James William Foxwell, Carriage Manufacturer, of 27 Brook Street

Invoice from James Foxwell to the Earl of Warwick. The top of the incoive is printed in red ink and has a design that uses thin banners that look like ribbons. Printed on the banner are the address of the business and the business name. The also printed is the text 'estimates and designs on application'. The work being inoived for is hand written in a cursive script. The hand writing is neat but it is still hard to read. The invoice details work carried out including 'taking out front carriage marking and screwing in a new perch bolt'. | Warwickshire County Record Office reference CR1886/Box 912

Invoice from J.W. Foxwell to the Earl of Warwick.

Warwickshire County Record Office reference CR1886/Box 912

An account of a fire at James Foxwell's coach building premises.

Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser 24th January 1885

James William Foxwell made, sold and repaired carriages and carts. Records show James’s business did work for Warwick Castle, with the Earl of Warwick even having his own account book. They made large carriages and carried out repairs to dog-carts and waggons. One record mentions repairs made to a phaeton to prevent a rattle. Phaetons were fashionable open carriages for two or four people. They were designed to be fast and sporty, driven by the owner instead of a coachman. Foxwell’s was probably preventing the rattle on the phaeton driven by the Earl of Warwick. Taking your fashionable phaeton or farm waggon to Foxwell’s for repairs and maintenance was the same as taking your car for a service at the local garage.

A successful business

The business was successful and newspapers tell us that James was able to treat his workforce to an annual work outing. One annual trip was for about 20 people and would have included the families of his workforce. The outing was to Knowle, and everyone left Warwick in a large waggon at 9:00am. It included lunch at the Greswolde Arms Hotel. Sadly, the planned game of cricket was rained off so indoor bowls and songs were enjoyed instead.

Two years after this work outing there was a serious fire at the business premises. Warwick’s volunteer fire brigade put out the fire but not before several carriages had been destroyed. Thankfully the fire was stopped before it reached the varnishing room where the flammable varnishes were kept! James had insurance and was able to repair the damage and replace the carriages.

A while before a fire service was compulsory

Towns and cities often had their own fire brigades by the late Victorian period. Insurance companies would also provide a fire brigade to protect buildings insured with them. It wasn’t until 1938 that local councils were required by law to provide a fire service.

This article is part of the Through the Shop Window trail showcasing the links between Warwick businesses and Warwick Castle in the 1800s. Supported by The Friends of Warwickshire County Record Office, The Steven Wallsgrove Legacy and Warwick Town Council.

Locations

Warwick (1925)