| AdminHistory | The company was founded by Charles Vero (a master hatter, who came from a family of hatters in Atherstone) and James Everitt (a tallow chandler). Their first short-lived venture was a hat shop in Melbourne, Australia in the early 1850s. In June 1855, after moving back to England, Vero began to lease land in Atherstone and manufacture hats. The factory was built over a number of years on a former tannery site. Though James Everitt died in 1889, the company was incorporated as Vero & Everitt Limited by Charles Vero and Charles Everitt Thurlow (his nephew) on 14 March 1896 with a capital of £25,000.
The company supplied many thousands of military and uniform hats and helmets across the globe, particularly during the two World Wars of the 20th century (every soldier was also provided with a 'demob' hat after the end of the Second World War). However, after the war, hats became less popular and hat manufacturing began to decline. Vero & Everitt bought up other hatting businesses, including Oldham and Fogg of Hyde in August 1955.
Hat production at Vero & Everitt eventually ceased at the end of 1987. The company was absorbed into Wilson & Stafford, the last surviving hat manufacturer in Atherstone, until the firm closed in 1999.
For further information, see I. Beesley and J. Vero, 'Warwickshire Hatters' (1989) ref. C.687.Ver (P). |