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Address: 11 Aldersgate Street
The history of Maw’s firm has been well researched by various people, so I will give you just a basic overview and a few links(1). What I will also do is provide some pictures to show you what kind of supplies could be bought at Maw’s.
It all started with George Maw, from Lincolnshire, who, in 1807 started a partnership with his wife’s cousin Hornby in Fenchurch Street. In 1814, he set up for himself by purchasing the business of a surgical instrument maker in Whitecross Street. In 1825, he moved the business to 56 Aldersgate Street where his sons John Hornby and Solomon joined him. The firm moved again in 1834 to 11 Aldersgate Street where Tallis was to find them, but by then it was in the hands of son Solomon; father George had retired in 1829(2) and the eldest son John Hornby in 1836(3). As you can see from the vignette in the Tallis booklet, the shop and workplace comprised quite a substantial set of buildings behind the modest shop front.
Solomon brought in his son Charles in 1860 and the business became S. Maw and Son. But Solomon was not to enjoy the partnership for very long, as he died the following year.(4) Charles took in his own sons and various Maws have run the business until the 1970s when they were taken over by a large international supplier. After WWI, the factory had been relocated to New Barnet.
The firm brought out various price lists of the products they could supply, three of which which you can view online here, and from time to time also a book of illustrations. The pictures below are from the Book of Illustrations to S. Maw & Son’s Quarterly Price-current,
In 1868, Maw’s took out a patent for “a perfume flask to be called ‘Gaskings perfume pistol flask'”. The Chemist and Druggist found it interesting enough to write a short description about it with a picture to illustrate it (or did Maw pay for the item and is it really an advertisement?). The stock of the pistol was made of india-rubber and could be filled with perfume. A little pressure would force a thin spray from the glass barrel. The magazine wrote that “it will no doubt be very popular at Christmas parties”. No doubt, but I am afraid that if I were to carry such a pistol on the Underground, I would instantly be set upon by the anti-terrorist brigade.
After a fire in December 1856, the Aldersgate premises had to be rebuilt and twenty years later, after the Maws had acquired the neighbouring premises, a new front was put on. According to The Chemist and Druggist, it was “a handsome front extension” designed by the same architect, H.B. Garling, who had also designed the main building after the 1856 fire. The plot the Maw business stood upon roughly corresponds to where Cooks’ Hall once stood.(5) That building was not rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1771, but as late as 1893, the Ordnance Survey map still identified the plot as such.
Meanwhile, John Hornby Maw, after his retirement in 1836, had founded a decorative tile making business for his sons George and Arthur, first in Worchester, later at Benthall, Shropshire. The company, after a few restarts, still exists. See here for their history and here for their website. The old factory is now a craft centre, see here.
(1) The Chemist and Druggist, 1905, p. 47-48 (online here)
Chronological list and copy of information in The Pharmaceutical Industry: A Guide to Historical Records, edited by Lesley Richmond, et al., Ashgate, 2003 (online here – a bit lower on the page, so scroll down or use search). The same source is used by CollectingMe.com.
(2) The London Gazette, 17 July 1829.
(3) The London Gazette, 17 June 1836.
(4) England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861.
(5) See the website of The Worshipful Company of Cooks of London here.
Neighbours:
<– 12 Aldersgate Street | 10 Aldersgate Street –> |
Ian said:
My 10-year-old daughter has just come home from school, having researched a famous Victorian today. I asked if she know who Solomon Maw was, and not knowing, I did a little research and found this article, which fascinated both of us.
Many thanks,
Ian and Freya Maw
PS Solomon Maw was my great-great-great grandfather
Baldwin Hamey said:
Dear Ian and Freya,
Thank you so much for your kind comment. It is great to learn that there are still descendents out there of Solomon Maw and even better that they want to read about their family’s history. If you have any specific questions about the early history of the firm or the family and you think I might be able to help, than please ask. History is for sharing!
Kind regards,
Baldwin
Margaret Stevens said:
I have just stumbled across this wonderful website when doing a bit more family history research, and read the message from Ian and Freya Maw which I was very excited about as Solomon Maw was also my great-great-grandfather!
I would love to get in touch with Ian if it is possible, please. Could you please pass my email address on to him if you have it, or tell me how I might be able to get in touch with him.
Thank you for all the information and pictures.
Scott Arend said:
Hi I collect medical items from 1800s have some from your great great great grandfather, Beautiful Pill cutter made from brass and wood and complete surgical kit for Autopsies
Baldwin Hamey said:
Dear Margaret,
Thanks for your kind comment, much appreciated. I have emailed Ian and Freya relaying you request, so they’ll probably be in touch soon.
Regards,
Baldwin
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Carlos said:
hola
entre instrumental antiguo he encontrado este carrete de Hilo de Plata que se usaba en cirugía general en el siglo XIX y principios del XX. Lo llamativo es que el nombre del fabricante es MAW.London. Quien quiera hacerse de el que se contacte conmigo.
Puedo enviar foto por e mail.
saludos Carlos
Margaret said:
I would be interested in seeing a photo. Thank you.
Baldwin Hamey said:
This is Carlos’s photo: https://londonstreetviews.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/20180302_212132.jpg
Valeria Maw said:
Hi
Thank you for this informative article. I’m reading this from New Zealand, where a few of the Maw’s descendants have ended up, We have a big display cabinet full of pharmaceutical and surgical equipment manufactured by Maw & Sons.
Baldwin Hamey said:
Thanks for your message Valeria. Nice to know that some of the instruments Maw made are still in existence.
Margaret said:
Hi Valeria
I am also a Maw descendant – Solomon Maw was my great great grandfather. Sidney Maw was my grandmother, the only one of the 9 girls to get married. She actually married a doctor (Basil Pain), but the marriage wasn’t approved of by her father Charles Maw (and she was a woman, so didn’t inherit anything), so perhaps that’s why not a single Maw product has ever been in our family! We have 8 grandchildren and wanted to put this right, so over the years, we have been buying some items on Ebay, as well as 8 tiles from the Maws’ Ironbridge Tile factory, for our grandchildren so that they have at least 3 items each.
So how do you fit into the Maw family? I don’t have you on our family tree. I assume you are descended from Patrick Charles Maw. It would be great to hear from you. Perhaps Baldwin can pass on my email address to you, please. I look forward to hearing from you.
Hugh K O'Neill said:
Very interesting site. Thank you. Patrick Charles Maw was my Grandfather
Mike Hudd said:
Hello Hugh
My Grandmother Sheila Redmond was Patrick Charles Maw’s Sister, and as far as I know, Patrick lived at Barney Bank in Hope Cove, Devon. I have a small piece of film of him with his son, Peter, on the cliffs at Hope Cove helping a stranded ship (probably during the war).
My very good friend Susan Watts and I have just completed a 34-chapter book about the Maw family which we hope to publish very soon. It includes some content about Patrick and his time at the Maws company.
Perhaps Baldwin could forward my email address to you as it would be nice to be able to contact you.