Catalogue description Spencer, Turner and Boldero, Retail and Wholesale Drapers (and Wholesale Warehousemen) 61-93 Lisson Grove

This Collection includes a prospectus and advertising brochure

Spencer, Turner and Boldero, 1855-1969, Lisson Grove, Westminster, retail and wholesale drapers

M:Acc 593/1 was donated by Southwark Public Libraries in November 1972 and the material forming M:Acc 593/2-3 were transferred from Local Studies Collection in Jan 2001.

A considerable amount of information relating to the history of the firm can be gathered from the Kelly's London Post Office Directories. They record the firm as being established in 1837 as Boldero Limited. The first record of the firm at 70 and 72 Lisson Grove is in 1851 as William Spencer and Co, linen drapers. The 1851 census records two master drapers at 70 Lisson Grove, Henry Turner (aged 28 and born in Old Newton, Suffolk) and William Bolder[o] (aged 26 and born Dunham, Norfolk). There were also 13 draper's assistants and a draper's porter recorded at 70 Lisson Grove and an additional 4 assistants listed at 72 Lisson Grove, indicating the scale of the business. The directories do not list the firm as Spencer, Turner and Boldero, linen drapers, until 1855.

It is clear that the firm rapidly expanded and flourished as retail drapers. However, the drapery business started to decline towards the latter part of the century, partly due to demolition of residential property in the area associated with the construction of the Great Central Railway. To compensate for this trend the firm diversified its business and became wholesale dealers dealing in a wide variety of products. The 1876 delivery label (M:Acc 593/1) records that the firm's delivery carts made two deliveries each day. In 1887 they are described as manufacturers and warehousemen, agents and importers.

The 1894 prospectus (M:Acc 593/2) reveals the scale of the firm's business activities, "Textile and General Warehousemen, Drapers, Outfitters, Carpet and Furniture Dealers" with over 7,000 customer accounts and 800 employees. The firms premises had expanded to create a complex that incorporated 61-85, 89-93 Lisson Grove, 1-22 Duke Street (Boldero Street from 1937), 1-5 Devonshire Street (Ashmill Street from 1912) and 2-8 Exeter Street (Ashbridge Street from 1938). Initially a subway and then a concrete passageway on the third floor level linked the firm's premises either side of Duke Street. In 1894 the firm's sole partners and proprietors Henry John Turner and John Boldero were made Managing Directors of a new Board of Directors as the firm sold shares to raise £450,000 in capital to fund their expansion plans. By 1900 the directories list the firm as linen drapers, upholsterers, carpet factors, tea merchants, wine and spirit merchants, and warehousemen and "complete home furnishers".

During the Second World War [in May 1941] the packing and forwarding warehouse fronting Ashbridge Street suffered bomb damage and was subsequently demolished. The firm is last recorded in 1969 as "Spencer, Turner and Boldero Limited (including Devas Routledge and Co Ltd), wholesale textile warehousemen, 61-93 Lisson Grove" prior to the redevelopment of the area. On the site was erected Alpha House, Earl House and Tresco House.