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A Century of Trust and Innovation

100 years and counting: the history and heart of our family business.

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2026
Black and white line art portrait of a man, facing left, with short hair and a serious expression, created using horizontal lines, William F Banham.

Eureka!

It all started with a burglary. Actually, a string of them, targeting the Banham family's dress shop in West London, and an insurance policy that only covered doors bolted from the inside. With no such lock in existence, William F. Banham had a lightbulb moment, and the world's first automatic door bolt clicked into place.

Challenge Accepted

What William did next, cemented his status as a maverick thinker. So sure was he that his automatic lock was unpickable, he issued a challenge to London's burglars - and won. Not only did they fail to beat Banham and claim the £25 cash prize, they were swiftly rounded up by Scotland Yard.

A group of people in vintage clothing stand outside Banham's storefront, watched by a policeman; a vintage car passes on the street of London

How Much Is That Burglar In The Window?

Following the success of the challenge, William hired a mime artist to pose as a burglar, winking at passers-by from the window of the Oxford Street shop. The traffic-stopping stunt inspired the Burglar Bill logo, and a new advertising slogan to match: Why Fear Burglars?

Map with a key icon indicating a location on High Street Kensington, displaying surrounding street layout in grayscale.

Blitz Spirit

Working through the war years in a new showroom in London’s Kensington, the Banham's survived a direct hit from a German bomb by sheltering in the basement, and were rescued after several days.

Technical blueprint of a lock mechanism, showing detailed components. First Banham lock.

The Power Of A Patent

From innovators to industry leaders: the new decade bought a patent issued on Banham's lock and cylinder designs and a new affiliation with the Master Locksmiths Association.

Collage of black and white vintage photos of Banham family featuring a central portrait of a woman, surrounded by images of men in various settings and machinery.

Family Matters

Following William's death aged 73, his wife Marie-Ann took the reins - with the couple's three sons stepping up to join the family business.

Close-up of a metallic key with the text "PATENTED DO NOT COPY" engraved on it, set against a textured background.

Copycats, Be Gone

An innovative key registration system for all their locks and cylinders added a new level of security, protecting against unauthorised key copying.

Banham alarms division was born in 1961

Alarm Bells Ring

Banham's next chapter came in response to customer demand: those who loved their locks now wanted a whole security system to match, and so the alarm division was born.

Banham first computerised alarm-monitoring centre in Fulham

A New Frontier

The dawn of the digital age put Banham at the cutting edge, with the launch of the first computerised alarm-monitoring centre in Fulham.

Rows of keychains with labels displayed in an organized grid pattern on a white surface, Banham keyholding

Express Delivery!

With the launch of the keyholding service, not only did Banham solve the problem of lost keys and lockouts, but also promised delivery across London within 30 minutes.

A group of people in uniform stand together, smiling, with a large, Banham Academy in the background.

The Next Generation

The Banham Academy opened its doors in Earlsfield, offering industry-leading apprenticeship training to welcome in the next generation of security experts.

Silver key with "BANHAM" engraved, featuring multiple dimples on the blade, set against a black background. Text below reads "100 Years of Banham."

Our Centenary Year

Banham celebrates its 100th year with members of the third and fourth generations at the helm of the family business, a commitment to British craft, and a Great British Brands award for its signature locks - still the best a century after William F. Banham's lightbulb moment began it all.

Trusted Through Generations

100 years, four generations and counting: discover what drives us

Our Family
Pride
Trust

Our Family Legacy

It was a husband's instinct to protect his wife that inspired William F. Banham to invent his first lock after a string of burglaries in their West London dress shop. And that family instinct has continued, with the third and fourth generations of Banhams now at the helm.

Today, we're one of very few companies still making precision locks in Great Britain. Through innovation and master craftsmanship, we're proud to protect whatever you cherish the most: let our family protect yours.

From four generations of Banhams to the longstanding team who have shaped us along the way, a family business isn't just who we are: it's why we do what we do.

Gloved hands holding a Banham lock part being polished by a spinning wheel in a workshop, creating a shiny surface

Pride

With a centenary of expert craftsmanship merging innovation with time honoured practices, we're proud to keep you safe.

Exploded view of a Banham door lock mechanism, showing interconnected parts like latches and bolts on a black background.

Trust

Industry leading products and service that goes the extra mile: that's why we've been welcomed into your homes for 100 years and counting.

Built On Trust

From the reassuring voice at the end of the phone to the click of the latch that welcomes you home, we're always here for you.

A London Icon, Banham locks.

Behind The Shield

The Banham shield isn't just a symbol - it's a promise we keep with every key, lock and door. Discover the craftsmanship behind the icon.

Craft

In 1926, after a series of burglaries at their London shop, William 
F. Banham set out to design a safer way to secure a door. His invention of the automatic door bolt marked the start of a legacy built on ingenuity, craftsmanship, and commitment.

A group of people in uniform stand together, smiling, with a large, Banham Academy in the background.

Banham Academy

We are investing in our future experts with our highly rated Banham Academy, training the next generation of security systems engineers.

Discover Banham

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