Lyons, Charles

Bold Street, Liverpool, Lancashire; cabinet maker (fl. 1823–39)

In 1833 Lyons claimed to have been trading for ten years, however, he was not recorded in Liverpool directories until 1829, when he is recorded at 72 and 73 Bold Street. These numbers were probably out of date at the time of the publication of the directory because in October 1829 Lyons advertised that he had moved from 82 to 70 Bold Street. He also indicated that he had a warehouse and manufactory in Fleet Street ‘opposite Messrs. Salters’ Saw Mills’.

He was still at 70 Bold Street in September 1830 when he advertised an auction of surplus stock by Messrs. Taylor & Hime at 28 Bold Street. On offer were ‘elegant Pedetal sideboards, Sets of Dining Tables on Telescope Frames, Loo, Card, Pembroke Sofa, Breakfast & Work Tables, Sets of Chairs, Sliding Fire Screens, Wardrobes, Chests of Drawers, Chiffoniers, Sofas, Lounging Chair, Sarcophagus Garduoines, Music Stands etc: a Superb Drawing-room Suite of REAL SOLID ROSEWOOD, consisting of a Couch, twelve Chairs, Fire-skreen, Loo, Sofa, Card & Work Tables, Chiffonier, & other valuable articles’.

In June 1838 a similar type of sale was advertised, this time conducted by Winstanley & Sons, and Lyons may have held these on a regular basis to dispose of slow moving stock. A similar range of goods was included to those advertised in 1830 but also included were ‘sets of antique shaped and Trafalgar chairs, couches and sofas, Easy chairs with spring stuffed seats, Knee hole toilet tables and washstands and a variety of small articles’. Lyons was active in promoting sales by advertisement and in December 1833 was claiming that because of advantageous purchases of ‘the best Spanish Mahogany, also Rosewood of the finest growth’ he was able to offer a discount of 15% for cash sales.

He claimed to stock furniture not only in the two timbers named but also in ‘Zebrawood, Oak, Painted, Stained & Japanned.’ He occupied 78 Bold St from 1835–38, though an 1837 directory shows 84 and one of 1839 shows 74. He also had showrooms at Newington Bridge the number being shown as 19 in 1835 and 23 in 1837.

Sources: DEFM;  Liverpool Mercury, 31 October 1828, 24 September 1830, 15 December 1833; Chester Courant, 12 June 1838.