• About
  • Index
  • Map

London Street Views

~ London Street Views

London Street Views

Tag Archives: needles

Durnford & Co, pin and needle makers

26 Tuesday Dec 2017

Posted by Baldwin Hamey in 24 Fish Street Hill nos 2-48 and Gracechurch Street nos 24-64

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

needles

Street View: 24
Address: 36 Gracechurch Street

Kent’s 1794 Directory of London and Westminster & Borough of Southwark lists Dunford, Baratty & Son, pin makers, at 36 Gracechurch Street, but the Dunfords had plied their trade for a lot longer, as from Christmas 1744, a house on London Bridge was leased to a Mr. Durnford, pin maker. Not much else is known, other than that the house had a frontage of 16ft 8in.(1). Kent’s Directory of 1766 already puts Richard Durnford, pin-maker, in Gracechurch Street, but no house number is given. The 1768 edition, however, lists R. Durnford at number 36. In 1808, Edward Francis and George Madgwick Davidson of 36 Grace Church Street, pin and needle makers, take out an insurance with the Sun Fire Office, suggesting that Durnford had disappeared from the premises. A year later, an entry in The Repertory of Arts and Manufacture, records that Messrs. Francis and Davidson have purchased a patent from one William Bundy for heading pins and the entry helpfully lists them “late Durnford and Co”. However, when Tallis came round in 1839 or 1840 for his Street Views, the firm was still called Durnford and Co, so what is going on?

Tabart’s Book of Trades, vol. 3

In 1819, The Cyclopaedia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature reports on a useful new way of heading pins, which made for a speedier process and more uniform heads. The Cyclopaedia is not at liberty to disclose the actual process, so we are none the wiser, but they do mention the inventors as Messrs Durnford, Francis & Co. which at least gives us a link between Francis and Durnford. The Naturalist of 1838 gives hints to entomologists on pinning their insects and tells their young readers that “Swedish and Russian pins are the best made” and “the heads of the small English pins are very liable to come off (and then the insect runs great risk of being spoiled)”. That problem can be solved by heating the pin head and dipping it in sealing wax, but “silver pins should be used for those [insects] liable to grease. The makers are Durnford, 36, Gracechurch Street, and Hales, 15, Great Dover Street, Southwark”.

Despite this 1838 mention of Durnford, an 1820 insurance record just lists the names of Francis and Davidson. The two gentlemen were doubly related as George Madgwick Davidson had married Elizabeth Francis in 1809; Edward Francis was her brother who had married Susanna Davidson, George Madgwick’s sister, also in 1809. And they were not just involved in pin making as in September 1831, they dissolve a partnership that they had in Nag’s Head Court, just around the corner of their pin making business in Gracechurch Street, with Edward’s brother, William Francis, as wholesale tea-dealers, saltpetre and hop merchants, under the name of Francis and Co.(2) They seem to have been busy people.

Advert for Durnford & Co. is Street View booklet 9

The 1841 census does not give house numbers, so it is not exactly clear who occupies which house, but one Alfred Davidson, manufacturer, is found in the right area and in an Old Bailey case of the same year, he testifies that he is the son of George Madgwick Davidson and that he conducts the pin making business for his father. The accused, Matthew Bulger, had ‘removed’ a candlestick, a blower, 11lbs. weight of pins, 5lbs. weight of candles, 144 hooks and eyes, 2lbs. weight of tin, 24 pin-cases, 4 quires of paper, 3 account-books, 31lbs. weight of copper wire, 28lbs. weight of pin points, and 2 drawers, all recognised as property belonging to Davidson, his master. Bulger was found guilty and confined for six months.(3)

Advert in Street View booklet 11, with similar ones in 12, 24 and 28

George Madgwick did very well out of all his businesses and was listed as a landed proprietor in the 1851 census. He died that same year at Warmley House (listed building, see here) and was buried “by coroners’ order” on 19 July. Son Alfred succeeded to his father’s pin-making factory at Warmley, which had been set up in the 18th century by William Champion.(4) Alfred expanded the business to include the Warmley Tower Potteries, but, in 1863, after the death of his wife, he emigrated to Australia. He was described as “a persistent and passionate advocate for justice for the aborigines” and “an unrelenting opponent of the Pacific Island labour trade.” More on him here.

