William Cooper arrived in Berkhamsted in the early 1840s seeking to start a new business as a veterinary surgeon. It is said that he arrived from London on King the carrier’s cart and that his possessions were all contained in a black carpetbag and he had but half a crown in his pocket. He set about establishing a practice but as a stranger in the area he was treated with suspicion and farmers were unsure of his ability.
By 1851, he lived in a small house in the High Street where he worked on experiments, which led to the formulation of his famous sheep dip. Scab, the scourge of sheep, had previously been treated by smears containing tar and goose-grease, tobacco stalks and brimstone.
Smearing a sheep for scab. Note the method of parting the fleece and the peculiar smear bowl attached to the stool
Picture: Dacorum Heritage Trust
William Cooper erected his first mill for the manufacture of powder dip at Ravens Lane in 1852.The factory was extended five times during the second half of the 19th century. Originally the dip was prepared out of doors and mixed by (with shovels) before buildings were erected. The factory was extended five times during the second half of the 19th century. There were horse- powered mills for grinding, kilns used for boiling the liquor as well as areas where the sulphur was dressed.
Sheep being dipped in Cooper’s Dip by six workers
Berkhamsted Local History and Museum Society
Picture: Dacorum Heritage Trust
Initially William managed all parts of the business himself but it soon became too much for him. In 1868, he was joined by his nephew, William Farmer Cooper who initiated their overseas trade. Sadly, he died at the young age of 37 in 1882. Subsequently two other nephews Henry Herbert and Richard Powell joined the company. Henry Herbert dies in 1880 and in 1884 the company became William Cooper and Nephews and a new crest devised.
William Farmer Cooper (1845-1882). Both he and his brother Richard graduated from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons before joining their uncle’s business. During the 16 years that William was with the firm, sales increased from about 7,000 dozen packets a year to about 30,000 dozen
Berkhamsted Local History and Museum Society
Picture: Dacorum Heritage Trust
The Dacorum Heritage Trust Ltd
9th February 2011