| Administrative History | The Holmes family of Lichfield had been saddle and harness makers since at least 1552, when the first instance of a Holmes being incorporated as a member of the Lichfield Saddle and Harness Makers Guild is recorded. The firm appears to be unsure what date of establishment to claim, with the post 1863 Design Book (D2696/H/10/4) giving the date as 1780, but later books (D2696/H/10/5-6) giving 1773. Published histories of the firm give 1776 as the date Charles Holmes (1753-1812 or perhaps his father) began building coaches as well as saddles and harnesses.
Charles’ (1753-1812) eldest son, William East Holmes (1783-1861), continued the business in Lichfield, while his brother, Charles (1785-1835), set up a coachbuilding business in Derby, initially on Tenant Street (Holden’s Triennial Directory, 1809) and then on London Street (Holden’s Annual London and Country Directory, 1811), later renamed London Road. A note in an early cash book (ref: D2696/H/2/1) refers to the dissolution of the partnership in 1817, but it is unclear what this refers to as there is no relevant notice in The London Gazette.
The Derby business was bequeathed by Charles to his widow, Ann (b1801), nee Mountford, and subsequently managed by two of his four surviving sons, Herbert Mountford (1815-1893) and Arthur East (1821-1888). Alfred William (1817-1895) rather than Arthur is mentioned in several directories from the 1840s, but from at least 1851 is found as a cotton spinner, living in Duffield and later Makeney. At some point between 1828 and 1835, their uncle in Lichfield entered a partnership with someone by the name Butcher, but this appears to have ceased by 1851 when Butcher appears alone and there is no mention of William East Holmes, who has presumably retired (see 1861 census). Perhaps at this time, Herbert and Arthur took on the Lichfield business as Derby certainly became the senior branch of the firm. Branches had also been opened in London (by at least 1849, and later at Margaret Street), Sheffield (before 1876), Burton-on-Trent (after 1876) and Durban, Natal [South Africa] (source: Kelly's Directory, 1891). The firm received its first Royal warrant in 1841 from Prince Albert, and in 1849 received the first appointment by Queen Victoria. They also supplied carriages to Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (b 1844-1900), Earl Grey, Marquiss of Hartington, R. W. Chandos Pole and ambulances used during the Crimean War (1853-1856).
The company was well known throughout Europe for their production of the Light Park Phaeton, an elegant and simple light carriage, which they exhibited at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in 1851. Their factory was on the south side of London Street. This latter thoroughfare extended from The Spot to Traffic Street and was subsequently incorporated into London Road. In addition to manufacturing new carriages and coaches, including many bespoke designs for the nobility and gentry, Holmes & Co. sold and hired out second hand carriages and offered a repair and maintenance service.
In April 1876, the Holmes establishments at Derby, Lichfield, Sheffield and Margaret Street were valued at £32,584 4s (plant and stock) (D2696/H/14/2). As of 1911, the firm operated showrooms and factories at London Road, Derby, Union Lane, Sheffield, Bird Street, Lichfield and Horninglow Road, Burton-on-Trent, plus a London showroom at 37-38 Margaret Street, Cavendish Square and works at Great Castle Street, Oxford Circus.
Arthur had retired from the firm in 1884, and Herbert Mountford Holmes (1815-1895) was succeeded by his sons Charles (1844-1927), Herbert Mountford (1847-1929) and George Edward (1849-1915). Well into their seventies, Charles and Herbert arranged the merger of the firm with Sanderson and Sons, forming Sanderson & Holmes in March 1923. Although the Holmes name was retained, and Herbert Mountford Holmes was a director of the new firm, after his death the business was no longer connected with the Holmes family. |