The Bristol Goldsmiths Alliance

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When one thinks about Bristol silversmiths, the names that often spring to mind are those of Williams, Woodman, Taylor and Jackson. The Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance, formed in the early 1880's had links with the Taylors.


Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - 1883

The company was formerly that of William Langford & Sons and around 1883 they acquired the business of John J. Peters & Co. The Peters firm was previously the well-known business of Charles Taylor and his son, Thomas Terrett Taylor, who traded as Charles Taylor & Son.

Charles Taylor (Grimwade 3388) served his apprenticeship with the husband and wife partnership of John and Mary Tanner (Grimwade p.369). He was indentured on the 10th March 1796, paying the then huge premium of 70 Guineas. He established his business in 1805 and became Free of the City of Bristol in 1812. In the mid 1830's he took his son, Thomas Terrett Taylor (Grimwade 3388) into partnership, they entered marks at Exeter and London. Charles Taylor died on the 17th November 1861, aged eighty and Thomas on the 27th June 1880, aged sixty-six. They were both members of Bristol City Council. Following the death of Charles Taylor the partners in the firm were noted as Thomas Terrett Taylor, George Carley and John James Peters. George Carley withdrew from the partnership on the 31st March 1867 and Thomas also withdrew on the 30th June 1870 and subsequently the firm was then styled John J. Peters & Co.

It was after the acquisition of John J. Peters & Co. that William Langford & Sons, now in the hands of Francis James Langford and George Langford, changed their name to the Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance.


Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - 1906

Sometime during the period 1884-1892, Francis Langford left the business and appears to have been replaced by James Henry Mole. George Langford and James Mole dissolved their partnership on the 1st January 1893, thereafter George Langford ran the firm in sole ownership.


Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - 1908

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An American article regarding the work of the Bristol Goldsmiths Alliance.



While the making of gold and silver caskets to contain the addresses of cities of important personages is essentially a foreign craft, obtaining mostly in Great Britain and her colonies, yet there have been isolated occasions where the craft has been called into requisition in this country. These caskets are fine objects for study in the gold and silversmithing arts, no matter in whatsoever country they are made. The casket presented by the City of Bristol, England, to Queen Victoria, refered to in the last issue of THE CIRCULAR, is a especially artistic affair. It was given to the Queen on the occasion of her opening the Bristol Jubilee Convalescent Home. The casket, of which the front view is given here, contained the address from the Mayor and corporation of Bristol. It is of solid gold in the renaissance style. The figures represent Europe, America, Asia and Africa. The enamel painted views in the oval medallions represent the Home itself, the Cathedral, Cabot Tower and the Suspension Bridge. This casket, as well as the electric button of gold, gems and enamel, described and illustrated in the last issue of THE CIRCULAR, was supplied by the Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance, an association of several old firms of jewellers. They have received general congratulations upon their work.

Source: The Jewellers' Circular and Horological Review - New York - Wednesday, December 27, 1899.

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An 1863 advertisement from Henry Hyde Aston, 12, Regent Place, Birmingham.


Henry H. Aston - Birmingham - 1863

The reason this advertisement appears in this topic, is because of the firms London representative, Thomas Taylor. This would be Thomas Terrett Taylor (Grimwade 3388), who at this time, was noted as a director in the business of George Carley & Co. (George Carley, Thomas Terrett Taylor and Philip Bettle) of 30, Ely Place, Holborn.

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Thomas Terret Taylor died in Italy, as can be seen by this obitury:

We record with regret the death of Thomas Terrett Taylor, Esq., of the Mythe, Stoke Bishop, Bristol, which occurred June 27th whilst he was travelling in Italy. Mr. Taylor became some years ago, at the request of Miss Carpenter, Treasurer of the National Indian Association, in the objects of which he felt a genuine interest. He was connected with various branches of commerce at Bristol, and was greatly respected in public and in private life.

Source: Journal of the National Indian Association - 1880

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Found on the inside of a box containing two large annointing spoons made by Wakely & Wheeler in 1936.

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The first two advertisements for the newly founded Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance.


Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - 1881


Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - 1882

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Two newspaper announcements that record important events in the history of the Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance.


The dissolution of the partnership of George Langford and James Henry Mole.

"George Langford and James H. Mole, trading as the Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance and Manufacturing Company, and as Taylor, Langford and Co., at College Green, Bristol, gold and silver smiths, jewellers, and clock and watch maker: James H. Mole retires."

Source: London Gazette - 8th March 1893


And perhaps the final nail in the coffin of J J Peters & Co.


Source: The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post - 26th March 1898

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Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - 1884

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A link to the history of Kemp Brothers of Bristol. Edward Kemp, who founded the business along with his brother, Charles, was a former employee of the Bristol Goldsmiths Alliance.

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Kemp Brothers entered their marks (K.B) at the London Assay Office, on the 12th April 1910, 18th May 1910, and on the 10th May 1911. All three marks were entered by Charles Wilson Kemp.

