Deeside Laundry was founded in West Kirby in
1889 in the grimey days of Victorian Britain. In those days
the laundry was widely used by housemaids in large mansions
as well as proprietors of tea shops and restaurants. In those
early days the wash process was all hand operated and collections
and deliveries were made on a horse and cart.
A year after the laundry opened the founder sold
the company to his brother in law, a Matthew Grier and the business
remained with the Grier family for nearly 80 years. The business
quickly grew and in 1912 moved into its current premises in
Groveside. The building was full of dolly tubs and wicker baskets
and as trade boomed the laundry employed 50 people.
After World War II, domestic washing machines
became all the rage and it meant change was on the way. In 1968
the laundry was sold to Joseph Cross, father of the current
Chairman. The majority of the work would now come from industrial
sources as the business looked to change.
Deeside has entered the 21st century, a far
cry from the kitchen maids of Victorian houses and now works
with a complete spectrum of industries from restaurants and
hotels through to many varied industrial companies.
Summer 2002 saw the start of the next generation
for Deeside Laundry. The Chairman, David Cross, welcomed his
son Nick, as a Director of the company and so the tradition
as a family run business continues some 114 years after the
business was launched.
