Sharples, Bartholomew

Lancaster, Lancs.; cabinet maker (fl.1835-50) 

Bartholomew Sharples served his apprenticeship with John Battersby, cabinet maker of Lancaster, and became a freeman of Lancaster on 14 April 1838. He worked for Gillows from 1835 to after 1850. His work was listed in the 1834-39 Gillow’s Petty Ledger. He made an oak wardrobe in March 1839 for Mr. Clayton. On 14 May 1835 he was listed as a workman for the firm but was paid only 6s 7d. He was perhaps the 'Benjamin Sharples' who made a mahogany table for a marble top for the Army and Navy Club in September 1850. ‘B Sharpless June 1849’ was written in pencil under a drawer on a wardrobe made for Charles Chaloner of Aigburth Hall, Liverpool, which was auctioned by Hamptons of Godalming in September 2002. The same piece was illustrated in Gillow’s Estimate Sketch Book in June 1849.

Source: Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London (2008), II, p. 279.