Old Crown Derby China Works
The Old Crown Derby China Works were established by six of the workers after the closure of Crown Derby in 1848 at rented premises on King Street. The partners were William Locker, Samuel Fearn, Sampson Hancock, John Henson, James Hill and Samuel Sharpe. A notebook belonging to William Locker, which was used at Nottingham Road and brought with him to King Street, recorded the names of the partners and the amount of money each put into the new concern.
c1849-c1859 The business was entitled "Locker & Co, Late Bloor, Derby".
1849 "... and Co, Dealers in China, Manufacturers, Earthenware, 26, KING STREET, DUFFIELD ROAD, (Next Door to Mr. Spar Manufactory), beg to inform the Nobility, Clergy, Gentry, and Inhabitants of Derby and the surrounding Counties, for that they are now MANUFACTURING ..."[1]
1859 Locker died in January 1859. "CHINA WORKS, KING STREET DERBY. THE SURVIVING PARTNERS of the late WILLIAM LOCKER beg to thank the Nobility, Gentry, and Public for their support of the Firm hitherto, and hope by strict attention to business, and the Maintained patronage ..."[2]
Withdrawal of Locker's capital from the company led to George Stevenson, a Derby business man, entering the business; he is thought to have provided extra money for the venture.
1859 "...Services equal and to match Old Derby Patterns, superior to any Firm in the Country. N.B. Manufacturers to THE Queen. Warehouse Open from 8.30 to 6 p.m. The Works may be seen by Visitors from 9 to 12, and from 2 to 4 p.m. 26, King St, Helen's House.[3]
c1859-c1861. The business became "Stevenson Sharpe & Co", King Street, Derby.
Stevenson died in 1866 with capital again being withdrawn from the concern.
1866 Sampson Hancock became sole proprietor and continued for the next 29 years until his death in 1895. The company now trading as Sampson Hancock continued to use the S and H mark since they were also the initials of Sampson Hancock.
Following Hancock’s death in November 1895, John James Robinson his grandson inherited the concern and the company continued to trade under the name Sampson Hancock.
1915 Following the sale of the china works by Robinson’s widow, William Larcombe became the next proprietor. Formerly a china dealer and restorer he too continued in business using the name "Sampson Hancock" which can be seen in numerous advertisements.
1917 Francis Howard Paget became Larcombe’s business partner, a partnership which lasted 16 years.
1933 William Larcombe returned to working on his own account as a china restorer; Paget became the sole proprietor of the Old Crown Derby China Works.
1933 Dissolution of the Partnership between William George Harris Larcombe and Francis Edward Howard Paget, carrying on business at the Old Crown Derby China Works, King Street, and St. Helens Street, Derby, under the style or firm of The OLD CROWN DERBY CHINA WORKS, as from the seventh day of January, 1933. All debts due to and owing by the late firm will be received and paid respectively by the said Francis Edward Howard Paget.[4]
1935 Paget sold the Old Crown Derby China Works for £4,000. The new owners, the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company immediately closed the small King Street china works.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Derby Porcelain.