The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was formed under the 1957 Electricity Act, which brought about a reorganisation of the electricity supply industry in the United Kingdom. The aim of the act was to decentralise the industry, and the CEGB was one of two statutory bodies created by the Act. Representatives from the CEGB worked with officers of the Electricity Council, the other statutory body established under the Act, to formulate general policy for the electricity supply industry. The CEGB owned, operated and extended the network of power stations and main transmission lines that supplied electricity to the twelve Area Boards of England and Wales. It did not sell direct to customers except where specifically authorised by the Secretary of State for Energy. It did not operate in Scotland or Northern Ireland. The 1989 Electricity Act enabled the sale of the industry to private shareholders. When the Act came into force on 31 March 1990, the CEGB was separated into the National Grid Company and two electricity generation companies, PowerGen and National Power. The CEGB was formally dissolved in 2001.

The Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 enabled towns to be granted a charter of incorporation after the inhabitants and householders had made an application to the Privy Council. The Charter of Incorporation was given to the town on the 23 October 1838 and allowed the six townships of Manchester, Cheetham, Hulme, Ardwick, Chorlton on Medlock and Beswick to become incorporate and provide the mechanism to set up the Borough of Manchester, made up of a Mayor, 16 aldermen and 48 councillors. In 1844 the council resolved by an Act of Parliament for the good governance, regulation and policing of the borough by purchase the manorial rights of the Manor of Manchester from the then Lord of the Manor, Sir Oswald Mosely. This was duly done and although the council had a greater control over the well-being and safety of its inhabitants it was still a town. Manchester did not achieve city status until 1853, only the second one to be granted since the Reformation.

Trade magazine, established in 1892.

Manufacturer of masonry fixings, established in 1919, named after the inventor of the Rawlplug, John Joseph Rawlings. The company was acquired by Burmah Oil Co in c1968 and subsequently by Williams Holdings in 1985.