Career
In 1823, Nettlefold opened a hardware store at 54 High Holborn, London. This was followed in 1826 by a workshop to make woodscrews based in Sunbury-on-Thames. The Sunbury factory was powered by a waterwheel and Nettlefold saw the importance of motive power when he took advantage of steam power in a new factory in Baskerville Place, off Broad Street, Birmingham.
In 1854, Nettlefold acquired the opportunity to purchase a license to manufacture to a United States. patent for a novel woodscrew.
The license, and the establishment of a new factory, demanded an investment of £ 30,000. One of Edward John"s sons was John Sutton Nettlefold Justice of the Peace. In later years, the management of Nettlefold and Chamberlain was passed to Joseph and Frederick Nettlefold, and later was absorbed into Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, now GKN plc is a multinational engineering company headquartered in Redditch.
