A generous factory owner on Merseyside "sold his shares" in his family business to build former employees a village to live in. Well over a century ago, John Frankland Criddle was known for his philanthropy as well as Criddles Treacle Factory. Born in November 1876, Criddle's business manufactured treacle and syrup on Merton Grove in Descendants of John Criddle said he was known as 'Mr John' in the community and that he sold his shares in the company, using the money to buy land and build Merton Village in Ford in the 1930s.
Mr John died in April 1961 - but his legacy and the village is still alive today, The well-known brand was started by his father Mr John's father, William Criddle. Older generations will remember the old fashioned black treacle tins or spotting a Criddles Treacle sign whilst on the train from to Liverpool. it is believed William Criddle entered a partnership with the Billington family, which is said to have continued until the company was sold to Tate & Lyle.
Now, John Criddle and the work of his wife, Helah, is being celebrated in the village they created. Jan Assheton previously told the ECHO how her great-grandfather used his money from the sale to build Merton Village. It became known locally as 'Criddles Estate.
' She said: "He sold his shares and from that money he built Merton Village for the employees who had been very loyal to him for many many years. It was built in a very charitable way for people who had worked for him for a long time. "He buil.
