|
IN THE BEGINNING
The seed was planted in the rich, red Westcountry soil of the parish of
Clayhanger many generations before William Wippell and his goodly wife,
Johan, set out on a cold November day in 1554 for St. Peter's Church.
As they walked, William considered the prospect of this day with satisfaction.
His first born was to be baptised. Richard he was to be named. Far away
indeed seemed the days of bad harvests and as they paused on the hill
and looked back, William could see his sheep grazing and knew that this
was the way forward.
On arrival at the church, William's brother, John, and his wife greeted
the threesome and they were joinded by Rector Torre. Following devotions
and in accord with King Henry's command, Richard's name was entered in
the book.
William was to journey to the font twice more. With a sister for Richard
named after her mother and later still with his second girl child, Mire,
to die within twelve weeks.
The boy, Richard, married and made his own journeys to the font. The flock
started by his father, like his children, grew and Richard Wippell won
some of the wealth created by the great demand for wool.
Return
to Top
Later
As was the Custom, Richard's eldest son, James, 'waited for the land'
and in due course was content whith his inheritance. Brother Thomas, however,
had thicker blood in his veins and married into the parish of Uplowman,
hardby the then thriving town of Tiverton, centre of the Westcountry wool
trade.
Born during the reign of Charles I and living through the Civil War, the
commonwealth, the Restoration of Charles II and the regal tenure of James
II and William & Mary, Thomas saw the English countryside change almost
as swiftly as the Crown. Such was the quest for the golden fleece that
homesteads were dispanded, hamlets and villages razed and time honoured
common land enclosed in the interest of better management of the flocks.
The present day 'patchwork' look to the Westcountry is witness to this
activity, as are churches isolated from communities.
In April 1676 Thomas' fifth child, Georg Wippell, was born at Uplowman
and in the fullness of time he married and farmed in the parish of Cadbury,
some short distance across the fertile Exe Valley from Uplowman. Georg
continued in the famiily tradition of farming sheep.
The march of the Wippell's through the parishes of Bickley, Cadeleigh,
Throverton and Rewe, following the river Exe toward the county town of
Exeter accelerated in the next generations. Georg's eldest son, Richard,
married at Cadeleigh in 1759 and with his wife, Jane Sharland, farmed
at Perry, Thorveton, raising ten children. Son Joseph like his great,
great grandfather was baptised on a bleak November day in 1774.
Return
to Top
Later Still
As the seventh child and fourth son, Joseph saw little prospect in waiting
for the land and upon marrying cousin Jane in 1802, he set off to make
his mark in Exeter. Joseph was happy with his decision. He could see that
the golden fleece that had served the family well was beginning to tarnish
and that the future was in trade.
This was the time of the Napoleonic Wars, Britain standing alone against
the tyranny of the Corsican Corporal and traders were awkwardly placed
as regards their wares. Astute businessman that he was, Joseph decided
thta even during stringent times the belly creates its own market and
he set about finding premises to start up a grocery business. This he
did at 175 Fore street.
Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, 27th May 1802:
'Joseph Wippell, grocer and tea dealer, begs to inform his friends and
the public that he has taken Mr Thos Bickham's Grocery trade and continues
to carry it on in the same house nearly opposite Milk Lane, further he
assures them that the orders they may favour him with will be executed
on the most reasonable terms. Joseph Wippell has just recieved a fresh
assortment of genuine teas and new sugars well worth the attention of
the public.'
The shop was commodious and there was ample living accommodation above.
In due course six children were born over this ship and all were baptised
a few steps inside the ancient city walls, in St. Mary Arches Church where
Joseph was Rector's Warden.
Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, 22nd May 1817:
'On Thursday morning a female servant of Mr. Wippell, grocer in Fore Street,
met with a shocking accident by a fall from an upstairs window. She had
incautiously placed a chair on the ledge of the window and was standing
out cleaning the glass, when her hand slipped from its hold and she was
precipitated to the ground. Her arm was broken in two places and her skull
fractured. She was conveyed to the Devon and Exeter Hospital and there
is hope of recovery.'
26th May 1817:
'The servant girl who fell into the street from the window of a respectable
grocer's house in Fore Street, died last week in the hospital.'
Joseph clearly prospered and eventually moved out from over the shop to
join the local merchants and notaries in a house on St. David's Hill.
