Grange, Charles; Grange, Charles & Son (1710-1763)
Grange, Charles; Grange, Charles & Son
‘The Royal Bed’, Snow Hill, London; upholsterer and cabinet maker (fl. 1710–63)
The trade card of Charles Grange and Son Upholders & Appraisers, at the Royal Bed, Snow Hill, near St. Sepulchres Church London. Make after the Newest Fashion all sorts of all Sorts of four Post & Standing Beds. Likewise, Sell all Sorts of Upholstery & Cabinet Goods, Viz FeatherBeds, Chairs, Tables, Glasses, Bureaus, Chests of Drawers, Carpets, Quilts, Blankets, Damasks, Harrateeens &c. Also a Variety of Paper Hangings & Furniture Checks. N.B. Funerals Furnished, c.1750 [Heal,125.39]. © The Trustees of the British Museum
Made free of the Upholders’ Company on 13 September 1710 and became master in 1748.
He bound as apprentice:
- William Horsley, 1717–29
- Barry Johnson, 1732–40
- James Grange, his son, 1740–49
- William Hunter, 1741–49
- Richard Wallin, 1747–54
- John Stephens, 1750–58
- James Wootton, 1754–62
- William Pinckney, 1755–66
- Joseph Graham, 1755–63
This would seem to suggest that his business was at its most active in the 1740s and 50s.
The only insurance record located is for 1723 and on 16 January of that year the cover for goods and merchandise in his dwelling house was £500 [The London Archives (TLA), Sun MS vol. 16, ref. 30965].
Associated with Thomas Cooke, who in 1746 advertised his intention of going into partnership with ‘Mr Nash at the Royal Bed, Holbourn-Bridge’. Thus Grange is associated with Cooke in the furnishing of the new Mansion House.
He probably established a partnership with his son, James, in the early 1750s. By 1767 James Grange was trading on his own account from 96 High Holborn.
Sources: DEFM; Guildhall Library (GL) Upholders’ Company records; Connoisseur, December 1952, p. 181.
The original entry from Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840 can be found at British History Online.