Warmley House (photo from https://www.fshc.co.uk/warmley-house-care-home/)

The shop at 36 Gracechurch Street narrowly escaped being requisitioned for the road works that were necessary because of the new approach to London Bridge. On the 1887 insurance map you can see that number 36 kept its straight facade onto Gracechurch Street, but number 37 and higher numbers were set back. In the 1833 tax records, the property of Davidson & Francis’s neighbour, Henry Blenkinsop, at number 37, is listed as having “late Naish & Blenkinsop” as occupiers and the “New London Bridge Company” as owner. The Durnford pin shop seems to have been abandoned in the early 1840s as the 1843 Post Office Directory fails to list them and although the 1844 land tax records still list Francis & Davidson there, by 1847 they have gone (the records for 1845 and 1846 do not seem to be available online). The 1848 Post Office Directory shows Lawrence Hyam, tailor, draper, outfitter, hosier, hatter & warehouseman on the premises.

1887 insurance map

Advert from the Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, 1851

(1) LMA, COL/CCS/PL/01/128/J.
(2) The London Gazette, 20 September 1831.
(3) The Old Bailey, case t18410201-678.
(4) Doreen Street, Not Worth a Pin: Pin Making in the Kingswood Area, online here)

Neighbours:

<– 37 Gracechurch Street 35 Gracechurch Street –>
Advertisements

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Google
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Links

  • My other blog:
    London Details
  • Index
  • Map

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Or:

Follow on Bloglovin

Recent Posts

  • Rehsif, Ablett & Co., outfitters
  • James Corss, tailor
  • Thomas Milroy & Sons, saddlers and harness makers
  • Hetley & Co., glass shade warehouse
  • Louis Ferdinand Colas, box maker
  • Peter Whelan, coin dealer
  • Deacon & Co., carriers
  • Joseph Eglese, jeweller and watch maker
  • John Wright, wine and spirit merchant at the Turks Head
  • George Biggs, Hope Coffee House
Blue plaque John Tallis

Blue plaque John Tallis in New Cross Road (photo by Steve Hunnisett)

