Willcocks Kitchen Range BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Joseph William Willcocks Kitchen Range (c.1880 to 1909) Hidden away in the cellar of 62 High Street is this fine Victorian kitchen range. Now long out of use, but still solidly built, below what could be a century of rust. The coal chute from the street above is blocked and access to what would be a museum piece is through a series of cellars. The building above was the old Stamford Mercury offices, originally just in No. 62, and later extended into No. 61, to become a substantial structure where the newspaper was prepared for the print works out the back. Clearly the many re-builds in the 20 th century did not touch the cellar where this kitchen range provided sustenance originally to the Editor and his family who lived “above the shop”. The range has a Joseph Willcocks’ retailer’s cast-iron badge. Joseph William Willcocks’ (1853-1909) business at the top of St. Mary’s Hill was based in 14 St. Mary’s Street where he carried out a successful ironmongery business from the early 1880s until his death in February 1909. At probate he left £10,791 16s 4d, a not untidy sum for the time. Living above the shop, he moved to Broadmead House on Tinwell Road in later life. He was described as an ironmonger, oil, and colourman. Families who were “in trade“, and employed “live in servants”, had the servants working in the cellars and sleeping in the attics; the ground floor was for business, and the first floor was living accommodation for the family. How many other buildings in the centre of town still have such reminders of the past hidden away in their cellars? DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

J Claypole & Son BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL J. Claypole & Son. Stamford & Peterborough Edison Gold Moulded Records When the Sunset Turns the Ocean Blue to Gold The firm of J. Claypole & Son were sited at the bottom of Red Lion Street and sold not only the latest Edison Music Tubes but also musical instruments. The shop had a Lift to upper floors where pianos were displayed. Before the invention of the flat record, a record was a cylinder. The phonograph cylinder was patented by Thomas Edison in 1878. This example -When the Sunset Turns the Ocean Blue to Gold - was recorded by Byron G. Harlan in 1904. An online recording can be found on the University of California Santa Barbara Library Cylinder Audio Archive Website. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Tradesmen's Tokens BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Stamford Tradesmen's Tokens From the mid-17 th century to end of the 19 th century many tradesmen in the town issued their own coinage in the form of small change tokens. Here are three examples from the mid-17 th century HSR HUMPHREY REYNOLDS FMB FRANCIS BLYTH WSW WILLIAM WALKER DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Stamford Victory Mug BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Stamford Victory Mug W. E. MARTIN was a Stamford business man whose firm built agricultural equipment on Ryhall Road and was there when the First World War was declared and they were the second largest employer in the town after Blackstone & Company. In August 1914 Mr Martin was the Mayor of Stamford and the Town Council decided that he should stay on until hostilities ceased. The mug is dated 1919, although we now see World War One as ceasing with the armistice on November 11th 1918 the Treaty of Versailles was not signed with Germany until June 28th 1919. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Hayes & Son Milk Cart BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Hayes and Son - Coach and Wagon Builders Based locally at their works on Scotgate, 1825-1924, partly where the car park is now sited. They produced almost anything that needed a wheel, from carriages for a Maharaja and the British Royal family, to a wheelbarrow for a labourer, and in the 20th century, coach built bodies for motor cars. One of their examples is this three wheeled milk cart owned by John Thomas Tabram from Uppingham and built c.1910, which can be seen at the Rutland Museum in Oakham. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

