Covers Underfoot

An aficionado of coal plates and utility covers. Fascinated by their artistry and the history behind them.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 23: Three by Young & Buss. Octavius Buss, son of artist Robert William Buss, joined John Young in his ironmonger's business at Blandford Street in 1869. The company went bankrupt in 1894.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 22: Three by John Young, ironmonger. Marylebone born, he traded from 1844 at 18 Blandford Street and also from 1857 at Davies Street, He then, from 1869, was in partnership with Octavius Buss.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 21: One of Wood & Barrett. George Wood stove maker & ironmonger set up his business in Tottenham Ct. Rd. in 1819. George Barrett of Cambridge joined him in 1838 & they traded until 1858 when Barrett took over. He traded until 1871. #manholecovermonday

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London, W1 coal plates, day 20: Three by Whitehead & Co. Frederick Matthias Whitehead, gas engineer traded at different addresses from 1869 until 1901. He was at Gt. Quebec St. in the 1880/90s & his ironmonger son David at Crawford St. in 1931.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 19: Three of White & Sons, 207 Oxford Street. Born in Oxford St. William White worked for & then in partnership with Joseph Gibbons, ironmonger. He continued the business with his sons William & George from 1875 until 1919.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 18: Three of Thomas Joseph Stone, ironmonger of High St. Marylebone and James St. He was a local man and originally a paint shop manager. He traded from 1899 until 1930.

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London, W1 coal plate, day 17: Nebuly design plate of John Sambell Philp a whitesmith and music smith (maker of music type face) from Cornwall. He traded at 32 Warren Street from 1857 until his death in 1889.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 16: Wonderful rare plate of Jones Bros. Down St. Piccadilly. Sons of a local licenced victualler, John Henry & Robert Charles Jones traded as ironmongers in Down Street from 1860 until 1937.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 15: Three of William Crossley James ironmonger of 62 & 64 Weymouth Street. Born in Coventry and successor to his father William Henry, (who traded from 1861), he traded from 1891 until his death in 1914. The company itself continued into the 1920s.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 14: Three of John Harvey Circus Street, New Road (Euston Road). A member of the Sussex brewing family for Lewes he was an ironmonger and smith at this address from 1844 until 1871. He died in 1879.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 1: Two quatrefoils by George Guy (Junior), ironmonger. Hampshire born George (Senior) traded from 1849 in Oxford St. He was succeeded by son Harry then grandson George (Junior). The business was at 29 Orchard St. 1901-1929 when it ceased trading,

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London, W1 coal plates day 12: Four dated plates (1844-54) of Gibbons Son & Co, 346 Oxford Street. John Gibbons traded from 1835 with his son Joseph and William White until 1858. The company then continued under various guises beyond 1882 when it became White & Son.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 11: Four of Joseph Draper & Son, ironmongers who were at 67 Great Titchfield St.1877-1932. The family had run a shop in Great Titchfield St, from at least 1841 with Joseph's father & mother being successively in charge. The son was George then Sydney.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 10: Coal plate of brothers William & Edward Curtiss. Sussex born, they were builders, decorators, upholsterers & undertakers (not funeral!). Established in 1873 they traded from 42 Curzon Street from 1877 until 1914 and ceased trading in 1921.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 9. Plate of Tom Crouch of 26 Shouldham Street. Born in Dorset, he started his painting & decorating business in 1886. By 1891 this had expanded into general building. The business moved to 69 Market Street in 1912. Tom Crouch died in 1921 aged 68.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 8. A quatrefoil plate of George Henry Crossingham, ironmonger. From Brentwood, Essex he traded from 18 Barrett Street from 1901, moving to 52 James Street, off Oxford Street in 1906 where he stayed until his death in 1923. #manholecovermonday

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London, W1 Coal Plates Day 7: Three of Cheney Brothers, of 102 Seymour Place. Successors to William Beesley, Montague Beesley ran the ironmonger's shop from 1908 until 1914 whilst Ernest ran the building and decorating side of the business which ceased trading in 1918.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 6: Brown & Co of 24 High Street Marylebone plate. Edmund Brown, a builder from Dorset, succeeded Mrs. Phoebe Parkes at this ironmonger's shop in 1863. He (and his son William) traded until 1892 when succeeded by Edward White.

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London, W1 Coal Plates, Day 5: A plate of John Borgars, builder of Beaumont Street. Son of a confectioner & grandson of a German immigrant labourer, he traded from this address from 1899, later moving to Weymouth Street where he traded until at least 1930.

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London, W1 coal plates, day 4: Three of Frederick Bird & Co, Engineers of 3 Winsley street & later Gt. Castle street. The company was in existence from at least 1860 until 1930 when they moved to West Drayton, Middlesex.