Categories

  • 01 King William Street London Bridge nos 1-86 and Adelaide Place nos 1-6
  • 02 Leadenhall Street nos 1-158
  • 03 Holborn Division I nos 14-139 and Holborn Bridge nos 1-7
  • 04 Regent Street Division 2 nos 168-266
  • 05 Newgate Street nos 1-126
  • 06 Ludgate Hill nos 1-48 and Ludgate Street nos 1-41
  • 07 Bond Street Division I Old Bond Street nos 1-46 New Bond Street nos 1-25 and nos 149-172
  • 08 Holborn Division 2 Holborn Bars nos 1-12 and 139-149 and Middle Row nos 1-29 and High Holborn nos 1-44 and 305-327
  • 09 New Bond Street Division 2 nos 26-148
  • 10 Fleet Steet nos 1-37 and nos 184-207 and Strand Division 2 nos 201-258 and nos 1-14
  • 11 Holborn Division 3 nos 45-99 and nos 243-304
  • 12 Regent Street Division 3 nos 45-167 and 52-168
  • 13 Strand Division 5 nos 1-68 and 415-457
  • 14 St James's Street nos 1-88
  • 15 Fleet Street Division 1 nos 41-183
  • 16 Regent Street nos 251-328 and Langham Place Division 1 nos 1-3 and nos 14-15
  • 17 Regent Street nos 1-48 and Waterloo Place Division 4 nos 1-16
  • 18 Farringdon Street nos 1-98
  • 19 Strand Division 4 nos 69-142 and 343-413
  • 20 Holborn Division 4 nos 95-242
  • 21 Gracechurch nos 1-23 and nos 66-98 Also Bishopsgate Within nos 1-16 and nos 116-125
  • 22 Haymarket nos 1-71
  • 23 Piccadilly Division 2 nos 36-63 and nos 162-196
  • 24 Fish Street Hill nos 2-48 and Gracechurch Street nos 24-64
  • 25 Piccadilly Division I nos 1-35 and 197-229
  • 26 Holborn nos 154-184 and Bloomsbury Division 5 nos 1-64
  • 27 Broad Street Bloomsbury Division 2 nos 1-37 and High Street nos 22-67
  • 28 Strand Division 3 nos 143-201 and nos 260-342
  • 29 Red Lion Street and High Holborn nos 1-78
  • 30 Bishopsgate Street Within Division I nos 17-115
  • 31 Blackman Street Borough nos 1-112
  • 32 Lamb's Conduit Street nos 1-78
  • 33 Hatton Garden nos 1-111
  • 34 Oxford Street Division 2 nos 41-89 and 347-394
  • 35 Newington Causeway nos 1-59 and Bridge House Place nos 9-52
  • 36 Oxford Street Division 3 nos 89-133 and 314-350
  • 37 St John Street Division 1 nos 46-145 and Smithfield Bars nos 1-18
  • 38 Cheapside Division 2 nos 59-102 and Poultry nos 1-44 and Mansion House nos 1-11
  • 39 High Street Borough nos 85-236
  • 40 Oxford Street Division 1 nos 1-40 and 395-440
  • 41 Oxford Street Division 4 nos 130-160 and nos 293-315
  • 42 Cheapside Division I nos 3-58 and 103-159
  • 43 Skinner Street nos 1-61 and King Street Snow Hill nos 2-47
  • 44 St Martin's-Le-Grand nos 13-33 and nos 60-66 Also Aldersgate nos 4-25 and nos 164-175 and General Post Office nos 6-8
  • 45 Wellington Street London Bridge nos 1-16 and 40-42 and High Street Borough nos 44-83 and 237-269
  • 46 St. Paul's Churchyard nos 1-79
  • 47 West Smithfield nos 1-93
  • 48 Oxford Street Division 5 nos 161-200 and nos 261-292
  • 49 Tottenham Court Road Division 1 nos 91-180
  • 50 Wigmore Street Cavendish Square nos 1-57
  • 51 Bishopsgate Street Division 3 nos 53-162
  • 52 Tottenham Court Road Division 2 nos 46-226
  • 53 Tottenham Court Road Division 3 nos 1-46 and nos 227-267
  • 54 Goodge Street nos 1-55
  • 55 Aldersgate Street Division 2 nos 26-79 and nos 114-163
  • 56 Fenchurch Street Division 2 nos 44-124
  • 57 Blackfriars Road Division 1 nos 1-30 and 231-259 Also Albion Place nos 1-9
  • 58 Blackfriars Road Division 2 nos 31-76 and 191-229
  • 59 Shoreditch Division 2 nos 30-73 and nos 175-223
  • 60 Norton Folgate nos 1-40 and nos 104-109 Also Shoreditch Division 1 nos 1-30 and 224-249
  • 61 Shoreditch Division 3 nos 74-174
  • 62 Wardour Street Division 1 nos 1-36 and 95-127
  • 63 Wardour Street Division 2 nos 38-94 Also Princes Street nos 24-31
  • 64 Rathbone Place nos 1-58
  • 65 Charles Street nos 1-48 Also Mortimer Street nos 1-10 and nos 60-67
