Hope & Foster

Leeds, Yorkshire; carvers, gilders, looking-glass and picture frame manufacturers (fl. 1816–22)

Trading at 2 North Parade, 1816–1822, and North Town End in 1818.

They advertised in Leeds Mercury, 6 and 13 April 1816 that they would be ‘Carrying on the above Business in all its Branches, and from their experience of the same having always been at the first shop in London…’.

They advertised once again in Leeds Intelligencer, 10 February 1817, and in the four consecutive issues; and in Leeds Mercury, 15 February 1817, and the five consecutive issues, returning thanks ‘for the very liberal Encouragement they have experienced…they trust by their unlimited exertions to produce a Superiority of Workmanship at the lowest charges…they now polish and silver old Plates without sending them to London…’.

Finally the announced in Leeds Mercury, no. 2761, that ‘Mr. Hope has just returned from London, where he has made large purchases from the first Houses of every Article in the Fancy line … NB. The Trade supplied with leaf gold of superior quality at reduced prices.’

The firm seems very quickly to have become mainly purveyors of goods from London.

Probably Edward or Frances Hope.