The Early Days
Whilst working as a young lawyer in Hong Kong, and making his fortune dealing in real estate, Frank Bowden’s health deteriorated. He returned to England, and on the advice of his doctors took up cycling to aid his recuperation. Upon recovery, he became interested in the company who had manufactured the cycle he had used. He visited the firm of Woodhead, Angois and Ellis at their Raleigh Street premises in Nottingham in 1886, and was impressed with what he saw. 
Whilst only producing a total of three bicycles a week, there was incredible potential with the firm and its product, so Bowden promptly started negotiations. In December 1888, after considerable investment from Bowden himself, and a name change, ‘The Raleigh Cycle Company’ was born, and the name has been synonymous with Nottingham and bicycle production ever since.
Bowden’s investment in the new Raleigh Cycle Company and additional outside capital in 1889 led to rapid expansion. The little workshop on Raleigh Street was far too small and Bowden quickly acquired and converted a five storey lace factory in neighbouring Russell Street. Within months Raleigh became the largest cycle firm in the Nottingham area, producing 60 cycles a week with a workforce of 200. Soon the company outgrew its Russell Street premises and Bowden commissioned a large new factory equipped with the latest machinery at Faraday Road, Lenton. This opened in 1896 and production expanded from about 10,000 cycles a year in 1900 to 60,000 in 1913.
As with any business, successful advertising was crucial, and Raleigh was no exception. Product catalogues 
were made available to dealers and agents, in which the quality and workmanship of Raleigh cycles was championed. Many of the advertisements carried glowing references from satisfied customers who were more than willing to enhance the company’s reputation for reliability and performance.
Raleigh remained under the control of Sir Frank Bowden until his death in 1921, when his son, Sir Harold Bowden took over the chairmanship of the company. Sir Harold joined the company in 1899 and began by working in various departments such as the turnery and tool making: his father having determined that he should develop a thorough understanding of the company by starting at the very bottom.
