Marsden the Hardware, 1764-1982

Taken about 1900. Owner William W Marsden 1853-1932 in left doorway. Signs "Prize Churn Maker" (awarded 1879) and "Brazier & General Ironmonger"

Drawn c 1979.

Unposted.

Taken about 1910.

Taken about 1910.

Taken 1893. Marsden's Exhibition at Derby Fair.

Taken 1893. Marsden's Exhibition at Derby Fair. ....(more)

From a letterhead dated 1905. It states that the firm was established in 1764. The award was made in 1879 for "Excellence of Milk Churns and Dairy Appliances". The right-hand medal is from the "Trade and Industrial Exhibition, Derby 1893", which might be where the two photos above were taken.

Signature of William Wesley Marsden 1853-1932. From a memo dated 1905, addressed to Mr England, Derby, stating: "Dear Sir, I send you cheque for Rent as promised. But don't let her have any more credit." Signature of Daniel Roper Marsden 1881-1956. From the back of a match safe for Molassine Co Ltd (London), Horse & Cattle food, dated 1908-1910, submitted by Joyce Beasley. Vesta case in brass, 2" wide, signature of D.R.Marsden on reverse.

A flyer from Marsden's, undated but perhaps 1930's. Business card, 4.5 x 3 inches Aluminium name tag, attached to churns, baths etc. 2 x .75 inches

William Wesley Marsden 1853-1932

In his shop doorway c1900

At Exhibition in Derby 1893

MARSDEN ledgers

Three account ledgers exist, covering the years 1903 to 1930. The ledgers have a list of customers who bought items from the business. The ledgers contain details of local businesses and individuals and where they lived. There is a wealth of information on the items needed for their life style in their homes and business. There is a large source of local history in these ledgers. The webmaster will attempt to photo all 1,800 pages and place them on DVD, in the near future (done professionally would cost £750). Contact him for more information.

Cover 1903-10

Page 1903-10

Cover 1910-17

Page 1910-17

Cover 1921-30

Page 1921-30

A vintage tin belly warmer, made by Marsdens for the early motorists in open-topped cars during the winter months.

A leaflet with Price List of Baths sold by Marsden's in 1882, Japanned or plain, Copper or tin, for ladies or gents. What is an "Etna"?

Marsden the Hardware Who started the Marsden business at Wirksworth? The Firm's letterhead in 1905 (see above) states that the Firm of D.Marsden & Son was established in 1764. In that case the founder would be Robert Marsden, baptised in nearby Youlgreave about 1720. His son Godfrey MARSDEN, was born in Youlgreave in 1755 and died in Wirksworth 1833 aged 78. Godfrey was a brazier and at some stage moved into Wirksworth and continued the business. The "Universal British Directory 1791", for Wirksworth town lists him as "Marsden Godfrey, Brazier". The earliest references to him in the Wirksworth Parish Registers are in 1798, when his daughter Elizabeth died. From then, a pedigree was sent me by Joyce Beasley, see: MARSDEN-1. Part of this has been drawn as a tree to aid visualization. When did it begin? Tony Holmes, in his book "Wirksworth in old picture postcards" says: "The business closed in 1982 after trading in Wirksworth since 1764". The IGI shows Godfrey's parents as being Robert and Elizabeth, so just possibly Robert started the business when his son Godfrey was about 9. Godfrey was married in 1777 to Elizabeth SWINSCOE in Darley, just outside my area of study, as is Youlgreave. Who ran the business? From various Trade directories: 1791 MARSDEN Godfrey, Brazier 1821 MARSDEN Godfrey (Market place) Braziers and tinplate workers 1827 MARSDEN & SON (Wirksworth) Braziers and tinmen 1831 MARSDEN Henry,Market place (brazier and tin-plate worker) 1835 MARSDEN Henry (Market place) Braziers and Tin-Plate workers 1846 MARSDEN Henry (Wirks.St.John's Street) Brazier and tinner 1857 MARSDON Henry [Market pl, Wirksworth] Brick+Tile Maker 1895 MARSDEN William Wesley, ironmonger and dairy utensil and bath maker, Market Place Judging by the Census, the business was run by: 1841 Henry aged 45 1851 Henry aged 56 1861 Henry aged 66 1871 Daniel aged 43 1881 Ellen aged 49 1891 William aged 37 1901 William aged 47 Are there any memorials? Some memorials commemorating the MARSDENs can be found in Wirksworth cemetery, see: QA070 QC243 QC244 My records and period of study end about 1900. As I live in Dorset, and rarely manage to get up to Wirksworth, there is little I can tell you about the History of Marsdens in the 20th Century.

