H. Mawer & Stephenson

The company of H. Mawer and Stephenson was started by Harry Mawer, probably sometime in the 1870s. Mawer was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire in 1850 and went to London at an early age to be educated. The census of 1861 notes that he was a pupil at Wolfington House, Knight's Hill Road, Lambeth under the charge of Schoolmaster Walter J. Read. He was one of 13 scholars who boarded. In 1873 Harry married Rosina Alberta Turner and they went on to have 4 sons and a daughter together.

Mawer described his business as both a Complete House Furnisher and as an Antique & Modern Furniture Exchange. By 1881 he was employing 12 people and had premises at 221,223,225 and 227 Fulham Road. In 1882 further premises are listed at 133 and 135 Buckingham Palace Road. At some point between 1882 and 1896 Mawer took on a partner and the company name changed to H. Mawer and Stephenson. A further retail outlet was added at 13 and 13a Hill Street, Richmond and then a Furniture Depository at 1,3,5,7 and 9 Lillie Road. By 1912 the business changed names again to Mawer Ltd.

The company, under its various names, were retailers of furniture as opposed to makers. This likely involved selling new furniture and dealing in antiques and second-hand furnishings. To this, they also added furniture removals and storage. An advert of 1900 declared that they had 'Immense Stocks' and given the number and sizes of their premises this is very ... show more

The company of H. Mawer and Stephenson was started by Harry Mawer, probably sometime in the 1870s. Mawer was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire in 1850 and went to London at an early age to be educated. The census of 1861 notes that he was a pupil at Wolfington House, Knight's Hill Road, Lambeth under the charge of Schoolmaster Walter J. Read. He was one of 13 scholars who boarded. In 1873 Harry married Rosina Alberta Turner and they went on to have 4 sons and a daughter together.

Mawer described his business as both a Complete House Furnisher and as an Antique & Modern Furniture Exchange. By 1881 he was employing 12 people and had premises at 221,223,225 and 227 Fulham Road. In 1882 further premises are listed at 133 and 135 Buckingham Palace Road. At some point between 1882 and 1896 Mawer took on a partner and the company name changed to H. Mawer and Stephenson. A further retail outlet was added at 13 and 13a Hill Street, Richmond and then a Furniture Depository at 1,3,5,7 and 9 Lillie Road. By 1912 the business changed names again to Mawer Ltd.

The company, under its various names, were retailers of furniture as opposed to makers. This likely involved selling new furniture and dealing in antiques and second-hand furnishings. To this, they also added furniture removals and storage. An advert of 1900 declared that they had 'Immense Stocks' and given the number and sizes of their premises this is very

likely. They also noted that they sold 'Antiques, Modern Furniture, General Household Effects, China, Bronzes &c.' and 'Antique Silver Plated Goods'. They commonly stamped their furniture, whether old or new, with the name H. Mawer & Stephenson. It's for this reason that a number of antique pieces that predate the start of the company are seen bearing their name.

We have seen 3 or 4 pieces of campaign furniture stamped H. Mawer & Stephenson including a 3 part, brass bound, campaign chest with iron carrying handles, two similar plain book cabinets and a Cavalry secretaire campaign chest. Whether they were retailed by the company as new or they were purchased from retired army officers and sold second-hand is not known. The company is interesting as they fulfilled a middle sector of the furniture market at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century that is not often discussed.