Widdowson & Veale
George Widdowson (1804-1872) was a renowned silversmith and goldsmith, though he chose the path of a retailer rather than a craftsman. By the age of 28, he had taken over his uncle John Salter’s successful shop on the Strand in London. Salter, a close friend of Lord Nelson’s daughter, Horatia, had supplied Nelson with various pieces of jewellery, including mourning rings, and was godfather to one of her children.
Widdowson expanded the business, establishing Widdowson & Veale at No. 73 Strand, on the corner of Adam Street, opposite the Adelphi. He had a keen sense of marketing and once attracted attention with a detailed newspaper article about his proposal to create a replica of Aeneas’ shield from Virgil’s Aeneid. Though there is no evidence the shield was ever made, the publicity boosted the company’s reputation.
Silver Engraved Decanter retailed by Widdowson & Veale in its original box
The firm became known for crafting swords and other weapons for the British Army and Navy, as well as producing orders and decorations for the British court and serving as goldsmiths and jewellers to the court of Spain. In 1842, Widdowson seized another opportunity for visibility by presenting an elaborate silver coronet supporting the Prince of Wales’ feathers as a christening gift for Queen Victoria’s eldest son, later King Edward VII. The company also served HRH, the Duke of Sussex, and maintained ties with the Spanish court.
By 1844, Widdowson’s business was thriving, allowing him to advertise for apprentices with a premium of £100. On February 11, 1847, George married Eliza Duffield (née Boville), the daughter of a Putney wine merchant. Eliza had returned from Gibraltar after the death of her first husband, John Duffield. The couple, both middle-aged at the time, did not have children.
Eliza Widdowson passed away in April 1861, leaving George a widower without children. She was laid to rest at West Norwood Cemetery on April 12, 1861. Following her death, George lived at Bell House with his unmarried sister, Ann, and his brother-in-law, John Boville, a barrister. Boville was also a governor of the uniquely named Royal Humane Society for the Recovery of the Apparently Drowned or Dead. The household staff included a footman, coachman, cook, housemaid, and lady’s maid. In 1866, George relocated to the White House in Dulwich Village, possibly finding Bell House too large and filled with memories. George Widdowson died on December 10, 1872, at the age of 68 and was buried in a Grade II listed tomb at West Norwood Cemetery. At the time of his death, he left behind an estate valued at approximately £30,000 (approximately £4.2 million today!).