The Company was started in the 1850s by Mr. Dixon Hall, the son of the first Constable of Batley, Mr. Willie Hall.

Our founder was firstly a mill and colliery furnisher and ironmonger selling such items as brattice cloth and detonators to the mines, and steam and fire fighting equipment to the mills. Some of the suppliers with whom he did business in the early days are still on our books today. The early records of the company are currently on loan to the Bagshaw Museum, Batley. They make interesting reading when compared to today's situation.

In 1882 Dixon Hall was joined by his nephew William Hall Watson who trained by travelling the district (on foot) and bringing back orders from as far away as Wakefield, which were delivered by horse and cart or, for shorter journeys, by hand cart. During this period the revolution in manufacturing produced many new household goods and more sophisticated tools and ironmongery so the business, situated on the main Batley shopping street, began to look increasingly to the retail trade for extra business. The picture currently hanging in the Directors room at Grafton Street gives a very clear idea of the business at that time.

Mr. Hall had relinquished the business to his nephew in 1907 and steady development was seen in the ironmongery and tool side until his son James and daughter Ada joined Mr. Watson just before the Great War.

James Watson, returning from army service after being wounded was given the task of expanding the company into Birstall, which at that time was humming with wool textile activity. Ada Watson then married her returning soldier, Edwin Barraclough, who was taken into the business by his father-in-law after a brief teaching career.

In 1923 the present company was formed with Mr W. H. Watson as Managing Director with Mr. James Watson and Mr. Edwin Barraclough his Directors. The company survived the depression of the twenties during which period the domestic and sports goods sections were added.

Just before World War II the widening of Commercial Street caused an upheaval due to the demolition of the premises that were later rebuilt in a prime location on the wider street. These new premises were developed further when Mr. William Hall Watson, son of James returned from army service, to be followed a year later by Mr. Alan Watson Barraclough, son of Mr. Edwin, when his army service was completed.

At this period there was rapid development of the retail side and the shop was extended and split into back-door industrial business and front-door domestic business. The mill furnishing business of Coates of Batley was acquired and absorbed, and the Hick Lane Chapel building was purchased and used as a warehouse.

Further expansion took place with the purchase of Taylors of Morley which was renamed Dixon Hall (Morley) Limited and managed by Mr. Gerald Archer, and later by the merger with Messrs. T. Brook & Sons of Dewsbury and Ravensthorpe which brought Mr. Geoffrey Brook into the company as our fifth Director.

As the textile industry declined, our company was able to increase its business due to the proliferation of new light industries into the now empty mills. During this period an upsurge of D.I.Y., Hardware and Gardening activity by the large supermarket groups began to point us in a new direction and in 1970 the company acquired Grafton Street premises form the Yorkshire Co-operative Laundry Federation.

Our activities were now directed to the industrial scene and we developed the company into a complete Industrial Supplier of ironmongery, pipework, tools and engineering goods and fasteners. This proved to be very successful and forced the company into early computerisation in order to cope with the accounting work that had been generated.

All the business from Brook's Dewsbury customers was brought into the new headquarters and the old Dewsbury premises were sold. Mr. Nigel Brook joined the company and was made a Director upon the retirement of his father in 1981.

New followed a period of rapid change when Mr. W.H. Watson's sons James Simon and John were appointed Directors along with Mr. A.W. Barraclough's daughter and son-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Whitaker. The Morley premises were sold, the company re-named Dixon Hall (Wakefield) Limited and housed in large premises on the riverside at Chantry Bridge, Wakefield. The Birstall and Commercial Street, Batley premises were then sold and a new company Dixon Hall (Bradford) limited was produced (from the now dormant Coates of Batley) and housed in new, purpose built premises in the outskirts of Bradford, opening August 1985.

Mr. W. H. Watson retired in August 1990, and in the following January Mr. A. W. Barraclough at the age of 65, reduced his working hours by half and was appointed Chairman in the March. Mr Nigel Brook became Managing Director.

In the November of 1992 the Company took a huge technological step forward when it introduced a new fully integrated computer system. For the first time all the sites were linked to the central processor at the head office in Batley and point of sale terminals were installed throughout completely doing away with the need for hand-written despatch notes. The system also encompassed stock control for the first time.

