Baker, William

Windsor, Berks., and London; carver and gilder (fl.1794–1840)

Recorded in New Windsor between 1794–1806; at 9 Thames St, Windsor between 1824–30; and King St, Bloomsbury, London, 1835–40. Mentioned in the 5th hall book of the borough of New Windsor in connection with litigation brought against the Borough Council, (pp. 51–167, 1828–52). The Royal Household accounts refer to Baker as having carried out much jobbing work between 1831–40 at Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Bushey Lodge and Buckingham Palace, including regilding, repairing and carving on chairs, sofas, picture and glass frames and door mouldings. On 30 June 1831 he was paid a total of £88 for such work, and in the same year was repairing and regilding the candelabras in the corridor and Dining Room of St George's Hall. He also supplied frames costing £65 18s 3d for Harrington House, and in 1832 carried out repairs to the ‘Gothick pillars, Caps & Bases belonging to pedestal dining Tables’. In 1837 he was paid a total of £45 7s 7d for 94 days work repairing and regilding furniture ‘throughout the principal suit of Apts.’, no doubt in honour of Queen Victoria's accession. A bill head citing the address of 13 Upper King Street, Bloomsbury and dated 1841, is in the Johnson Collection, Bodleian Library.

Source: DEFM; Stabler, ‘Furniture Makers' Trade-Cards and Bill-Heads in the John Johnson Collection’, FHS Newsletter (May 2007).