In 1840 William Wright commenced gold beating on his own account in the City of London. At this time the majority of the larger towns and cities numbered at least on gold beater among their many craftsmen.
Somewhere around 1870 the business was transferred to premises in 19 Bridge Street, Manchester. Here the work was carried out in a cellar and passers-by were able to watch the activity through a grille in the pavement.
The Stonehouse family have been beating gold leaf since 1936, with Eric Stonehouse being the first family member to work at his uncles firm – Smiths the Goldbeaters of Bridge Street, Manchester, both before and after the Second World War. He later worked for Cecil Whileys in Livingston, Scotland, as their Works Manager before returning to Cheshire to form the company C.F.Stonehouse & Sons with his wife Alice and his two sons Clive and Noel Stonehouse.
Address & Contact
- Street:
- Wright House, Crouchley Lane
- City:
- Lymm
- Phone:
- 01925 752226
- Website:
- http://www.stonehouses.co.uk/index.php
- Category:
- Retailer