Always looking for expansion the company tried an alternative approach in November 1994 with the launch of Branch 5. This branch consisted of nothing more than a high profile van and a Branch Manager with the brief to generate sales from anywhere outside the existing customer base.

The Company's achievements in streamlining both procedures and premises were rewarded in May 1995 with its accreditation to the European Quality Standard ISO9002.

Mr. A. W. Barraclough stood down as Chairman in January 1996 but still retained some contact with the Company.

The young board of directors determined to keep at the forefront of modern technology embraced the INTERNET with a Dixon Hall home page in the following March, and set up a customer facility on the computer allowing remote order entry.

Dixon Hall expanded further during 1998 and again in 2001 by opening branches in Sheffield and Leeds. Both these branches have since closed.

Mr Nigel Brook retired at the end of 2005 leaving the company with four directors – Mr John Watson, Mr Jim Watson and Mr & Mrs Richard Whitaker.

In early 2006 the company’s computer system undertook a further upgrade with the installation of a new server at Batley connecting to the branches via broadband.

Death Of Mr Dixon Hall

Leading Tradesman Of Batley and Captain of the Old Fire Brigade

Mr Dixon Hall, Park Villa, Grosvenor Road, Batley, a well-known resident and former tradesman of the town, passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 72. Much sympathy will be felt with his widow, who is in delicate health, their daughter, Mrs Harry H Dyson, and other relatives by whom he will be sadly missed. Ten years ago Mr Dixon Hall made a splendid recovery from a serious internal complaint. Three weeks ago there was a recurrence of the trouble, but only within the last few days did it become apparent that the end was near. He was under the assiduous care of Dr DJ Stewart of Soothill.

Mr Dixon Hall was a native of Batley, and son of the late Mr William Hall, who had the distinction of being the first Constable of Batley, before the police force was instituted. When the latter came into being he was transferred to Dewsbury, and finally became superintendent at Pontefract. He died at Osbourne Terrace, Field Hill, Batley at the ripe age of 84.

Mr Dixon Hall was one of three brothers. The only one now living is Mr Walter Hall, formerly of the National Telephone Service, and now residing at Scarborough. The other brother was Mr Alfred Hall, an ironmonger of Cleckheaton, who died two years ago at Ripley, Yorks.

A surviving sister is Mrs Sheard, wife of Benjamin Sheard, of Wakefield, formerly of Batley.

The late Mr Dixon Hall had not long finished an apprenticeship at Leeds when, half a century ago, he took over the ironmongery business, in Commercial Street, Batley of the late Mr William Roberts. The block of buildings, of which his shop formed a portion, were the main business premises in that part of town. Ten years ago he retired from the business, which was taken over by his nephew, Mr William Hall Watson, who had been with him for a period of 20 years, and who has since traded as Dixon Hall and Co.

Although he took no share in local administrative work the deceased served the community in one special direction. He was one of the first organizers of The Old Batley Fire Brigade, and during his association with it became captain. In course of time the Merryweather steamer was sold to the corporation, who took over control of the Brigade. When the negotiations for the purchase of the engine from Messrs. Merryweather were in progress, Mr Dixon Hall visited London, and was taken on one of the firm’s engines to a fire. His experiences through the streets of London and at the fire he was never tired of relating in after years.

Mr Hall was also closely associated with the late Mr Colbeck Dyson, father of Mr Harry Dyson, of Woodfield, in promoting the welfare of the now defunct Batley Antiquarian Society. He was treasurer of the society, and retained many pleasant recollections of its meetings and excursions. The deceased was also an old member of the Nelson of the Nile Lodge of Free Masons, was at one time a member of the Howley Hall Golf Club and formerly took a keen interest in the proud doings of Batley Athletic and Football Club.

He married Miss Pamela Colbeck, daughter of the late Mr Isaac Colbeck, of Lady Ann Mills, Batley, and Briar Mills, Birstall. Theirs was among the first of the weddings to be celebrated in the then new church of Saint Thomas’, and they have been associated with this church ever since. There are five grandchildren.

The internment will be at Batley cemetery