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Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 James Robertson
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Paisley born James Robertson was founder of Robertson's, producers of the world famous 'Golden Shred' marmalade and other jams and preserves.
James Robertson’s working life began in the Paisley thread mills, but prospects were not encouraging for an ambitious young man like James. He became apprenticed to a local grocer hoping this would give him a better future and in 1859, now married to Marion McFadyen, he started up in business as a grocer at 86 Causeyside Street in Paisley.
James Robertson’s working life began in the Paisley thread mills, but prospects were not encouraging for an ambitious young man like James. He became apprenticed to a local grocer hoping this would give him a better future and in 1859, now married to Marion McFadyen, he started up in business as a grocer at 86 Causeyside Street in Paisley.
Bad luck turned to success when a bad trading year for James was made worse by a glut of oranges, which no one wanted to buy. Marion had the idea of making them into marmalade in an attempt to avoid a serious loss to the business. The marmalade was very popular, and soon the Robertsons had another problem - that of producing enough to satisfy the demand. The Robertsons' secret seemed to lie in the removal of the indigestible pith and the fact that their marmalade was both smoother and sweeter than the usual harsh and bitter marmalade.
As popularity of Robertson's marmalade grew, manufacturing had to be moved to a small factory in Thrushcraigs in the south of Paisley. Within two years the factory was relocated to bigger premises, this time at Stevenson Street a short distance from the original grocer’s shop in Causeyside. In 1886 James Robertson registered his trade name of 'Golden Shred'. As demand for Golden Shred marmalade and Robertson's jams and jellies continued to grow, two more factories were established in Manchester and London.
Around the period 1908-9, James Robertson’s son, John, was visiting the USA spreading the appeal of Robertson’s jams and marmalades. During his visit he came across the 'Golly', a popular children's toy at the time, and from 1910 the Golly symbol began to appear on jars and advertising. The Golly became the symbol of Robertson’s products as well as featuring in badges and porcelain figures which were redeemed with proof of purchase.
In 1914 James Robertson died aged 83. James had featured in the public life of Paisley, having been a member of the council, a magistrate, a school director, and the manager of a savings bank, as well as belonging to a variety of philanthropic societies.
His eldest son John succeeded as chairman of Robertson’s and established the firm as a leader in the preserves industry. Robertson’s have been awarded royal warrants by King George V in 1933, George VI and also by the present Queen Elizabeth.
For more information about Renfrewshire's famous people, contact Paisley Local Studies Library by:
- email: locstuds.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- phone: 0141 887 2360
- fax: 0141 887 6468
- write to:
- Reference and Local Studies Library
Central Library
68 High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BB
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