Eminent Ironmongers, by their portraits, still adorn the Ironmongers’ Hall. Thirteen are in the banqueting-room, and eight in the court-room. Armorial shields round the Hall give us the names of our worthy Masters from the earliest times, while there are two statues of great interest, Edward IV., the founder, and Lord Mayor Beckford—this latter being in a niche on the grand staircase.
Abstracts of most of the Ironmongers’ wills are in our collection, and the series is most curious. We cannot do justice to the subject now, but some time we hope to give some interesting details. One, however, is worth quoting, and that is of Alderman Richard Chamberlin, 1567. He was a good benefactor, he remembered the poor, he gave the Company 50l. “to helpe them oute of debte,” he left 10l. for “a dynner at oure halle,” desiring the members’ wives should be present, and he then put down on paper, “I praye God make us merye in Heaven!”
We will now, in alphabetical arrangement, give a few of the names of those Ironmongers worth remembering. We do not profess to give a complete list, for such would form a volume by itself, so numerous are they, and so many notes do we possess about them.
Bate, John, 1500, and Felys his wife, gave to the Company a cup and other things, “ther with to do God and us worship, and not to be solde while they will last.”
Beckford, William, Alderman, and Lord Mayor 1762 and 1770, when he died; was made free of the Company 1752, was born in Jamaica, his father being Peter Beckford, Speaker in the Assembly. The Lord Mayor made himself famous by his celebrated speech to George III., as engraved on the monument in Guildhall. Another statue, formerly at Fonthill, was presented to the company by his son William in 1833. See pedigrees and other details in Britton and Rutter’s two descriptions of Fonthill, Wilts. Richard, brother of the Lord Mayor, was also Alderman and M.P., but he was a member of the Clothworkers’ Company.
Betton, Thomas, a Turkey merchant, admitted to the freedom by redemption 1696, lived in Hoxton Square; will dated 1723. He died 1724; buried in the Ironmongers’ Almshouse Grounds, Kingsland Road. Portrait presented to the Company in 1728. Gave the residue of his estate for the redemption of slaves in Barbary (as already noted).
Blundell, Peter, although not an Ironmonger, but from a poor errand boy had grown to be a rich clothier, and one of “the worthies of Devon” (Prince), and “a man very Godly and Christianly disposed all his life time” (Stow), left charities to the extent of about 40,000l., including 150l. to each of the twelve great Livery Companies of London. He died 1601, aged eighty-one.
Bicknell, Elhanan, of Herne Hill, Dulwich, a citizen and Ironmonger, and great patron of the arts. He died 1861. His will was proved at 350,000l. His pictures sold at Christie’s for 56,499l.; the sculpture, 2,145l.; drawings, 15,947l.; prints, 444l.; his houses and lands, 18,000l. He had no fewer than ten Turners in his collection. He left several charitable bequests.
Cambell.—Several of this family have proved to be eminent Ironmongers. Sir Thomas, Lord Mayor 1610, Master 1604 and 1613; Sir James, Lord Mayor 1629, and three times Master; Robert, a merchant, and Master 1631. Sir James was the principal benefactor, leaving nearly 50,000l., as may be seen in Strype’s “Stow.” He died 1641, and his portrait is in the Hall.
Canning.—Of this family William was Master 1617 and 1627, when he died. George (who died 1646) was for many years the Company’s agent in Ireland, and was the ancestor of the Prime Minister George Canning.