Street, London.

1930 - 1940

In many ways this was the most challenging period for Gordon and his company. On the face of it, with a growing reputation, all seemed to be going well, but dark clouds were on the horizon with the great economic depression of the thirties.

Gordon recognised that firstly there was a changing market in terms of design. New ideas were sweeping in from Germany and Scandinavia and, ever pragmatic, Gordon had already suggested that his youngest brother, Dick, should train as an Architect- anticipating Dick would be better equipped to produce designs in the surge of the Modernist era. Once qualified he returned to Broadway, at which point Gordon relinquished his role as Designer, passing the mantle to Dick and a team of designers including David Booth, ‘Curly’ Russell (no relation) who had worked with Gordon for a number of years, and Eden Minns who had trained with Dick.

The firm, whilst embarking on a more modernist approach, was struggling fundamentally in the increasingly depressed markets. The shop in London had closed and the future seemed bleak until a remarkable saviour appeared in the form of the Murphy Radio Company. Gordon recalled that in 1930 he received a call from a Frank Murphy who said “ I am an engineer making radio sets and for some time have admired your furniture – would you like to design and make cabinets for me?” Gordon saw this as a challenge and an opportunity. It was to be a remarkable story, as over the next ten years Dick Russell and Eden Minns designed over 70 radio sets, gramophones and televisions – for some reason during the depression radios flourished! By 1939 the firm was employing close to 1,000 employees, the majority engaged in Murphy production in a newly built factory at Park Royal, London. A new and larger shop had opened again in Wigmore Street offering a much wider, affordable range of merchandise including furniture, curtains, carpets, rugs and china. Many of the soft furnishings were designed by Marian Pepler, a fellow student of Dick`s at the AA School of Architecture and now wife. Another major influence on the firm’s strategy was Nikolaus Pevsner who joined the firm in 1935 as a buyer. He was a refugee from Nazi Germany and brought to bear a wide knowledge of design.

The firm was now a leader in the field of design, working both in the retail and contract markets, furnishing hotels, colleges and offices. The success was to be short lived, however, as in 1939 Britain declared war on Germany and all furniture production ceased and turned to wartime contracts.

1939 - 1945

The war inevitably made great demands on the company. Firstly, many men left to join the forces and, in common with all the major furniture manufacturers, production switched to the needs of the war. In the case of Gordon Russell Ltd it involved aircraft recognition models for the Observation Corps; prototype aircraft parts; and latterly sections of the Mosquito bomber- where the firm’s experience of laminated radio cabinets was very beneficial. Mention should be made of the part played by women who joined the workshops and became highly skilled.

During November 1940, the factory was hit by incendiary bombs dropped across Broadway by, it is said, a stray bomber being pursued by RAF night fighters. A very fine thatched mediaeval barn was lost – ironically it was being used to store materials- fabrics, rugs and records- transferred from the London showroom for safety which escaped any damage!

Gordon played a major public role throughout the war. He was appointed by the Government to lead the design panel set up to manufacture utility furniture CC41. The challenge was to find literally hundreds of small workshops able to design a range of standard furniture to meet the needs of those who had lost their homes through bombing, or were newly married.  Although materials were in short supply, Gordon ensured that the furniture was well designed and well made – much of it remains in use to this day. In recognition of his contribution Gordon was awarded a CBE. In 1944 Gordon was invited to join the Board of Trade discussions to set up a national body to promote higher standards of industrial design. This would lead to a new and significant role in the post war years.

1945 - 1967

The end of the war saw a return to normal production in Broadway. The restrictions that had been imposed on the use of materials was eased, which enabled new designs to be introduced. With Gordon now committed to public service and spending much of his time in London, the workshops were effectively being run by Dick Bee and Ted Ould- both pre-war Directors. The design and drawing office was under the direction of ‘Curly’ Russell, with Dick Russell now running his own design practice in London, acting as consultant for Gordon Russell Ltd from time to time on specific projects. During this time Dick Russell was appointed Professor of the School of Wood, Metal & Plastics at the Royal College of Art.

Whilst Gordon was Chairman, his involvement in Government projects was taking the greater part of his time. The Council of Industrial Design, where Gordon played an integral role, had been launched in 1944 and in 1946 an exhibition to promote British Design –`Britain Can Make It` – was conceived (again Gordon was heavily involved). It was hugely successful with an attendance of one and a half million people. The Festival of Britain was the next big design event. Held in 1951 on the South bank of the Thames, it was without doubt one of the most exciting events to be held in post war Britain. In a war torn London the Exhibition celebrated the heritage of Britain and the way forward to new challenges. Gordon, as a member of the Council of Industrial Design, was heavily involved in the content and selection processes, as was brother Dick who designed the Lion and Unicorn building alongside Robert Goodden. The following year the Design Centre was opened in London. With Gordon as the Director, the Centre was a tremendous success in promoting British design world wide. It was, over the years, to become a mecca for design for the general public, designers and manufacturers alike.

In 1955 Gordon was awarded a Knighthood in recognition of his services to Design and Industry. Following his retirement in 1959, he took a more active interest in the work of the Company, at the same time setting up his own consultancy. Retirement also enabled him to return to his home Kingcombe and to complete the house and garden – a project that had been his passion since 1925.

 

1967 - 1986

1968 signalled changes – many of those who had been with Gordon Russell since the earliest days were approaching retirement. They included the two Managing Directors E.T. (Ted) Ould and W (Bill) Ould; Chief Designer W.H (Curly) Russell; the Head of Sales Val Freeman; the Works Manager Adriaan Hermsen; and many other key managers. In 1967 the Board decided to appoint a Design Director: Ray Leigh. An architect in partnership with Dick Russell, he was invited to join the firm as Dick was about to retire. Ray had worked closely with the firm for many years and accepted the appointment.  Some years later Laurie Wolder, working at that time with Heals, joined the firm as Sales Director, and a senior member of staff, Chris Whittard, became Finance Director.  In 1970 Bill Ould retired, and Ray became Managing Director. In the meantime Gordon’s brother Don had retired and Gordon again became Chairman.

With a whole new team in place, the firm was poised to go forward. At management level Trevor Chinn became Chief ‘in house designer’ and Martin Hall led the design team in the newly created Gordon Russell Contracts. The firm embarked on new domestic ranges, along with contract office furniture designed in house and by consultant designers. After some years the decision was made to withdraw from the domestic market and to concentrate on the designer led sector. Whilst regularly exhibiting in the UK, the firm turned to overseas markets including Europe, USA and the Middle East and established workshops in Japan in order to reach the Far East.

By now, the firm had achieved international success. In 1980 Sir Gordon Russell died at Kingcombe at 88. His contribution to British Design was recognised worldwide, and he was an inspiration to all those who had the good fortune to know him.  Ray Leigh was subsequently appointed Chairman until the firm was sold in 1986. Gordon Russell Obituary.  The Times.  8th October 1980.