Grange, James

96 High Holborn, London; upholsterer and cabinet maker (fl. 1740–83)

Grange was the son of Charles Grange who operated an extensive business as an upholsterer, 1710–63, from an address in Snow Hill. James was apprenticed to his father on 13 September 1740 and made free of the Upholders’ Company by servitude on 3 August 1749. he became a master of the Company in 1783 [Guildhall Library (GL), Upholders' Company records].

James was in partnership with his father by the early 1760s and responsible for some of the apprentices. The following were trained by James Grange [Guildhall Library (GL), Upholders’ Company records]:

• John Mills, 1760–68
• Noah Chivers, 1765–70 
• William Shore, 1767–69
• Samuel Ford, 1768–80
• John Walsh, 1770–84

From 1773 James was in partnership with John Mills, the business being referred to as Grange & Mills. At this period the trade was probably on an extensive scale and in 1777 utensils, stock and goods held in trust were insured for £1,800 [London Metropolitan Archive (LMA)  Sun MS vol. 261, p. 314; vol. 286, p. 422].

The partnership probably ended in 1779 and in the following year James Grange's name was the only one appearing on the insurance policy. Utensils, stock and goods in trust were now insured for only £880. 

Source: DEFM