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#601587 08/18/21 07:56 PM
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Sidelock
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Sidelock
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Saw a stray thread over in FAQs

Originally Posted by Andygt
Just purchased a G West Hammer gun states Grove St Retford.(Market Town in Nottinghamshire UK)
It was bought due to the fact I'm born, bred and still living in Retford.
Anyone got any information whatsoever?
Just interested in researching G West. I know they had a shop on the Market Square in Retford but can't find any info on the Grove Street location which is actually one of the streets that leads to /from the market square directly

Thx

AGT

I checked Nigel Brown’s British Gunmaker and there is scant data save “Grove St, Retford Notts 1862-c.78. Mrs Eliza West 3 Grove st c1883-c.97. 11 Grove St c.1901-c.05 West & Son 26 Market Square 1909-c.34 10 Bridgegate c.36-55, 2 Moorgate by 1966

Not really much detail to be found

Last edited by old colonel; 08/18/21 07:57 PM.

Michael Dittamo
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Sidelock
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I pm`d the OP with info but had no response tbh.
Earliest I could find was 1851 11,Market Place ,Louth then he moved to Retford in 1861 ,taking over the business of Thomas Slingsby.

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Living in the neighbouring County of Derbyshire I do see the odd gun by West. If you can source a book called The Gunmakers of Lincolnshire and its Environs by Tom Wimsey ISBN 978-0-9551622-3-7 I bought my copy direct from the printers at e-mail smithbrown@basiliscoe.fsnet.co.uk . That was the details in 2012 so worth a try. Loads of information including a photo of the premises at 60, Eastgate, Louth and Market Place, Retford in 1920. Depicted in the book are some pictures of receipts from the Grove Street address in 1895 and again in 1903 later moving to Bridgegate and Moorgate and ceased trading in 1969 as a tool maker at Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire. Much information in the book. I have some 'West & Son, by Royal Appointment' cartridges in my collection called the Grand National. The Royal Appointment bit is because he was asked to supply cartridges to Prince Nicholas of Greece when he was shooting nearby. Try also www.basilicoe.com who published the book. Lagopus…..

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Sorry! Wrong link. Try https://www.basiliscoe.com/ Lagopus…..

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In the late 19th Century, William Powell & Son was occasionally making guns
for West.

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Contact Roy Martin, Gunsmith at Dunham on Trent. Roy used to collect guns by West, he is a font of knowledge on this maker!

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from Internet Gun Club

First name/s: George

Surname: West

Location
First Address: Grove Street

City/Town: East Retford

County: Nottinghamshire

Country: United Kingdom

Other Addresses:
3 Grove Street

11 Grove Street

26 Market Square (The Square)

10 Bridge Gate

2 Moorgate

Information
Trade: Gunmaker

Dates: 1848-1861

Notes:

George West was the son of Edward (b.1785 a bricklayer) and Mary (b.1801), he was born in 1822 in Waltham, near Grimsby in Lincolnshire. In about 1828 his parents, Edward and Mary West, moved to Louth, a few miles south of Grimsby.

George was apprenticed to Michael Lill and then when Lill retired to Edward Dodson, and then in 1848 established his own business as a gun maker and bell hanger in Eastgate.

In the early 1840s he married Mary A Howlett (b.1823 in Louth).

In the 1851 census he and Mary were recorded living in Market Place with their children, Amelia (b.1845), George (b.1847), Henrietta (b.1849) and Suzanna (b.1850); living with them was Ebeneezer Lingard, an apprentice gun maker who in 1867 established his own business at 26 Aswell Lane.

George was recorded in business in 1857 in Fishmarket, and in 1860 in Eastgate.

In the 1861 census George was recorded as a widower living at 60 Eastgate with two more daughters and two more sons, Mary Ann (b. 1853) and Martha (b.1854), and Frederick Howlett (b.1856) and William Edward (b.1858 became a draper). Mary A had died between 1858 and 1860 and Her son George appears to have died at some time during the 1860s.

In 1861 George moved to Grove Street, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, where he was recorded in 1862 in Grove Street. He bought the business of Thomas and Charles Slingsby. In about 1865 he married Eliza Wallis with whom he had another son and daughter, Cecil Max (b.1866) and Edith Mary (b.1869).

An advertisement dated to about 1870 states: "Manufacturer of Breech-loading and Muzzle-loading Guns and Riles of every description. Wholesale and Retail dealer in all kinds of sporting ammunition. Breech Loaders made to special order from 7 to 30 guineas, on the most approved principles, which cannot be surpassed by any house in the trade for price. Emigrants supplied on the most liberal terms".

In the 1871 census, although the business was located at Grove Street, George and Eliza were recorded living in Market Place with Suzanna, Martha, Frederick (described as a gun maker apprentice), William, Cecil and Edith. Also living with them was George Preston a 23 year old gun maker (b.1848 in Louth).

On 10 January 1880 George died. In the 1881 census Eliza West was recorded trading as a gun maker at 3 Grove Street; living with her were Cecil, Edith, Henry (George Henry became a butcher), and two previously unrecorded children, Frank (b.1874 became an ironmonger's apprentice but later joined the business) and Margaret (b.1877). Also living in the house was William Hinde, a gunmaker journeyman aged 21 (b.1860 in Rampton, Nottinghamshire); he seems to have been the mainstay of the business as neither Frederick Howlett West nor Cecil Max were recorded in the business or in later censuses.

In the 1891 census Eliza, Edith, Frank and Margaret were all living on the Holly Mount Estate on London Road, East Retford. It is not known who lived at 3 Grove Street; William Hinde lived at 56 Grove Street with his wife, Emma, and daughter Florence.

In about 1900 the business moved to 11 Grove Street. In the 1901 census Eliza, Edith, George, Frank and Margaret were recorded living at 11 Grove Street. Eliza described herself as a gun maker and shopkeeper, and Frank was described as a gun maker's assistant. In the same census William Hinde (who described himself as a gunsmith, cycle agent and repairer) and his family were recorded living at 3 Grove Street.

In about 1904 Eliza retired and in 1908 moved to Leicester where she died. In 1909 the business changed its name to West & Son, the son being Frank, and moved to 26 Market Square (re-named "The Square" in about 1920).

In about 1911 Frank West was appointed gunmaker to Prince Nicholas of Greece. At various times the firm were awarded "Highest Honours" at seven international exhibitions.

In about 1920 the firm reportedly opened a branch in Great Yarmouth, it is not known when it closed.

In 1934 Frank retired and his son, Peter, took over the firm which moved to 10 Bridge Gate and in the early 1960s to 2 Moorgate. The firm closed in 1969.

Other:

As George West, the firm sold shotgun cartridges under their own name.

As E West the firm sold cartridges under the name "Pheasant" (post 1900).

As West & Son, the firm sold shotgun cartridges under the names "By Royal Appointment" (post 1922), "Brass Case", "Clumber" (post 1910), "County" (post 1927), "Fourten", "Grand National", "Norfolk High Velocity" (post 1922 with Great Yarmouth address), "Pheasant", "Sherwood" (10 Bridge Gate address), "Sherwood Special" (post 1926).

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Sidelock
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Lagopus, thanks for the link. I did not know about this little book, but have ordered a copy.

Regards

AlanD

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Sidelock
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So after a great effort by everyone ,not a word of thanks from the OP ......you wonder why you bother sometimes!!!

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Sidelock
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Maybe the OP is still looking for a reply in the FAQ's where he originally posted. I'll hop along there and point him here. Lagopus.....

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