Description:An abridged biography from the Handsworth Magazine. The full version is available for download.Pakington House was located at number 64 in Trinity Road.
Mr Thomas Kendrick, who has long resided at Pakington House, Birchfield, is a native of Birmingham. Soon after completing his education he obtained an appointment of some responsibility with Messrs. Peyton and Peyton, Bordesley Works. The bedstead business in Summer Lane, started by the subject of this sketch nearly forty years ago in a factory no larger that the present packing room has by the ability and great business capacity of its founder won an enviable reputation. The works now occupy two acres of ground and in them are employed some three hundred and fifty hands. Quite recently the concern has been converted into a limited liability company with Mr T H Kendrick as Chairman of Directors and Mr. T H Kendrick and Mr F W Kendrick as Managing Directors.
Mr Thomas Kendrick is a Member of the Midland Conservative Club, the Conservative Club, Temple Row, the Birmingham Conservative Association and the North Division of Birmingham and Aston Manor Conservative Associations. For some years he was a member of the Handsworth Conservative Association but in consequence of a contemplated removal to Bournemouth (a project we now believe abandoned; Mr Kendrick having come to the conclusion that there is no place comparable with Birmingham and especially its charming suburb – Handsworth) he tendered his resignation.
He has not taken an active part in politics for thirty years. In 1868 he held office as Chairman of St George’s Ward Conservative Association and stood valiantly by Mr Sampson Lloyd in the gallant attempt made by that gentleman to wrest the seat from the Liberal party. The attempt was unsuccessful. Birmingham at that time fully deserved the designation of the Mecca of Liberalism and it was no easy matter for a
Conservative to obtain a fair hearing. Mr Kendrick learned much about electioneering during this memorable struggle and in a conversation we had with them he graphically described the scene at one of Mr Sampson Lloyd’s meetings. The meeting was held in St Matthias’ Schoolroom and lacked somewhat of interest at the outset owing to the sparsity of the attendance. Things were made warmer later on. A rousing Liberal meeting was being held at the same time just outside the building and after a more than usually daring flight of eloquence from a favourite orator the crowd became excited and suddenly made for the room where Mr Lloyd’s meeting was in progress. Dr Sebastian Evans and the Candidate who were the principal speakers beat a hasty retreat and Mr Kendrick was compelled to jump upon the table to avoid being crushed against the school wall. So boisterous were the new arrivals that he judged it safest to pick up his hat and, an opportunity occurring, shake the dust of the place from off his feet! A similar scene was enacted at a meeting held in the New Jerusalem Church, Summer Lane. The younger generation of politicians used to orderly meetings and the interchange of courtesies between contending parties will find it difficult to realise the tumult aroused by political meetings thirty years ago. Some of the Conservative candidates specially disliked by the Radical population were actually escorted in their walks about the city by prize-fighters of their own political persuasion
The subject of our sketch has not held any public position though often approached to stand for the City Council, Board of Guardians and other local authorities.