  • 66 Coventry Street nos 1-32 and Cranbourn Street nos 1-29
  • 67 Bishopsgate Street Without Division 2 nos 1-52 and nos 163-202
  • 68 Wood Street Cheapside Division 1 nos 1-36 and 94-130
  • 69 Westminster Bridge Road Division I nos 4-99
  • 70 Old Compton Street nos 1-52
  • 71 Burlington Arcade nos 1-71
  • 72 Oxford Street Division 6 nos 201-260
  • 73 Parliament Street nos 1-55
  • 74 Fenchurch Street Division I nos 1-44 and 125-174
  • 75 Chiswell street nos 1-37and 53-91
  • 76 Trafalgar Square nos 1-12 and 53-91
  • 77 Cockspur Street nos 1-4 and nos 22-34. Also Pall Mall nos 1-21 and 117-124
  • 78 New Bridge Street Blackfriars nos 1-42 also Chatham Place nos 1-13 and Crescent Place nos 1-6
  • 79 King Street nos 1-21 and New Street Covent Garden nos 1-41
  • 80 Bridge Street Westminster nos 1-28 and Bridge Street Lambeth nos 1-13 Also Coade's Row nos 1-3 and 99-102
  • 81 Lowther Arcade nos 1-25 and King William Street West Strand nos 1-28
  • 82 Charlotte Street Fitzroy Square nos 1-27 and 69-98
  • 83 High Street Islington nos 1-28 Also Clarke's Place nos 1-45
  • 84 Cockspur Street nos 16-23 and Charing Cross nos 9-48 and Pall Mall East nos 1-18
  • 85 Soho Square nos 1-37
  • 86 Cornhill nos 7-84
  • 87 Wood Street division 2 nos 37-93 and Cripplegate Buildings nos 1-12
  • 88 Moorgate Street nos 1-63
  • Suppl. 01 Regent Street Division 1 nos 1-22 and Waterloo Place nos 1-17
  • Suppl. 02 Regent Street Division 2 nos 32-119
  • Suppl. 03 Regent Street Division 3 nos 116-210
  • Suppl. 04 Regent Street Division 4 nos 207-286
  • Suppl. 05 Regent Street Division V nos 273-326 and Langham Place nos 1-25
  • Suppl. 06 Haymarket nos 1-71
  • Suppl. 07 Cornhill nos 1-82 and Royal Exchange Buildiings nos 1-11
  • Suppl. 08 Strand Division I nos 1-65 and 421-458
  • Suppl. 09 Strand Division 2 nos 67-112 and 366-420
  • Suppl. 10 Strand Division 3 nos 113-163 and nos 309-359
  • Suppl. 11 Strand Division 4 nos 164-203 and nos 252-302
  • Suppl. 12 Strand Division 5 nos 212-251 and Fleet Street Division 1 nos 1-37 and nos 184-207
  • Suppl. 13 Fleet Street Division 2 nos 40-82 and nos 127-183
  • Suppl. 14 Fleet Street Division 3 nos 83-126 and Ludgate Hill Division 1 nos 1-42
  • Suppl. 15 Ludgate Hill Division 2 nos 15-33 and Ludgate Street nos 1-42
  • Suppl. 16 St. Paul's Churchyard nos 1-79
  • Suppl. 17 Cheapside nos 33-131
  • Suppl. 18 King William Street nos 7-82 and Adelaide Place nos 1-5

Tags

architecture art artificial flowers auctioneer baby linen bank book trade brazier canes carpet catering chandler charities chemist china circus clocks and watches clothing copying machine cork currier cutler decorator dentist dressing case education engineer engraver food and drink footwear fringe maker fuel fur furniture games glass grocer guns hairdresser hats horticulture indigo instrument maker ironmonger ivory jeweller lace library maps medicine merchant military mourning music optician pawnbroker perfumer photography playing cards plumber rubber seal engraver shaving silk solicitor staymaker theatre tobacco tools toys transport travel turner umbrellas vet

Blogs and Sites I like

  • London Details
  • Chetham’s Library Blog
  • Marsh’s Library, Dublin
  • Caroline’s Miscellany
  • London Unveiled
  • London Historians’ Blog
  • Medieval London
  • Discovering London
  • IanVisits
  • Faded London
  • Ornamental Passions
  • Charles Ricketts & Charles Shannon
  • Jane Austen’s World
  • London Life with Bradshaw’s Hand Book
  • Georgian Gentleman
  • Flickering Lamps
  • On Pavement Grey – Irish connections
  • Aunt Kate

Creative Commons Licence

Creative Commons License
London Street Views by Baldwin Hamey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Advertisements

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
%d bloggers like this: