Gilney, Christopher, Castle Ditches, Norwich, cm (1793–1806). First recorded in 1793 as a subscriber to Sheraton's Drawing Book. By May 1795 however his property was in the hands of assignees and his stock was sold off in a series of auction sales commencing on 1 June. The stock of furniture consisted of ‘a great variety of mahogany, bamboo, and other very neat fancy chairs, 2 mahogany wardrobes, a pair of very beautiful inlaid card tables, several other mahogany card tables in pairs; a very handsome inlaid vase spoon case; chests of drawers; a great variety of pier and dressing glasses, caddies, firescreen stands, wash-hand stands, moveable water closets, cellarets &c. &c.’ Materials held in stock consisted of ‘upwards of 20,000 feet of very fine dry Spanish and other mahogany, in boards, planks and logs, satin, rose and tulip wood, a very large quantity of fine Spanish and other veneers, some fine wainscot boards, deals &c. &c. also a large quantity of fashionable brass work for furniture, locks, hair seating &c. &c.’. In November 1797 the Norwich freemen reg. lists the admission of a Christopher Gilney, admitted other than by apprenticeship, and by 1801 the business appears to have re-commenced at 40 Castle Ditches. It is possible however that this new enterprise was operated by a son of the same name. [D; poll bks; Bury and Norwich Post, 27 May 1795]