1902 Stamford Medal BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL 1902 Stamford Medal Key Details of the 1902 Stamford Medal The displayed object is a bronze commemorative medal issued by the Borough of Stamford to mark the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on June 26, 1902, featuring the town's coat of arms and naming the mayor at the time, Chas Gray. Obverse: Bears the right-facing crowned profiles of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra with the text "KING EDWARD VII QUEEN ALEXANDRA". Reverse: Shows the Stamford town coat of arms flanked by supporters, inscribed with "BOROUGH OF STAMFORD," "CHAs GRAY J.P. MAYOR," and "CORONATION, JUNE 26th, 1902". Composition & Size: Struck in bronze with a diameter of approximately 32 mm, and often features a small hole at the top for suspension. The history of Chas Gray as Mayor of Stamford Charles Gray J.P. was an iron merchant who served as the Mayor of Stamford from 1900 to 1902, famously leading the town's civic celebrations during the historic Coronation of King Edward VII. Historical & Civic Timeline · Early Life and Business: Born in nearby Peterborough in 1856, Gray relocated to Stamford in 1883. He established himself as a prominent local businessman, operating a successful trade as an iron merchant. · Rise in Public Office: He entered local governance later in life. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) in 1897 and won election to the Stamford Town Council in 1898. The Mayoralty: He was chosen as Mayor in 1900. Due to his popularity and the impending coronation, the council re-elected him on 9 November 1901 to ensure he would lead the borough through the historic "Coronation Year" events of 1902. · The 1902 Coronation Milestone: As Mayor, Gray chaired the full council sessions and orchestrated Stamford’s public festivities. Because the Borough of Stamford is historically permitted to use the Royal Arms on its municipal surcoat, Gray commissioned the special bronze coronation medals to showcase the town's unique heritage and mark the coronation date of 26 June 1902. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Barrel Ring & Opener BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Lowe, Son & Cobbold - Barrel Ring and Crown Cork Bottle Opener Although the firm of Lowe, Son and Cobbold was registered as a limited company in 1895 the Lowe family had run a successful Wine and Spirits business on the Broad Street site adjoining the Nags Head Passage since 1819. The brewery was in operation from the mid-1890s until the Second World War. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Bungay Halfpenny Token BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL That’s a fascinating piece of local history! The coin is a Bungay Halfpenny token , dating from the late 18th century. These tokens were privately issued by merchants during periods when official small change was scarce. The design corresponds to a Suffolk (Bungay) halfpenny token , dated 1794 , part of the provincial “Conder token” series issued by merchants during a national small‑change shortage. The obverse typically shows Bigod’s Castle ” refers to Bungay Castle , built by Roger Bigod , one of the Norman Earls of Norfolk. The castle’s twin towers are depicted on the coin, symbolizing Bungay’s medieval heritage. The reverse shows Justice standing , with the legend FOR CHANGE NOT FRAUD and the date 1794 . The edge is usually inscribed PAYABLE IN LANCASTER LONDON OR BRISTOL . A very similar token with the same Justice figure and motto was also issued for Kendal (Westmoreland) , but that version includes an “R & D” cypher and the word KENDAL on the reverse, which this coin does not appear to show. Purpose - Used locally for trade when official coinage was in short supply DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Jeffery & Blackstone BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL Jeffery & Blackstone – Royal Letters Patent Plate 1884 The firm that became Blackstone & Co started back in 1837 by members of the Smith family. Following several ownership and name changes George Jeffery entered into partnership with Edward Christopher Blackstone in 1877 and although George retired to Ryhall in 1882 the company continued as Jeffery & Blackstone until 1888. During these years the company works was sited at the west end of St. Peter’s Street, including Bonney’s Paddock which was leased from Stamford Borough Council and traded as the Rutland Terrace Iron Works, New Iron and Brass Foundry and Agricultural Manufactory. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

John Brumhead BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL John Brumhead - Longcase Clock The Brumhead family, father, wife and son ran a successful clock, watch and silversmith business on St. John’s Street. John Brumhead senior died in December 1809 to be succeeded by his wife Mary who carried on the trade in St. John’s Street. In September 1825 her son John Brumhead junior took over from his mother and continued to trade until the late 1840s. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Burghley Button BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL This lighter is made from Burghley Buttons - the buttons on the servants’ livery. It is silver plated as the silver has rubbed off on the high spots. Commonly known as trench art, the lighter was owned by Thomas William Glitherow, the great, grandfather of Trish Auciello, and who worked as a wheelwright on the Burghley Estate for 50 years. Thomas was born around 1874, so he would have been 40 in 1914 when WW1 started. Thomas would have been aged 42 when in January 1916 when the Military Service Act was passed. This imposed conscription on all single men aged between 18 and 41, but exempted the medically unfit, clergymen, teachers and certain classes of industrial worker. In 1918 during the last months of the war, the Military Service (No. 2) Act raised the age limit to 51. Conscription was extended until 1920 to enable the army to deal with continuing trouble spots in the Empire and parts of Europe. There is evidence that his son George, a blacksmith, serving in WW1, would have had the skills to make it, perhaps as a present for his father? DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next

Wilson Watchmaking Family BACK CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE IN FULL The Wilson Watchmaking Family This image shows an antique gilt full-plate verge fusee pocket watch movement signed "Jos. Wilson, Stamford," featuring an intricately pierced and engraved scroll-pattern balance cock and a regulation dial marked for slow and fast adjustments. The movement originates from an early 19th-century English pocket watch made by a local horologist in Stamford. It uses a verge escapement paired with a fusee cone to equalize the mainspring's decreasing torque as it unwinds. The signature "Jos. Wilson, Stamford" represents a notable family lineage of watch and clockmakers active in Lincolnshire during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Wilson Watchmaking Family Joseph (Jos.) Wilson, the maker of this movement was a skilled watchmaker, clockmaker, and silversmith and took over his uncle James's business and registered his own mark in Stamford around 1818. Horological records list him as active between 1818 and 1868. The Family Business, Joseph was the nephew of James Wilson, an established Stamford clockmaker who worked from 1786 to 1799 before partnering with Thomas Haynes until 1803. Joseph succeeded his uncle's workshop and expanded the family business. Regional Network, The Wilsons were part of a prolific three-brother horological network (including Ralph and Robert Wilson) that operated highly successful workshops across Stamford, Bourne, Peterborough, and Spalding. During the early 19th century, provincial English watchmakers like Joseph Wilson often ordered raw movement blanks ( ébauches ) from specialized material makers in industrial hubs like Lancashire or Coventry. They would then finish, custom-engrave, assemble, adjust, and sign the movements. DOWLOAD PDF Previous Next