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Ladderdale, John (1787-1840)

Ladderdale, John

Thorngate, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham; joiner and cabinet maker, timber merchant (b. 1787-d.1840)

John Ladderdale was baptised in Brancepeth, Co Durham, on 16 December 1787. He moved to Barnard Castle about 1816, and in 1820 was described as having long experience in the trades of cabinet maker and upholsterer. He owned and occupied a house in Thorngate Wind, where he had a furniture room, and he also rented a timber yard. As well as a cabinet maker, he operated as a timber merchant and builder, and sometime appraiser (Newcastle Courant 2 September 1820. He also served as a volunteer in the Durham Militia for 26 years and was a member of the night watch in the town. In 1828, he purchased items from the stocks of a local sawmill that had gone out of business, including table pillars, chair wood, two bedsteads, and coffee pot handles. Building a polling booth in the local school at election time was another job which came his way.

John died on 27 August 1840, and his will (proved at Durham 9 March 1841) makes detailed reference to some pieces of furniture in his house, which were perhaps made by him - three chests of drawers, made of mahogany or painted or both; one mahogany and one oak turnover tables; a mahogany sofa; six cane bottomed chairs and another set of stuff bottomed chairs. His work tools were divided between his two sons, who had both followed their father’s trade. The younger son Robert was to have the work bench he usually worked at, plus another one; an old brace and bitts; a jack plane, a trying plane, and a smoothing plane; a full set of bench chisels; a hand saw, a tenor and sash saw; his six inch square; a small bevil; 4 or 5 common using mortice chisels; half a dozen gauges; two pairs of hand screws; his new spokeshave; a pair of compasses; and a new tool chest the same size as the large one in the shop. The eldest son, also John Ladderdale, inherited the house in Thorngate Weind and initially continued there as a timber merchant, but then over-extended himself with a move to more upmarket premises in Horsemarket, the prime shopping street, and was soon in financial difficulty. Both sons died young.

Sources: D; Virginia Silvester, personal communication

The original entry from Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840 can be found at British History Online.