| Administrative History | The Wilkes family were established in Overseal as grocers and cheese factors from the time of Joseph Wilkes II (1698-1776). His sons, Joseph Wilkes III (1733-1805), John (1728-1790) and Thomas (1745-1795) were also cheese factors and partners in the syndicate. After 1762, the obtained the lease of the Trent Navigation which linked Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, with river and canal wharves throughout the region, thus enhancing trade opportunities. The role of cheese factors was to act as agents on behalf of London cheesemongers and to obtain for them the highest quality cheese from local markets, fairs and farms.
Thomas Wilkes was joined in his cheese business by John Kettle senior from c1790-c1799 and by John Kettle junior and Joseph Francis, all of Overseal, between 1799-1805. In 1780 Joseph Wilkes III founded a bank in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, to be followed by similar establishments in Buxton, Staffordshire, Measham and Overseal. His nephew Joseph Pycroft became a partner in the Burton bank until about 1800, when it became known as Wilkes and Hill’s bank. |
| Administrative History Sources | Grace's Guide 'Wilkes, Joseph (1733-1805), industrialist and entrepreneur'; Parish of Seale St Peter parish registers.
The Administrative History was amended in June 2022 following information from a local researcher. It had previously indicated that Joseph Wilkes II had died in 1769, but his will was proved in 1776 which corresponds with a burial in Seale on 31 May 1776. There is a burial of a Joseph Wilkes in 1769, this could be the son of Joseph III who had been born in 1766 - at least five of his siblings also appear to have died in infancy. |
| Custodial History | These documents were purchased by Derbyshire Record Office from Ashby Castle Bookshop in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in November 1981. |