Dates

• Existence: 1828 - 1897

Biography

Frederick Savage was born in Hevingham, Norfolk in 1828. Frederick’s parents worked as weavers in a textile factory, which hardly provided a living for the family. This situation was made significantly worse when his father, William Savage, was transported to Tasmania to serve a fourteen year hard labour sentence as punishment for poaching. Even though Frederick was still a child at this point he had to start contributing towards the subsistance of the family and aged ten years old, he started to work as a farm labourer in a local country estate making hurdles. This however, didn’t provide good prospects and still at a young age, he entered an apprenticeship under Thomas Cooper at Whitesmith and Machine Maker, a company based in East Dereham. This no doubt sparked his interest in mechanical engineering and by the time Frederick was twenty years old, he moved to King’s Lynn to work for Charles Willett, a brazier, tinplate worker, ironmonger, wholesale and retail dealer. Two years later upon his employer’s retirement, he set up Savages Works making and repairing agricultural and fairground showmen's equipment.

The business expanded through the 1860s and 1870s with the company occupying increasingly larger premises to accommodate more ambitious development projects and manufacturing. Savages became one of the most sought after manufacturers in the British and international markets selling their products to America, Europe, Africa and Australia.

Frederick was appointed a Justice of the Peace and elected Mayor of Kings Lynn from 1889 to 1890 due to his contribution to the town of King's Lynn and its people and a statute was erected in his honour in 1892.

Frederick died in 1897 aged 69 years old. His sons took over the family company and produced a very successful series of steam lorries for the UK and international market. The company he started from humble beginnings survived until 1973.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: