Hamleys Toy Shop History

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Holborn, Middlesex, England
Surnames/tags: Hamley Pearsall High_Holborn

Investigating the History of Hamleys Toyshop, facts and clues

Written History

The Hamleys toy shop history claims the shop was established in 1760 by William Hamley from Bodmin at 231 High Holborn. It was called 'Noah's Ark'. ^[1]

'Londontopia.net claims that in 1837 'Hamley's' was owned by William Hamley's grandsons. ^[2]

After this point the history is well documented with Charles Dickens a regular customer (he wrote 4 cheques to Mr Hamley between 1838 and 1851) ^[3] and Queen Victoria a patron.

However, a family line back to the original William Hamley has not been found.

What we know

William Hamley (1803-1874), born in Cripplegate and son of builder John Hamley, ran the toy shop - in fact a 'Toy and Fancy Goods Warehouse'. He took it over between 1825 and 1830 and the shop was located at 231 High Holborn. In 1894 a poster described the shop as 'The largest Stock of Toys, Dolls, Games, Conjuring Tricks, Fancy Goods &c at wholesale prices' ^[3] Hamleys was run after William's retirement by son Frances James, born in Brixton in 1850 and a 'toy merchant', aged 21 living with retired father William and mother Susannah in 1871. ^[4]

Before 1825 the warehouse was run by Benjamin Pearsall and he is listed in Holden's Directory from 1799 (where is address was 163 High Holborn). Benjamin Pearsall and his Hardware and Toys moved to 231 High Holborn. ^[5] The entry in 1801 describes the business as 'Hardware, Toy and Medicine Warehouse' In 1790 Peter Benjamin Pearsall is a Hardwareman trading at 202 High Holborn. ^[6]

Advertisements printed in the 1880's and the Hamleys Catalogue usually show a banner saying 'Established 1760' and one poster shows they have a magnificent new 'Hamley Brothers' 'Noah's Ark' Toy Warehouse' premises at 86 and 87 High Holborn which included All the latest novelties from the Paris Exhibition especially purchased by them. (undated) ^[7] The Illustrated Catalogue of Conjuring Tricks (dated 1888) claims they were manufactured by W & F Hamley at 231 High Holborn ^[3] The Hamleys Catalogue is held at the British Library.

People who are not William

A William Hamley born in Bodmin in 1741, baptised by parents Joseph and Susannah became a well known Surgeon in the Bodmin area, taking on apprentice Nicholas Cory in 1774. ^[8]

The Hamley Family History (page 42) also identified a John Hamley of Treblethick who died in 1777 and had to sell his estates. 2 of his sons were identified as 'Richard of Bodmin' and William of Lostwithiel (who had a son Giles). Apprentice Registers show William of Lostwithiel became a Saddler. ^[1] His brother Richard, though was described in his father's Will as a Shopkeeper.

There were extensive, very historic and notable Hamley families in the Bodmin area, the parish of Bodmin included the following locations in 1837

Blisland

Bodmin &Bodmin Borough

Camelford

Cardinham

Egloshayle

Helland

Lanhydrock

Lanivet

Lanlivery, Lanlivery Rural, Lanlivery Urban

Lostwithiel

Luxulyan

St. Endellion

St. Kew

St. Mabyn

St. Minver Highlands, St. Minver Lowlands

St. Tudy

St. Winnow

Temple

Wadebridge

Warleggan

Withiel

What we don't know

William Hamley (1803-1874)'s father was John Hamley (abt.1771-1808) but it has not been possible to identify a birth record for him. He died when William was young, in 1808, aged just 37. ^[9] This indicates he was born around 1771. No other children of John and his wife Margaret went into the Toy business.

There are no relevant baptisms for John Hamley in or around the London area but there are other baptisms in Cornwall (some with alternative spellings of Hamley), slightly further away from Bodmin but still in the Parish.

1769 St Mabyn, parents William and Mary.^[10]

1771 Lostwithiel (6 miles from Bodmin), parents Endeniam and Mary. ^[11]

1770 St Endellion (13 Miles from Bodmin) parents William and Mary ^[12]

If the original William was trading in High Holborn we would expect a baptism record for John in the High Holborn area.

Possible William Hamleys A William Hamley was baptised in Bodmin in 1827 by parents Joseph and Susannah. This William has no more records but there is a death record

Clues

A Catherine Hamley was a witness at John's wedding in London. The only set of parents (above) who also baptised a Catherine were Endymion Hamley (abt.1734-) and Mary but she could have been a cousin or in-law. Endiniam (alt spelling) was a Saddler.

At the same time as the Toy Warehouse was in High Holborn, another Hamley family, Osbertus Hamley (abt.1730-) from St Mabyn were trading literally around the corner in Red Lion Street. He and his son John Osburtus Hamley (bef.1763-1841) were Watch and Clock makers and engravers. As far as records show, neither William (b. 1803) nor his father John called any children Osbertus (unusual in the Osbertus family lines!) however, William's son Francis James Hamley (1850-1922) called his eldest son Cecil Francis Osbertus Hamley. Osbertus Hamley was the brother of Endymion Hamley. An Osbertus Hamley was an MP for Bodmin in the 1300's, hence the name carrying through the families.

A John Hambley was an apprentice to carpenter George Motton on 13 November 1790. He was living in Boconnoc (about 8 miles from Bodmin, 4.5 miles from St Veep, 14 miles from St Mabyn, 21 miles from St Endellion) ^[13] Our John married in Piccadilly, Westminster in 1796. Most apprenticeships (but not all) were 8 years.

The founder of Hamleys was said to be William of Bodmin (which could be the the parish of Bodmin). Nothing indicates if the original shop was in Cornwall or London.

A William Hamley was an apprentice Mercer in 1754 in Truro. Wikipedia defines a Mercer as merchants or traders who dealt in cloth, typically fine cloth that was not produced locally. Inventories of mercers in small towns, however, suggest that many were shopkeepers who dealt in various dry commodities other than cloth. While most apprenticeships were 7 years, some were 5 years, including attorneys and milliners.

A William Hamley was buried in London in 1773 ^[14] . He had been living in Oxford Street. If he started the business in 1760 and his son John was born in 1771 then he may well have had to let someone else take it over until his son or grandson was old enough. However, there were a number of William Hamleys in this area at this time, one was a mariner.

The St Mabyn Hamley family were wealthy, some family members (who lived elsewhere in Cornwall) weren't but poor people didn't start their own business in London (they became fisherman or labourers), so he came from the wealthy side.

Hamley's toy warehouse was not unique in the area, in 1789 Elizabeth McFadyn and John Lambert were dealers in Toys at 85 High Holborn ^[15]

In the early 1800's there was a dealer in Dutch Toys at 180 High Holborn, a doll manufacturer and dealer in Toys at 128 High Holborn and in 1809 Ann Richard was a dealer in Toys at 292 Holborn. (National Archives catalogue).

Finding Further Information

1. Holdens Business directory, checking High Holborn for a Hardware or Toy Warehouse. The directory seems to start in 1761.
2. Wills for William Hamley (d. 1773) or John (d. 1808). We're assuming both died relatively young so perhaps they had not made a Will.
3. Perhaps there is a Will of William's father in Cornwall, stating he was a Mercer or lived in London.
4. Information about Ben Pearsall (about whom nothing has been found, apart from the fact he wasn't the Ben Pearsall from Worcestershire). It's possible he was married to a Hamley and that's how he took over the shop. It's also possible he started the Warehouse himself and sold it to William Hamley in around 1825 on his retirement.
5. Information about the William Hamley who died in London in 1773. Find other Williams who were there at the time to see if it could be anyone else.
6. Leases for High Holborn. The National Archives have a bundle of Leases of Various premises ' in High Holborn between 1731 and 1812. (Reference: CRES 2/621). There are other potential documents, searchable at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk and available at their Kew premises if ordered in advance.

Conclusions

I have no doubt the shop was founded in 1760, it is on the Hamleys publicity material from when they were still trading from High Holborn.

While it is possible William Hamley, born in the parish of Bodmin to a wealthy family became an apprentice Mercer in Truro for 5 years and then moved to London to start a Toy and Hardware warehouse in High Holborn, there is no evidence to link the Mercer from Truro to the Toyman in Holborn. The only evidence is the verbal history from Cedric Hamley, a descendant of William (b. 1803) who ran a number of Hamleys shops, including one in Croydon. Cedric was born in 1899 and told his tale to Edmund H Hambly around 1944 for his book 'The Family of Hanley, Hambly, Hamlyn and Hambling'. A digital copy is available from the Internet Archive. (www. archive.org).

It is also possible that William Hamley (1803-1874), son of John born in the parish of Bodmin, took over the shop from the man who started it, Ben Pearsall. His father may well have been Endymion Hamley (abt.1734-), the brother of Osbertus Hamley (abt.1730-) who also worked in Red Lion Street, a stone's throw from the Toy Warehouse.

Certainly if we are celebrating a member of the Hamley Family for creating the Toy shop we know today, William Hamley (1803-1874) should be taking a lot of credit. He moved the business forward from a Toy and Hardware (and sometime medicine) warehouse to a proper Toyshop, frequented by Charles Dickens and lauded by Queen Victoria - no doubt helped by the Victorians' love of magic tricks which were sold at the store. He added the Hamley's name and passed the business down through his family.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Hamley Family History

   The family of Hamley, Hambly, Hamlyn and Hambling by Hambly, Edmund H

   Publication date 1944

   Topics Hamley family

   Publisher Gloucester, England : Printed for private circulation by John Bellows

   Page 64

   Archive.org

   as told by Mr Cedric Hamley of 116 Ballard's Way, Croydon. (b. 1899, d. 1997)

2. ↑ Londontopia.net

   https://londontopia.net/site-news/featured/ten-interesting-facts-figures-hamleys-oldest-toy-store-world/

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Poster 1894

   https://london-overlooked.com/hamley/

4. ↑ 1871 Census

   Name Francis Jas Hamley

   Age 21

   Estimated Birth Year 1850

   Relation Son

   Gender Male

   Where born Brixton, Middlesex

   Civil parish St George Bloomsbury

   County/Island London

   Country England

   Registration district St Giles

   Sub-registration district St George Bloomsbury

   ED, institution, or vessel 12

   Household schedule number 168

   Piece 341

   Folio 47

   Page number 29

   Household Members (Name) Age Relationship

   William Hawley 68 Head

   Susanah Hawley 54 Wife

   Edwin S Hawley 15 Son

   Florence H Hawley 13 Daughter

   Amelia Whatchad 25 Servant

   Francis Jas Hamley 21 Son

   The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 341; Folio: 47; Page: 29; GSU roll: 824605

   Source Information

   Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census

   Ancestry uk Record 7619 #11635958

5. ↑ 1799 Holden Directory

   Ancestry Sharing Image

   Ancestry uk Record 61265 #6746121

6. ↑ 1790 Holdens Directory Entry

   Name Peter Benjamin Pearsall

   Dates 1776-1800, 1761-1770

   Location London

   Occupation(s) hard ware man

   Gender Male

   Address(es) 202, High Holborn

   Source Date 1790

   Source Info Listed in, Holden’s London Directory 1790 [no t.p.], 1790, HOLDEN, London

   Ancestry.com. U.K. and U.S. Directories, 1680-1830

   Ancestry uk Record 3877 #1537580

7. ↑ Advert #2

   https://www.superstock.com/asset/advertisement-hamleys-toy-shop-hamleys-oldest-largest-toy-shop-world/1746-29957654

8. ↑ William Hamley Surgeon

   Name Wm Hamley

   Payment Date 13 Aug 1774

   Residence Location Bodmin, Cornwall

   Notes City (Town) Registers

   Household (Name) Role

   Wm Hamley Master

   Nicholas Cory Apprentice

   The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Collection: Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books: Series IR 1; Class: IR 1; Piece: 28

   Source Information

   Ancestry.com. UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811

   Ancestry uk Record 1851 #45240

9. ↑ Burial

   Name John Hamley

   Gender Male

   Record Type Burial

   Death Date Abt 1808

   Burial Date 5 May 1808

   Burial Place Saint Giles Cripplegate, City of London, London, England

   London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P69/Gis/A/003/Ms06420/004

   Source Information

   Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812

   Ancestry uk Record 1624 #7093398

10. ↑ Possible baptism for John

    Name John Hamley

    Gender Male

    Baptism Date 5 Nov 1769

    Baptism Place Saint Mabyn,Cornwall,England

    Father William Hamley

    Mother Mary

    FHL Film Number 0928611 IT 4

    Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

    Ancestry uk Record 9841 #165690653

11. ↑ Ancestry uk Record 9841 #43950297

    Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

12. ↑ Ancestry uk Record 9841 #122563876

    Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

13. ↑ Possible Apprenticeship

    Name John Hambly

    Payment Date 13 Nov 1790

    Residence Location Boconnoc , Cornwall

    Notes Country Registers

    Household (Name) Role

    Geo MottonMaster

    John Hambly Apprentice

    The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Collection: Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books: Series IR 1; Class: IR 1; Piece: 66

    Source Information

    Ancestry.com. UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811

    Ancestry uk Record 1851 #681655

14. ↑ 1773 Burial

    Name William Hamley

    Gender Male

    Record Type Burial

    Burial Date 4 Jan 1773

    Burial Place St Anne, Soho, London, Westminster, England

    City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: STA/PR/6/4

    Source Information

    Ancestry.com. Westminster, London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812

    Ancestry uk Record 61865 #579913

15. ↑ Other Toy Dealers

    Insured: Elizabeth McFadyen and John Lambert, 85 High Holborn, dealers in toys

    This record is held by London Metropolitan Archives: City of London

    Reference: MS 11936/362/558497

    Description: Insured: Elizabeth McFadyen and John Lambert, 85 High Holborn, dealers in toys

    Date: 2 July 1789

    Held by: London Metropolitan Archives: City of London, not available at The National Archives

    Language: English

    https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/5bb7de25-0fda-4803-937f-98d486a7fc3b

See also:

• Hamley Family tree: Maclean, The Parochial and family history of the deanery of Trigg Manor published 1873. pp 551-553 (available on internet archive.org)
• Hambly, Edmund H: The family of Hamley, Hambly, Hamlyn and Hambling, published 1944. (available on internet archive.org)
• Brown, Kenneth Douglas: The British toy business : a history since 1700, published 1996. (available on internet archive.org)
• A wealth of Resources about Cornwall including transcriptions of Parish Records (free to access): https://www.cornwall-opc-database.org