In 1856, when he was just 16, James Osborn founded Spong and Co, a company manufacturing hardware and wirework, making economic household utensils, or as they were then called, 'domestic machinery'.

The company became a household name and in 1882 was boasting sales of 200,000 mincers as well as being able to advertise that their mincing machine was owned by 'Her Most Gracious Queen Victoria', the Admiralty and the War Office, and could be found in the mansions of the nobility, the mess-rooms of the army and navy at home and abroad, also in the universities, colleges and many other great institutions of England.

[2] James and his wife Frances Elizabeth Scott had a number of children, including suffragettes Dora Spong and her sisters.

Donald and Roger becoming joint managing directors in 1944, with the company still a leader in the production of kitchen utensils such as, mincers, slicers, shredders, graters, coffee mills, baking tins and various metallic and plastic scourers.

Christopher's sons, Nicholas and Simon Spong also went to Mill Hill School and excelled at sport, especially rugby.