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Saville, Bill (1907-1910)

Saville, Bill

Clinton Street, London; furniture maker (fl. 1907-c.1910)

In 1907 Saville went into partnership with Arthur Harding (b.1886). Previously Saville had made cheap china cabinets in Chilton Street, Shoreditch. Their first workshop was behind the Red Cross pub in Hare Street, later renamed Cheshire Street, where the rent for the workshop was 5s. a week. The two partners employed one man. After the pub was sold they moved to Cotton’s Gardens, off Kingsland Road, opposite Drysdale Street. The building was a warehouse for the boot trade and they took the basement at 15s. per week. The firm’s speciality was ‘Louis’ cabinets and they employed four to six makers and a couple of polishers, and when carving was involved Harding’s brother in law, Mr Gibbs, was used. When completed the cabinets were sold to a warehouse in Curtain Road; at a price of 32s. having cost 27/28s. to produce. When sold through a retailer then 40s. per cabinet would be charged on a sale or return basis. They also made overmantels, often with stained wood, which were sold at 10s. each. The business in Cotton’s Gardens only lasted a few months.  

Source: Kirkham, Mace, Porter, Furnishing the World.  The East London Furniture Trade 1830-1980 (1987).