His eldest son, Joseph Jnr, was born in 1810 and on reaching his majority
his father bought for him the old established drapery business, Arden
& Spry, located at 219 High Street, Exeter. Joseph Jnr and his newly-won
wife, Elizabeth Pearse, set up home in St. David's Hill, opposite Joseph
Snr and 'went to trade'.
Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, 7th August 1834:
'Woolen Draper, 219 High Street, Exeter, 1st August 1834--Wm Arden respectfully
announces his retirement from the above business and takes this opportunity
of expressing his best acknowledgements to the Nobility, Gentry and Public
for the distinguished patronage with which he has been lilberally honoured
and solicits continuance of the same for Mr. Joseph Wippell Jnr whom he
with confidence recommends as his successor.'
'Joseph Wippell Jnr in soliciting a continuance of that support which
has for a long period been so liberally bestowed upon his predecessor
begs to assure the Nobility, Gentry and his friends that the most strenuous
exertions shall be made on his part to merit the same. The stock having
been taken at a considerable reduction, he pledges himself to offer every
advantage to all who may honour him with their commands.
N.B. To the above he has added on extensive assortment of fashionable
London hats.'
17th March 1836:
'Joseph Wippell Jnr begs to acquaint the Nobility, Gentry and his friends
in general of the receipt of his well selected stock of goods for the
approaching season which he intends offering at his usual moderate prices.
London hats of superior make well worthy of attention.'
Return
to Top
Trade
Clearly Joseph Jnr had his father's business acumen and quickly added
to the services offered since 1789 by his predecessors at the High Street
shop. Selling cloths, serges, calicoes, ducks and gallooons was not the
stuff for a son of Devon's red soil. better he should look into manufactory
and provide his customers with end products. this he did and quickly earned
a reputation as a tailor of distinction, a funeral director and a decorator
of churches.
Joseph Jnr, sought our the Royal Worcester Company and enlisted their
hellp with encaustic tiling and parian wares. he displayed at the Great
Exhibition in 1851 and laid a very solid foundation for the next generation
of the Exeter Wippells.
Joseph Jnr and Elisabeth raised nine children. Their first born son, Henry
Hugh, arrived in 1842 and joined his father in the business in 1863. Joseph
Jnr retitled the business J. Wippell & Company and it continued to
operate from the High Street address. When Joseph Jnr retired in 1879,
Henry Hugyh was the owner of a rapidly expanding company.
Return
to Top
A MAN OF HIS TIME
This was the age of invention and progress and Henry Hugh Wippell proved
equal to the challenge. Clear in vision and determined in aim, he felt
the groundswell of restoration and building in the Church of England and
at full flood was ready to meet the demand. He was innovative and secured
Royal Letters Patent ont the design of school furniture. As a founding
member of the Exeter Gas Light Company he was well placed to bring to
the public a wide range of secular and ecclesiastic gas light fittings.
So successfull was this venture that for a time Henry Hugh had to import
his lamps from the Continent until such time as he was able to increase
the pace of his workshop building programme to meet the demand.
By 1882 the Wippell Company had outgrown the High Street Building and
following a fire opposite the ancient Guildhall which destroyed property
through to the Cathedral Yard, Henty Hugh bought the site, commissioned
an architect of local repute and built new four-storey premises.
He then proceeded to support his retail successes by pursuing a policy
of 'manufactory', purchasing land and acquiring buildings in various parts
of the city. His was the first business in Exeter to use the telephone
and the first in due course to convert to electric lighting. By nature
he was restless in his energies and although in the midst of building
a large woodworking factory in Exeter, he travelled to London and negotiated
a lease on prestigious premises in Charing Cross and within weeks had
opened the company's first London ship in 1897.
Such was his success that in 1902 Henty Hugh decided to register the company
which was then restyled j. Wippell & Company Limited.
Henty Hugh married thrice. His first wife Emma Gadd, following their marriage
at St Mary Arches Church in April 1868, gave him a son, Joseph Charles
born in 1869 and a daughter, Kate Elisabeth born in 1870. Joseph Charles
joined his father on the Board of Directors of the 1902 company.