Outline Pedigree of the Marsden hardware business Most of this information taken from the pedigree MARSDEN-1 and another sent by Joyce Beasley, thanks Joyce. Individuals thought to have been in charge of the Marsden business in Market Place, Wirksworth are shown in RED Baslow 1676 Bakewell John 1706 Alice MARSDEN=====v=====KEELING 1759 | | |--------|-----|-------|-----|-------|--|--|--------|-------|------|--------| | | | | | | | | | | | 1706 1707 1708 1710 1711 1715 1717 1719 1722 1725 1728 Richard John Edmund Adam Joseph Ann William Robert Alice Jonathon Benjamin 1778 1778 1798 1711 1780 1796 1746 1788 | | | Youlgreave Robert 1744 Elizabeth MARSDEN=====v=====HAYNES | | |------|------|------|-------|--------|-----|--|--| | | | | | | | | 1747 1749 1751 1752 1755 1758 1761 1762 Betty Sarah Betty Robert Godfrey John Etty Elizabeth 1812 | | | 1755 1757 Godfrey 1777 Elizabeth MARSDEN=====v=====SWINSCOE 1833 | 1813 | |-------|------|---------|------|-------|-------|-----|-|--|----|-----|-----|------|------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1777 1779 1781 1782 1784 1785 1787 1788 1789 1791 1794 1795 1799 1801 William Keziah Elizabeth Hannah Godfrey William Sarah Ann Mary Lydia Henry Esther Thomas Mary 1779 1798 1786 1786 1786 1787 1788 1790 1867 1799 1801 | | 1801 | 1810 Ann 1820 Henry 1846 Hannah ROPER=====v=====MARSDEN=====v=====ADAMS 1842 | | 1868 | | |--------|----------|--------|-------|-------|------|--|--| |----|----|--------| | | | | | | | | | | | 1821 1824 1825 1827 1829 1832 1835 1840 1848 1850 1854 Godfrey Elizabeth William Daniel Martha Henry Ann Eliza Fredrick Richard Mary Ann 1836 1838 m1848 1879 1841 1852 1838 m1862 1849 1855 Ann | William BOWDEN | GIBBONS | 1830 Daniel 1850 Ellen 1888 William MARSDEN=====v=====WESLEY=====v=====MALPASS 1879 | 1903 | |---|--| | | 1851 1853 Maria William W 1897 1932 | | Ellen William 1853 Maria 1876 Wesley 1891 Catherine WESLEY=====v=====MARSDEN=======v=====JOHNSON 1903 | | 1930 | | | | |------|------|-------|-------|---|---| |----|----| | | | | | | | | 1877 1879 1881 1883 1886 1888 1892 1895 Alice Ann Daniel Jessie George Ellen Adelaide Ida Ann Maria Roper Louisa Wesley Wesley 1973 1956 m 1913 1893 Mary Rebecca OGDON 1962

Emails on the subject "hod1935" writes: Marsden's, of course, was an Aladdin's Cave of every imaginable (and some unimaginable) item, many of them in ancient wrappers. How the assistants managed to remember whether they stocked -- and find -- an item is incredible. I believe the cellars, crammed with thousands of items, were a sight to behold, although I was never allowed to venture down there.

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