Baggallays, Westall & Spence, London
History
This firm dates back to the 1800's when it was known as Westall & Co. Within a few years William Westall, Thomas Westall, Robert Spence and Richard Baggallay formed a new partnership which they named Westall, Spence & Baggallay. They operated as wholesale haberdashers located in the Borough of Southwark in central London. At the time a haberdasher was either a business that sold small articles for sewing such as buttons, ribbons, needles and pins or was a dealer of men’s clothing which included hats, shirt, ties, etc. When William Westall retired in 1815 that partnership dissolved and the three remaining partners continued business under the same name. The firm was reorganized as Spence, Baggallays & Spence in 1830 with the addition of new partners, the sons of the original owners.
Robert Spence and Richard Baggallay left the firm by 1859 and it was reconstituted as Baggallays, Westall & Spence with John Baggallay, Thomas Weston Baggallay, William Mawley Westall and Robert Spence Jr. forming a new partnership. Throughout the 1860’s, 70’s and 80’s the company was listed in trade and commercial directories as a draper and clothier or as warehousemen located at 4 and 5 Love-Lane, Wood Street in London. This partnership was dissolved in 1881 when William Mawley Westall left the organization and the business was renamed Baggallays & Spence. The 1880’s were turbulent times for businesses in Great Britain who didn’t have a large amount of capital, and many small businesses declared bankruptcy during this period. Unfortunately Baggallays & Spence was one of these as they were listed as a failed business in January 1885.
Richard Baggallay
Needle Cases
To date the earliest item to appear with this firms name was a needle packet counter box that William Avery patented in 1867. Inscribed on the box’s lid, along with Avery’s name, were the words “agents in London Baggallays, Westall & Spence”. Evidently Avery established an agreement with the firm and they acted as Avery’s representative in London. It is highly likely that the Baggallays, Westall & Spence organization was responsible for introducing Avery’s needle cases to other drapers and clothiers, dressing case and lace manufactures and warehousemen in the London area.
Unlike the relationships that Avery had with other companies in London, the one he formed with Baggallays, Westall & Spence seems to have been the strongest. It also lasted the longest based on the number of needle case designs that carried the firms name and the dates in which Avery registered them. These included at least four flat-style needle cases: Alliance, Britannia, Stella and Victoria and at least six figural needle cases: Archery Society, Bee, Bomb, Butterfly, Scallop Shell and Universal Pin Case. In addition, Avery most likely introduced Baggallays, Westall & Spence to several Birmingham area die-sinkers who also designed needle cases. As a result four additional figural needle cases also carried the firm’s name: Picnic Basket, Wheelbarrow with Holly, Easel Floral and the Trolley and Box. However, the relationship with Avery appears to have ended before 1881 as no needle cases have been found with the Baggallays& Spence name which was how the firm was known in the early 1880’s.
Sources
The British Library Business and Intellectual Property Centre, London - Patents:
- #2007 dated July 9, 1867 – Counter Box patent to William Avery & Son, Redditch
- #2998 dated October 14, 1869 – Stella Golden Needle Case patent to William Avery and Albert Fenton, Redditch
- #1473 dated May 21, 1870 – Alliance, Britannia and Victoria patent to William Avery, Redditch.
- #1332 dated May 16, 1871 – Universal Pin Case patent to William Avery, Redditch
Cases Argued and Determined Relating to the Poor Laws to Points in Criminal Law and Other Subjects Chiefly Connected with the Duties and Office of Magistrates … The Law Journal Reports, 1841, page 57. Available at Google Books.
The Economist Weekly Commercial Times … Vol. XLIII, 1886. January 3, 1885, page 15. Available at Google Books.
The Furniture Gazette an Illustrated Monthly Journal Treating of all Branches of Cabinet-Work, Upholstery, and Interior Decoration, Vol. XXIII, 1885. January 3, 1885, page 2 and January 10, 1885, page 22. Available at Google Books.
The London Gazette. Partnership dissolution June 24, 1815, page 1290. Available at Google Books.
The London Gazette, July 26, 1859. Partnership dissolution June 28, 1859, page 2918. Available at Google Books.
The London Gazette, August 26, 1881. Partnership dissolution July 1, 1881, page 4408. Available at Google Books.
The National Archives in Kew, UK – Design Registrations:
- #254656 dated Aug. 4, 1871 (in BT 43/30 and BT 44/2) – Butterfly registered to William Avery & Son, Redditch
- #257721 dated November 14, 1871 (BT43/31 and BT 44/2) – Scallop Shell registered to William Avery & Son, Redditch
- #261971 dated April 17, 1872 BT 43/32 and BT44/2) – Bombe registered to W. Avery & Son, Redditch
- #263785 dated June 27, 1872 (BT 43/32 and BT44/2) – Bee Case registered to W. Avery & Son, Redditch
- #287090 dated November 18, 1874 (BT43/37 and BT 44/3) – Wheelbarrow with Holly Registered to Bunchler & Haseler, Birmingham
- #290854 dated April 23, 1875 (BT 43/38 and BT 44/3) – Picnic Basket registered to Bunchler & Haseler, Birmingham
- #292979 dated July 19, 1875 (BT 43/38 and BT 44/3) – Easel Floral registered to Bunchler & Haseler, Birmingham
- #305490 dated November 27, 1876 (BT 43/41 and BT 44/3) – Archery Society registered to W. Avery & Son Redditch
- #313951 dated September 7, 1877 (BT 43/42 and BT 44/4) – Trolley and Box registered to Frank J. Kendrick, Birmingham