His second wife, Jane Haynes, mothered his children, Ernest Hentry (also
joining his father on the Board), daughters Winifred, Ellen Margaret,
Irene and sons, Ashley Gordon and Donald Hugh (both to become Directors
in due course).
Henry Hugh's ability and the respect with which he was held in the comunity
was marked by his election to the office of Mayor of Exeter in 1909-10.
He died in 1912.
Return
to Top
THE FOLLOWING DECADES
When the sons of England were in the fields of Flanders, the ninth generation
of the family faced difficult times. Two of the four Wippell sons and most
of the skilled craftsmen employed by the company responded to Colours. Nothwithstanding
its depleted resources the firm continued to offer a full service and contributed
to the national effort by supplying military clothing.
Following the 1918 return to sanity was a period of intense activity. Premises
were set up in Manchester, the company acquired the managing interest in
a specialist royal Warrant holder's business in London and moved to its
present Wesminster address. Travelling representatives were located at strategic
points throughout the country and travellers left England on regular and
extensive trips to the USA and Canada. During this time two generations
of the family served the company--Joseph Howard Wippell joining his father
, Joseph Charles, in 1922. This association lasted only until the untimely
death of Joseph Charles six years later, but brothers Ernest Henty and Donald
Hugh continued to steer the company through the busy times.
In the mid war years the Faculty Juridiction Act was introduced to maintain
the highest standards of artistry and craftmanship in the service of the
church. Such was teh company's reputation that it quickly won the respect
of the newly appointed Diocesan Advisory Committees and secured much work
upon the recommendation of a number of the notable architects. The order
books were full and the future held promise but by hte end of the third
decade the storm clouds were beginning to gather in Europe for a second
time.
The unthinkable happend and again the company's employees responded to the
call. This time, however, things were different, there was an urgency and
desperation that imposed severe restrictions on all business. Raw materials
and labour were directed to the war effort. Premises were requisitioned
adn within months ladies were sewing parachutes rather than cassocks and
vestments and skilled men beyond the age of conscription were making signals
equipment and torpedo mechanisms rather than chalices and crosses.
Following peace the return to normal was frustrated by the continued restrictions
on raw materials. The priority then being the rebuilding programme and getting
indrustry back on its feet. These difficulties were resolved the the company
founding a National Association of firm engaged in similar work to bring
pressure to bear on the Government and winning recongnition from the War
Damage Commission of the valuable contribution to be made to the refurnishing
of blitzed churches and public buildings. By the late 40's the company was
able to resume its traditional role as clergy outfitters and church furnishers.
In the 50's and 'swinging 60's' new styles of design and changes in liturgical
practice presented challenges and opportunities. history repeated itsself
as these were times not unlike those encountered a century before by Joseph
Jnr and son, Henty Hugh Wippell. During this period the company ventured
into high quality secular joinery work and quickly established a teputation
as specialists in University, Banking and Public Buildings work. At the
same time the firm was appointed official robemakers to a number of English
and overseas Universities. In 1950 following a 40 year pattern of frequent
sales trips to the USA it was decided to establish a permanent branch sales
office in New Jersey.
During the 70's the company aquired a controlling interest in the church
furnishing activities of A.R. Mowbray & Co and a subsidiary--Wippell
Mowbray Church Furnishing Ltd was formed. This association with Mowbrays
lasted 10 years until Wipells decided to purchase a minority Mowbray interest
and since 190 Wippell Mowbray Church Furnishing Ltd has been a wholly owned
Wippell company. What of Wippell's in 1989? Is it so very different to the
company that was trading in 1789?
200 years ago ladies in crinolines and gentlemen in frock coats were received
in the High Street shops with the grace and courtesy of the times, they
were served with 'the most strenuous exertions' and we 'pledged to offer
every advantage to all who may honour us with their commands'. Whilst the
social graces of those times are no longer adopted by society, the underlying
qualities of courtesy and service remain as the mainspring of our activities.
Is the quality the same? Undoubtedly. With 200 years of practice in the
various skills we employ, our continued success is witness to our ability
to produce work of a very high standard.
To some, the celebration of two centuries in business may appear to be a
little self indulgent, but we believe that it is worth note. It provides
us with a signal opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all who have
supported our endeavours to date and to invite your future interest in the
services we have to offer--'we pledge to offer every advantage to all'.
|
