Fenner, William, jnr.

Tunbridge Wells, Kent; Tunbridge-ware manufacturer (fl.1792–1827)

Son of William Fenner Snr (d. 1809) who had already established a Tunbridge ware business in the 1780s. Probably trading with his father on the Walks (the Pantiles) by 1792 in which year he/his father subscribed £5 5s towards their paving. His trade card, probably dating from 1796, indicates that he sold a considerable range of print decorated wares ‘in the TURNER or CABINET line’ at his shop on the Walks. In 1797 went into partnership with James Nye who had been trading in Tunbridge-wares certainly since 1772 and probably from 1757. James Nye was dead by 1809 and a further partnership was formed with Edmund Nye, son of James Nye. This partnership absorbed the business formerly conducted by William Foley. The partners centred their production on the Chalet, Mount Ephraim and this manufactory was continued by William Fenner when the partnership broke up in 1817. Fenner was chosen by the inhabitants of Tunbridge Wells to produce a fine work and writing table for the Princess Victoria in 1826. A subscription of 25 guineas was raised by the people of the town to defray the cost. The table was veneered in kingwood and decorated ‘with party-coloured woods from every part of the globe’. It incorporated a ‘writing and reading desk covered with embossed velvet’ and a workbox contained silver-chased instruments and drawing box equipment.

In 1827, the year of the Royal visit, Fenner died. He was obviously a man of some substance by this time, owing Dudley House, Mount Pleasant, and property at Wadhurst in East Sussex. In his will the business was left to his daughter, Anne, who was married to Charles Butler, a druggist and chemist. John Talbot Ubsdell (1797-1879), another Tunbridge-ware maker, was related by marriage to Butler and took on the lease of the factory. However, by February 1834 Ubsdell had appeared in the bankruptcy court

he business then reverted back to Anne and her husband who traded as Fenner & Co.; an engraving of the showrooms and workshops is illus. Furniture History (1997) p. 268. They tried to develop markets in London for its products; selling both retail and wholesale. One of the stockists was Edwin Marks, of Calverley Library, Calverley Promenade, Tunbridge Wells; who advertised ‘Tables’ from £2 12s 6d to £15 and ‘tea Poys’ from £6 to £12 12s. In 1840 the company claimed to be making ‘Work, Card, Chess, Loo, Flower and other Tables’ but also advertised that they were offering wares ‘at very reduced prices owing to the introduction of new machinery’. This was the last year of trading as in 1840 Butler was declared bankrupt and in January 1841 was in the Queen’s Bench Prison.

A number of pieces produced in the last years of the business bear a trade label indicating that Fenner & Co. were ‘Inlaid & Mosaic Wood Manufacturers to HER MAJESTY & THE ROYAL FAMILY’. These pieces use the miniature parquetry work characteristic of the 1830s. A rosewood writing and worktable, dated 1837-40, of particular interest as the only tessellated mosaic work characteristic of Tunbridge ware from the mid 1830s that bears the label of Fenner & Co.is illus. FHS Newsletter (August 2002) p.2. It is possible that Fenner did not manufacture the tessellated panel but bought the panel ready-made by another Tunbridge ware maker, like Edmund Nye.

Sources: DEFM; Austen, ‘Tables by Tunbridge Ware Makers’, Furniture History (1997); Austen, ‘Tunbridge Wares with Royal Connections’, FHS Newsletter (May 2015); FHS Newsletter (August 2002).