Trelfers Jewellers, Benjamin Henry Trelfer, Benjamin Trelfer
Horsham, West Sussex and Capel in Surrey
"Trelfers Jewellers" of Horsham closed in 2019, 138 years after the establishment of the West Sussex/South Surrey business.
Below are 2 references covering mainly the later history of the Jewellers, and after those is an image from the silk of a box containing a set of 1928 Sheffield made teaspoons.
https://www.trelfers.co.uk/
http://www.thedistrictpost.co.uk/news/2 ... -to-close/
This from the first third of the of the 20th century is an example of an earlier trading name, "B.H.Trelfer Ltd".
Next there are 2 images of adverts reverenced on "Trelfers" web site but with more precise dating.
The 1894 just has the simple "B.Trelfer" name and prominently proclaims the "clock and watch maker" part of the business. Spectacles are also supplied. More interestingly under the Trelfer name it says "from Brighton". I will return to "from Brighton" at the end of the post.
On the July 1905 advert we see this same trading name as on the spoon box silk.
From geneology references it seems a "Benjamin Trelfer" was born 1853/54 in Brighton Sussex. His father was called George and among other siblings he had a younger brother also called George. By the 1880 Benjamin was a widower with a son but in this same year he remarried in Horsham.
In 1881, with his new wife, he lived with at "Park Ter East" in Horsham and he was described as a Watchmaker Journeyman. The son, aged 4, "Henry B" (note name) was a "scholar". I at present do not have access to the true census records but the "Rootspoint" site gives "Henry" as the reported christian name. It is interesting to note that 1881 is the date given for the establishment of Horsham's "Trelfers Jewellers".
In 1891, Benjamin (37, Watchmaker) with wife Caroline lived at Capel Street in Capel, Surrey. The young "Henry B" is not present. However along with two young daughters at the address, there is a nephew Frederick C George (19, Watchmakers Assistant). Seemingly an expanding business.
In 1901 Benjamin (46, Watchmaker) and Caroline lived at "Roseberry Terrace" in Horsham with three children: Mabel C, Amelia M and Leonard V. There is confirmatory reference for this address from a Horsham in a Sussex Street Directory PDF (but no date).
Trelfer BenJamin, watch maker, II Roseberry ter, Upper New street
A second "Benjamin Trelfer" is back in the picture in 1901. "Benjamin H Trelfer", aged 24, a watchmaker is a boarder at 1 Capel Street, Capel. He is described as working at home on "own account".
I found 2 more undated PDF references for "Trelfer BenJamin", but at 35 North street & 136 New street, Horsha:m. One was a Street directory entry and the other from a Trade directory. "35 North Street" is an address present in the 1905 advert on which the business is proclaimed as "B.H.Trelfer Ltd" and as now "removed" to their new (and final) resting place at 9 East Street.
Could this 1901-1904 period be the change over time for the business from father to son? 1911 finds "Benjamin Trelfer", aged 56 "Watchmaker", living in London, having married again in 1905 and "Leonard" is still living with him. Also in 1911 "Benjamin H Trelfer" aged 34 is a "Watchmaker Dealer" at 9 East Street Horsham and an "Employer".
There is a death record for "Benjamin H Trelfer", for the 1st quarter of 1954 in Horsham which nearly ties with change of ownership that is described in the newspaper article that I reference earlier.
Something else I mentioned earlier was the "from Brighton" on the 1894 Advert. It is possible it was a simple indication of coming from a larger much more important town than Horsham, but I wonder if was to indicate a connection with another watch maker concern.
There is a reference on line circa 1881 "George Trelfer 24, jeweller, at "6 Barrowcliffe Cottages Brighton". This is indicated to be Benjamin's brother, so could they have trained or been in business together before Benjamin married in 1880 and moved to Horsham?
Fishless
