In the early 1900’s Mrs Maria and Mr John William Moorley established a Fruiterers business on White Lion Square, Ilkeston. During the 1920’s it was sold to their son George who later relocated to 68 South Street, Ilkeston to become George Moorley Fruit & Flowers.
Later in the 1950’s, after the redevelopment of the shop, the fruit business was sold off. George and his wife Nellie continued as specialist Interflora florists and with their eldest son Bryan they diversified with a market garden and horticultural sundries. When they retired in 1975 the business was sold to John Moore who changed the name to Moore’s Flowers International which still trades today.
In 1966 George and Nellie’s younger son John, having trained at Methodism’s Cliff College, came back to Ilkeston to establish Moorley’s Bible & Bookshop. From which after many years of change and development grew Moorleys Print & Publishing.
| 1966 | A grocery shop at 8 Nottingham Road, Ilkeston is purchased and transformed into Moorley’s Bible & Bookshop which opened in September. |
| 1967 | Jean & John get married in August and continue to develop the business whilst both having additional employment. |
| 1968 | Educational supplies contracts begin. |
| 1969 | February sees the first publication “A Message Just for You” a book of recitations by G. D. Rose. |
| 1970 | The first Christmas play “Star Over The Stable” by Kathleen Martin of Stanley Common is published in October. |
| The first Christmas play “ Star Over The Stable” has sold over 35,000 copies. Early books were mainly duplicated with Jean typing stencils and the making up being done around the kitchen table. Any coloured covers were BibleLands folders whilst the majority of the print was standard black and white. | |
| 1971 | Moorley’s Bible & Bookshop Ltd becomes a registered company in December. |
| 1972 | The shop’s living quarters are vacated to expand the sales area throughout the premises. |
| 1976 | Park Road premises are leased for the expansion of publishing, school supplies and warehousing. |
| Growth continued until 1985 with over 100 Schools supplied in Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire. | |
| 1985 | April - A Change of Local Government policies means the loss of the Schools contracts for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire - 67% of turnover lost. Staff redundancies and the sale of 8 Nottingham Road enables restructuring which covered several years. Christian Book Sales and Open University Stock is moved to Park Road. |
| 1987 | The first major paperback “Wesley’s Sermons in Modern English”, a 525 page book is produced. |
| 1989 | The retail book sales suffer substantial losses which lead to that sector being closed. |
| 1990 | In February Patrick Mancini joins the company to work within the print department. In June Peter Newberry comes on work experience. |
| Peter subsequently worked during college holidays and other times when required, developing a knowledge of the business and how it was run. During 1992 his role progressed to the office. | |
| 1995 | Peter’s role in the office becomes full time. |
| 1998 | Patrick and Peter are appointed as Directors. The Company name is changed to Moorleys Print & Publishing Ltd which reflects the changes in trading. |
| 2000 | The introduction of Computer to Press technology for full colour work and Full Colour copying in house proves successful. |
| During the following years the pace of technology gathered momentum and the introduction of Networks, Internet and email along with a wider range of software opened up new ways of working for ourselves and our customers. | |
| 2005 | During December a new digital printer arrives opening up a greater diversity of work achievable. |
| 2006 | In April Jean and John step down as Directors. Peter and Patrick take over the company and become Joint Managing Directors. |
| 2007 | A new digital colour machine is installed taking the print room into a new era and completing the print room upgrading program. |
| 2008 | The Moorleys logo is re-branded and the website development plans begin to take shape which have resulted in what you are reading now. |