North, Robert snr

London; upholder (fl. 1710–d. 1748)

Free of the Upholders’ Co., 4 October 1710. Father of Robert North jnr who he took as app., 1723–24. Also took as apps John Fitchett (1710–18), William Fitchett (app. in 1713), John Deare (1716–24), Philip Box (1720–30) and Edward Lane (1733–49(?)). In 1724 trading from Bartholomew Close, but from 1735–48 at Red Lion St, Holborn. Undertook commissions for Paul Foley of the Temple and Little Ormond St, London, and Newport House, Almeley, Herefs., 1726–33. Over this period a total of £91 9s 11d was expended mainly on upholstery materials, bedding and labour charges for repairs and alterations. Other customers included the Hoare family; ‘Good’ Henry Hoare paid North £500 to equip Stourhead with beds and bedding. This total included a payment on 27 July 1722 to ‘Robert North for a Mohair Bed Curtains and Hangings bought at Lady Kingston’s Sale’ of £60 18s 6d. Also, Benjamin Hoare made three payments to North from 12 April 1727 to 12 June 1730 totalling £110 13s, presumably for bedding for Boreham House. Finally, Alderman Richard Hoare employed North, 1733–48, for the supply of beds, bedding, upholstery materials and other work at his house at Barn Elms, Barnes, London. A total of well over £300 was expended during this period. The ‘North’ who was paid £21 for two japan cabinets supplied to Holkham Hall, Norfolk in 1741 may have been this maker. A Robert North was listed as bankrupt in February 1745, his address being given as ‘St. James's, Westminster’, and may be this maker. Died in 1748 when an account of Richard Hoare settled in that year was receipted on behalf of Robert North's executors.

Sources: DEFM; Dudd, ‘The 1742 Inventory of Stourhead: Contemplating a Transition House’, Furniture History 2017).