The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Evening all,

Just paid over a fiver for a paper envelope with a pink seal on the back - it says “Gowlander of London” and highlights fishing rods as their trade.

Never heard of this company myself, has anyone else?

Kind Regards
Phil.

Edit:

The acknowledgment of my order has arrived, and it seems that the vendor can’t make his mind up - it’s either Gowlanders or Gowlands, wonderful....
It also mentions that said company featured in trade directories in the 1850/1860s - let’s hope that it’s not 1950s!

Yours in total confusion

Phil

There’s more:

Gowland & Co, 3 & 4, Crooked Lane, London Bridge. Fishing Rod, Tackle and Net manufacturers.

Message finally ends

Phil

Walkerburt wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:36 pm There’s more:

Gowland & Co, 3 & 4, Crooked Lane, London Bridge. Fishing Rod, Tackle and Net manufacturers.

Message finally ends

Phil

The Crooked Street in the City is now long gone but I found this on a Victorian London website I’ve used before and it makes me think your shop was on it:

“Victorian London - Districts - Streets - Crooked Lane
CROOKED LANE, CANNON STREET, CITY, "so called of the crooked windings thereof."* (*Stow, p.81). Part of the lane was taken down to make the approach to new London Bridge. It has long been, and is still, famous for its bird-cage and fishing-tackle shops.

Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850”

The construction of the “new” London Bridge referred to began in 1824, so unless your envelope is that old, it looks like your shop was on the part of the street that survived. Though how long it survived is a moot point as most references I can see to it include St Michaels church which was demolished in 1821.

Hope that helps.

Phil

William B Gowland 3-4 Crooked lane 1856-1890
Crooked Lane was a hot spot for tackle dealers
JK Farlow at number 5 1843-1852 and then 4 & 5 1853-1856
Joseph Eaton number 6 1790-1821
Joseph & George Eaton 1822-1824
George Eaton 6 & 7 later becoming Eaton & Seller 1836 -1887
Thomas Bond 1795 -1833 at number 37
John Bartholomew 1822-35 number 1 then 1836-54 at number 4
George Gimber number 10
Plus others

Gentlemen, many thanks, the picture becomes clearer. Some famous names there, Harry.

I’ll post an image when the packet arrives.

Kind Regards
Phil

Eaton & Deller - nor Seller. Deller died in 1887 - my Grandmother was 3!

We don’t get many tackle envelopes with engraved cartouches these days, more’s the pity....