HTP
Hosken, Trevithick, Polkinhorn & Co Ltd.
The Families Who Controlled Cornwall’s Great Conglomerate
By Philip M Hosken
Here we explore the backgrounds of these men, their personalities, inter-family marriages and abilities to command an expanding company that introduced new technologies to Cornwall. They were respected and popular but at odds with their financiers as they exercised feudal control over their enterprise and its devoted members of staff. We read of a hard, but sometimes exciting, life in Cornwall and we come across untold, intriguing facets of Cornish history and endeavour.
Best Selling Author
Philip M Hosken
In addition … directly associated, he has written two books about the life, adventures and descendants of Richard Trevithick, a genius who received little credit for his inventions.
Having been associated with the recording of Cornwall’s rich history of mining, heavy industry and shipping through his years as chairman of the Trevithick Society, Philip realised that little had been documented about the important contributions made by the butchers, bakers and candlestick makers, with the tool, wagon and harness makers, to Cornwall’s achievements.
His access to many of the H.T.P. company records and assistance from family members provided him with the material for this original research. With a personal background of international company development, he was able to record and review the activities of the company’s directors, staff and customers.
There is much more interesting, amusing material to be revealed about Cornwall’s commercial life, and Philip hopes that other authors will be moved to record it.
Other Books
The Oblivion of Trevithick
Down through the ages many brave men tried to tame the strange power released from boiling water. Long ago they were seen as alchemists who practised the dark arts of their dangerous pastimes. It was not until the early C19th that Richard Trevithick demonstrated his successful cylindrical boiler and tamed the Devil within. It was Trevithick who invented the steam engine we all recognise and love, the engine that powered most of the Industrial and all the Transport Revolutions; the one found today, with little fundamental change in power stations and nuclear submarines.
In these pages, Philip Hosken has turned detective to discover the reasons behind Trevithick’s obscurity. He has examined the lives of other inventors. He has answered whether James Watt was the thorn in Trevithick’s side, what parts did his family and friends play? Trevithick put his trust in the highest in the land, why did they deceive him? What could they hope to gain by carelessly damning this poor, hardworking Cornishman to oblivion?
Engineering genius, Pacific pearl fisherman and family man, there is no story like that of Richard Trevithick. He deserves a better place in history.
Genius ~ Richard Trevithick’s Steam Engines
In this book Philip Hosken explains the skulduggery and deception in high places that deprived Trevithick of recognition until now.
The achievements of Richard Trevithick are seldom taught in schools alongside those of James Watt, George Stephenson and Isambard Brunel.
Yet it was Trevithick’s ingenuity and determination that provided the power to drive the Industrial and Transport Revolutions.
Acknowledged by Watt and adopted by Stephenson, Trevithick’s steam engine and boiler were radically different from Watt’s and the boiler is the basis for nuclear, oil and gas powered electrical generation today.
Farm Industries Ltd.
This is the story of Farm Industries Limited. It had developed from H.T.P., Hosken, Trevithick, Polkinhorn & Co Ltd, a 1890 conglomerate based at Loggans Mill in Hayle involved in milling, shipping and wool processing.
The activities of H.T.P., its fortunes and the intrigue of its partners can be traced from https://htpbook.co.uk/.
In 1936, the milling division in Plymouth, together with the H.T.P. name, were purchased by Spillers Limited leaving the largest agricultural merchant throughout Cornwall and West Devon to be known as Farm Industries Ltd, developing HTP Motors Ltd in Truro, and Devon Woolcombers Ltd in Tavistock, from its grand offices in Princes House.
In addition to the spectacular rise and fall of the Cornish company, these pages relate the activities of its competitors and the contributions made by many of its hundreds of staff and apprentices.
Readers will encounter the company’s directors and bankers, HTP Motors and Spitfires, Cornwall Farmers, the busy Port of Truro, stories of Truro Tractors and the companies of R.T. Rilstone and N. Summers. They will mingle with personalities like ‘Spitfire Annie’, the varied interests of John Rosewarne and the author’s reminiscences during WW2 and the difficult following years.