The Origins of the Thomas Wall Trust
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 multinationalcompanies - 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.