Biddle and Webb in Icknield Square, Ladywood

I joined B&W in 1990 and knew Mr Biddle or as everyone called him Mr B. very well. We worked together to change the company from that of a sole trader to a limited company in May 1994. When Mr Biddle sadly died in February 1997, I took over as MD.

Mr Biddle was always one to look forward and worked hard every day to make the next sale the best that it could be. This is a good habit to have and one we continue to follow, but the down side is that he seemed not to worry or think about the past and what had happened. He was always very vague with me about the history of B&W.

From what I gleaned from him and his sons, the company was formed in the late 1950s/early 1960s, perhaps taking over another small scale auction, and may well have held auctions in church halls and the similar. The company’s co founder was a Mr Webb (I think Sydney) who I think may well have been the auctioneer side, when Mr Biddle brought the business skills and flare for PR and promotions. Mr Biddle was an entrepreneur and had run a couple of other businesses prior to starting the auction business.

In the 1960s, perhaps 1968ish, Mr Webb decided to leave and go to Australia I believe. Mr Biddle bought him out. I once asked him why he kept the name Biddle & Webb and did not call it Biddles, (which many people in my early years at B&W did call it). Mr Biddle told me he thought Biddle & Webb sounded more prestigious and established than Biddles.

He then ran it through the 1970s and 1980s as a partnership with his wife Betty. She predeceased him in the early 1990s.

We moved from Enfield Hall next to Five Ways station to Icknield Square in early 1970s, although for a number of years Mr Biddle kept both sites going, with Enfield Hall for pictures and antiques and Icknield Square for general and commercial auctions. Running to sites was he told me expensive and so when the current site had been improved he brought all the auctions to current location just off Ladywood Middleway.

Jeremy Thornton

Managing Director

Biddle & Webb Limited  

February 1967

February 1967

March 1967

126 Icknield Square, 1960