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21st Regiment Madras Infantry Challenge Cup

There may now be seen, in the window of the Bristol Goldsmith's Alliance, in College Green, Bristol, a very handsome silver challenge cup, which has been manufactured by the Alliance for the 21st Regiment Madras Infantry, now stationed at Secunderabad, Deccan, India. The body of the cup, on which the regimental arms are engraved, is supported by three delicately fashioned branches of the native bamboo in full foliage, the stalks reaching to the base of the cup, and held in the centre by an imperial crown, the whole being set on a silver mounted ebony stand, and measuring 22 inches in height, and it is certainly a very fine example of the silversmith's art. and reflects great credit on the Alliance Company. It is interesting to note that the cup is purchased with money given by the Indian Government last year to each native regiment, to be expended in some manner commemorative of the Jubilee of the Queen-Empress, and for the good of the men. The regiment was at that time split up into many small parties in the jungles of Upper Burmah, and no united rejoicing was possible: so it was agreed to purchase a challenge cup, to be held by the company making the best score on the rifle range during each annual course of musketry. It is hoped that this will promote good and careful shooting in the regiment, now-a-day so vastly important a part of a soldier's training. The 21st Madras infantry was raised in 1786. It took part in the siege and capture of Seringapatam, being one of the battalions that stormed the breach of that fortress. On one occasion, just before the siege, its rear-guard of 100 men, under Captain Renny, was cut off by 3,000 of the enemy's cavalry, said to have been commanded by Tippoo himself, and the whole company fell fighting round their gallant commander. The next day bore witness to the stubborn fight. The regiment fought at Magpore, in Central India, was present in Afghanistan in 1878-80, and only three months ago returned from two-and-ahalf years' active service in Upper Burmah, where by casualties in action and disease its ranks were more than decimated. So that since its birth. 102 years ago, its record has been both full of honour and event.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd July 1888.

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For details of Thomas Terrett Taylor's involvement with George Carley & Co., see page 6 of: Some London Advertisements and Information

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The Goldsmith Alliance and Manufacturing Company, of College-green, have been recently engaged in improving the fine clock in the tower of St. Mary, Redcliff, by adding Westminster or Cambridge chimes thereto. The peal of bells in this church is an exceptional One, and now that it has been made possible to utilise it in connection with the striking of the clock, it will be about the best set of chimes in the West of England.The quarters will be made to strike on the third, fourth, fifth, and eighth bells. The third and fourth bells were cast by T. Mears, of London, in 1823; the fifth was made by Rudhall, of Gloucester, in 1698 ; the eighth being made by Bilbie, of Chew Stoke, in 1763. At that time the Bilbies were celebrated bellfounders, and cast the seventh and tenth bells at this church, besides a number of other bells at churches in the locality. The eleventh, or tenor bell, was made by one of the family of bellfounders in Wiltshire and Somerset who cast the largest bell in the Cathedral in 1660. The bells being heavy have required weighty hammers to bring out the proper tone, and special hammers have been constructed proportionate to the weight of the bells to which they are attached, the heaviest for the tenor hour bell weighing 102lb.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweler and Silversmith - 1st May 1893

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Retailer mark of the Bristol Goldsmiths Alliance, noted on a trophy by C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd., assayed at London in 1907:



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Dissolutions of Partnerships

Peters, John James & Co., College-green, Bristol, gold and silversmiths and watchmanufacturers. March 31. Debts by T. T. Taylor.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 5th July 1877

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Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - Bristol - 1918

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ALLEGED CONSPIRACY AT BRISTOL

A special court was held by the Bristol magistrates on Tuesday, at which Arthur Chambers, a white-haired elderly gentleman of respectable appearance, was charged with stealing three gold and pearl scarf pins, valued at £79, the property of the Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance, and further, with conspiring with a man not in custody called Guy Gamble, alias Charles Wills, alias Charles Wellings, to obtain six bracelets with these three pins, together of the value of £300. The man Gamble had not been found and it was alleged that he had gone to Paris with the bracelets, and left defendant Chambers in England.—The case was adjourned until Monday next.

Source: Weekly Mail - 16th October 1897

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Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - 1905

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Dissolutions of Partnership

Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance, Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance and Manufacturing Co., and Taylor, Langford and Co., Gold and Silversmiths, Jewellers, and Clock and Watchmakers, College-green, Bristol, January 1st. Debts by George Langford, who continues under the same styles.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st April 1893

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ARTISTS IN GOLD AND SILVER

In the beauty and variety of its civic plate, the Bristol Corporation is surpassed by no town in the kingdom, and the city’s high repute of old for craftsmanship in the precious metals is well sustained to day by the Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance, which represents the union of the two old-established firms of Charles Taylor and Co. and William Langford and Sons. One speciality of the firm is the making of the finest English chronometers and watches, while it through the company’s system of synchronisation that he public clocks of Bristol, including the Cathedral, are controlled and kept true Greenwich time—an amenity for which London has long sought in vain. Very exquisite and beautiful work in jewellery is also carried out by the firm, which shows a large stock of diamonds and precious stones, from which customers can make their selection and have them mounted according to their own designs or to designs submitted by the company. Besides keeping a large selection of jewellery, the company also have a well-selected stock of silver, suitable for presentation pieces, as well as the smaller articles necessary for table and general use. Clocks of all description and styles are also to be seen. We noticed one "Grandfather clock" in particular, the case of which is made of oak being considerably over 300 years old, coming from the original building of the Bristol Grammar School. Several important caskets have been designed and made by the company, in addition to the one presented to the King. They also made a working model of a steam-navvy, every detail worked out to scale, which was presented to the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his cutting the first sod of the Dock six years earlier.



Our photograph gives an excellent idea of one of the beautiful show-rooms of the Bristol Goldsmiths’ Alliance. This firm made the gold casket and the jewelled fan that were presented to the King and Queen when their Majesties opened the Royal Edward Dock, Bristol, last year.

Source: The Illustrated London News - 27th November 1909

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Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance - Bristol - 1889

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