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The firm Hennell Ltd is a long-lasting family business of silversmiths founded in 1725 by David Hennell (1712 - 1785).

His son Robert Hennell I (1741 - 1811) joined the company in partnership in 1763, and became sole owner of the business after his father’s retirement. He was soon joined by his son, Samuel Hennell (1778 - 1837), and his nephew Robert Hennell II.

After his apprenticeship with his uncle and the engraver John Houle, he gained his freedom in 1785 and started working mainly as an engraver. In 1808, he entered his first mark on his own, soon becoming one of the most prolific silversmiths of the Regency period.

The firm - based from 1817 at 3 Lancaster Court, Strand - specialised in domestic silver, salts, cruets, tea, and coffee sets often delicately engraved or finely pierced.

After Robert’s retirement in 1833, his sons took over the business. The firm is still running in London's Bond Street with the name Frazer &amp; Haws and Hennells.

Robert Hennell I

Antique Silver George III Inkstand made in 1791

Martin, Hall &amp; Co were Sheffield based manufacturing silversmiths, electroplated manufacturers and silver, plated and steel cutlers.

The firm started in 1820 with the partnership of Henry Wilkinson and John Roberts, trading as Wilkinson &amp; Roberts. Wilkinson left in 1846 and Roberts went into partnership with his former apprentice, Ebenezer Hall and became Roberts &amp; Hall. Richard Martin and Joshua Hall (brother of Ebenezer) joined the partnership in 1854 and the firm became Martin, Hall &amp; Co, converting to a limited company in 1866.

With a factory in Sheffield, they went on to open showrooms in London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Sydney. As well as producing sterling silver and electroplated wares, they also had a successful (and much cheaper) line of products produced in their patented white metal called “Martinoid” - an alloy of white metals made to look like sterling silver but with no meltdown value.

They exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851, the International Exhibition in 1862, the Sydney Exhibition in 1879, the Melbourne Exhibition in 1881 and the British Industries Fair in 1915.

It is not clear whether the business was sold to Frank Cobb &amp; Co in 1932 or went into liquidation in 1936 when it was delisted.

Martin Hall &amp; Co

Antique Silver Edwardian Inkstand made in 1905

Charles Hougham

Son of Soloman Hougham of the parish of St John in the County of Surrey linendraper, apprenticed to Henry Corry 4 July 1764, on payment of £15. Freedom unrecorded.

Mark entered as smallworker, 11 January 1769. Adress: Aldersgate Street, Second mark, 11 May 1769. Appears as bucklemaker, Aldersgate Street, in the Parl. Report list 1773, and entered marks as such, 1773-9.

Third mark, as plateworker (two sizes), 24 January 1785, Address :138 Aldersgate Street, Fourth entry (seven marks), 4 November 1786, same address, Heal records the above address and adds Charles and Solomon Hougham, goldsmiths, same address, 1790-6 , Charles Hougham, goldsmith , Aldersgate Street, died 18 January 1793(European Magazine, The Gentleman’s Magazine )

Charles Hougham

Antique Silver George III Inkstand made in 1764

Walter Barnard (1868 - 1903) was part of possibly the oldest manufacturing silversmith in the world, the origin of this business having been established by Anthony Nelme c. 1680.

Francis Nelme inherited the business on the death of his father in 1722 and continued until 1739 when Thomas Whipham took over the business. On his death in 1756, his son Thomas Whipham Jr. took into partnership Charles Wright. Thomas retired in 1775 and the business was continued by Charles Wright.

The business was amalgamated by Henry Chawner in 1786 and the latter son of Edward Barnard (I) became the foreman of the firm. Chawner was master to the first Edward Barnard (I) so that the connection of the Barnard family can be traced from 1773.

In 1796, he took into partnership John Emes that became the owner after the retirement of Chawner, maintaining Edward Barnard (I) as manager. Emes died in 1808 and his widow Rebecca took as partner Edward Barnard (I). Rebecca Emes withdrew in 1829 and Edward Barnard (I) became the proprietor with his son Edward Barnard (II), John Barnard and William Barnard, trading under the style Edward Barnard &amp; Sons.

After the retirement of Edward Barnard (I) the firm was continued by Edward Barnard (II) (1846 - 1851), John Barnard (I) (1846 - 1868), William Barnard (1846), Edward Barnard (III) (1868), Walter Barnard (1868 - 1903), John Barnard (II) (1868 - 1903), Michael Barnard (1896 - 1903), Stanley Barnard (1896 - 1903) and Robert Dubcock (1896).

The firm was converted into a limited liability company in 1910 under the style Edward Barnard &amp; Sons Ltd. In 1977, Edward Barnard &amp; Sons Limited became a subsidiary of Padgett &amp; Braham Ltd.

Walter Barnard

Antique Silver Victorian Inkstand made in 1881

Henry Chawner became a freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company on 7 December 1785 and entered his first mark as a plateworker on 11 November 1786. On 2 March 1789, he married Miss Hore, daughter and heiress of Edward Hore, of Esher, Surrey.

He entered into partnership with John Emes in 1796 and from about 1798 seems to have retired from silversmithing (he married well!) He seems to have had financial input into John Emes’ firm and then the Barnard Family. His hallmark is often seen on finely made teaware.

Chawner retired to the Manor House, Newton Valance, which, with the surrounding estate, he had purchased in 1810. He is said to have: “converted the old house into domestic offices and added thereto a villa, in the Grecian style. It contains a large collection of paintings and other works of art, amongst which is the Angouleme China vase, mounted in ormolu… The same that was rejected by George IV for whom it was ordered, in consequence of a small fire flaw which came in the burning.” Chawner died there in March, 1851.

Henry Chawner

Antique Silver George III Inkstand made in 1794

Chapple and Mantell in the Strand.

They were very fine silversmiths specialising in early Georgian reproduction silverware.

<a href="https://williamwalter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Sa236x21makerw.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-10592" src="https://williamwalter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Sa236x21makerw-229x300.jpg" alt="" width="229" height="300" /></a>

Chapple &amp; Mantell

Antique Silver George V Inkstand made in 1937

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Antique Ink Stands

Antique Ink Stands

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