1891
In the beginning
Aged 20, Arthur Holdsworth Leach purchases a photographic studio in Brighouse, Yorkshire.
Images show Arthur Leach aged 21,
along with his first newspaper advert.
1891
Our Clients
Thank you so much for the lightboxes and graphics, all were made to perfection and the quality of the print was amazing too.
Niki Morrison
Head of Creative Retail
Lyle & Scott.
I am hugely relieved that I chose the Leach team, I had very high expectations and they exceeded them...
James Foster
General Manager
The Bar Covent.
Leach are exceptionally professional to work with, meeting their timelines, on budget and as specified; a fantastic exhibition at a challenging site!
Nina Wright
Commercial Manager
Trinity House.
Historic Timeline
The history of our company spans two world wars, man landing on the moon, the sinking of the Titanic, the Great Depression, Chernobyl, the assassination of JFK, the abdication of Edward VIII, the Cold war and the birth of the Internet.
Take a look at our history timeline to see the small part our Company and staff have played against this global backdrop.
1895
Early Innovation
Arthur Leach proves himself to be an innovator by becoming the first company to offer life size enlargements printed in one piece.
Image shows an early horizontal photographic enlarger.
1895
1914 - 1918
Strong Demand
Business grew strongly during the First World War as the demand for portrait photographs for families separated by war boomed.
Images show Leach employee Frank Cocker, who served with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment on the Western Front, and his fiancée Evelyn Kershaw, also a Leach employee.
1914 - 1918
1919
Leach Photowork Established
After the War, the advertising industry was born. In response, Leach Photowork was established, the forerunner of today's display business.
Image shows the first Leach Photowork price list.
1919
1920
Father & Son
Arthur Leach's son Eric joins the business, aged 18.
Image shows Eric Leach's 21st birthday party for Leach employees.
1920
1935
Arthur Retires
Arthur Leach retires at 65, leaving the next generation to drive the business forward.
Image shows Arthur Leach aged 65.
1935
1939
Second World War
With the outbreak of war, the use of paper for advertising purposes was severely restricted by law and so the company once again redirected its efforts towards the portrait market.
Image shows Leach's Design and Artwork department during World War II.
1939
1941
Doing our bit
100 Leach employees, out of a total workforce of 330, served in the Second World War. Leach staff invested £20,000 on National Savings towards the war effort.
Image shows Eric Leach addressing a National Savings rally in Brighouse Town Square.
1941
1950
V&A Museum
Leach secured its first significant museum customer, when the Victoria and Albert museum ordered showcards and display prints from a selection of its artefacts.
Image shows façade of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
1950
1952
Royal Heritage
Leach retouched and printed the first official portrait images of Queen Elizabeth II. These beautiful images were used on the very first stamps to feature the Queen's head.
Images show retouching of giant enlargements of the Coronation portraits, and the first stamp to bear the Queen's head.
1952
1958
Keeping it in the family
Eric Leach's son John joins the business, aged 18.
Image shows John Leach at his desk.
1958
1960
Beatles Mania
The first run of publicity prints for the Beatles was produced, a line of business which would grow exponentially over the next few years.
Image shows an early publicity print of the Beatles, including Pete Best prior to his replacement by Ringo Starr.
1960
1962
Major Retailers
The first major retail display roll-out was secured when Joseph Hepworth tailors, the UK's largest clothing manufacturer and the forerunner of Next, ordered 2000 life sized fashion prints.
Image shows an early colour print advert for Hepworths suits.
1962
1966
Sold
Eric Leach sells the business to Hunting Plc and retires. John Leach remains as Managing Director but the company is no longer family owned.
Image shows Eric Leach's retirement party.
1966
1974
Record Breaker
Leach enters the Guinness Book of Records with the production of the world's largest jigsaw.
Image shows John Leach and the young Richard Leach laying a piece of the Jumbo Jigsaw.
1974
1991
Going Digital
Early entry into the world of digital imaging with the purchase of a room-sized Dianippon scanner soon to be followed by two Durst lambdas.
Image shows the Dainippon 737 scanner
1991
1993
The Top 40
Weekly reproduction of best-selling music album covers as posters for display in Woolworths music departments.
Images show some of the album covers reproduced as posters.
1993
1999
The Modern Era
The Leach family, led by John Leach, buy the business back from Hunting PLC. John's son Richard Leach, along with Jim Parkin, are appointed directors.
Image shows an updated Leach logo, launched when the business was brought back into family ownership.
1999
2005
Relocating
The business relocated to new larger purpose built premises in Huddersfield, just two miles away from the original studio in Brighouse.
Images show the current purpose-built premises under construction and on the fist day of occupation.
2005
2008
Continued Innovation
Winner of the Queen's Award for Innovation recognising a century of pioneering and innovative work within the exhibition and print sectors.
Image shows John and Richard Leach receiving the Queen's Award from HRH The Duke of Kent.
2008
2009
Musical Experience
Produced the graphic panels for the British Music Experience at the O2. Many of the music publicity images printed in the 1960s and album cover images reproduced in the 1990s were once again produced by Leach, this time as large format displays and murals.
Image shows the entrance displays at the BME.
2009
2010
3D Design & Build
In response to the great recession Leach builds up its 3D design and on-site build teams, so that it can offer a broader and more creative scope of work into its specialist sectors of museum and brand environments.
Image shows a full size model of a killer whale at the Sumburgh Marine Life Centre.
2010
2015
Future Plans
Preparing for our 125th anniversary with an exciting new brand and further plans for growth
Images show an interpretive interior scheme at Leeds Castle and a typical high impact retail environment.
2015
2016
Happy 125th anniversary
We are proud to be celebrating our 125th anniversary as we look back at our achievements over the last century
2016
