Robert Collier, Silk Manufacturer

The heyday of silk weaving in London was the 18th Century after Huguenot weavers had left religious persecution in France and had re-established themselves in London.

The 19th Century saw the decline of the industry with the survival of the fittest and many weavers impoverished.

Most of the silk weavers named Collier would have supplied well-to-do weaver merchants and manufacturers but I stumbled across one Silk Manufacturer named Collier, Robert Collier, Silk Manufacturer circa 1860-1880.

Surprisingly, it has been difficult to find out more about Robert Collier born c 1820-1840 (?) but an extraordinary amount about the firm that owned the business and factory.

Apologies if I have not transcribed all the information correctly.

Indenture

1837- 1845 James Vavasseur apprenticed to James Carter

Owners of Business/Factory

1843, 1845 Carter & Vavasseur

1850 Carter, Vavasseur & Rix

1856 Vavasseur & Rix

1865 Vavasseur, Taylor & Collier (Taylor retired & dissolved Co-Partnership 31.12.1865)

1866 Vavasseur, Carter & Collier

1870 – 1880 Vavasseur, Carter & Collier

1885 Vavasseur, Carter & Co

1890-1898 Vavasseur, Carter & Coleman

Principals

James Vavasseur
John Rix
Arthur Conyers Taylor
Robert Collier
Edwin Jones Carter
James Coleman

Like some other firms, the Vavasseur firm had a sales office away from the factory:

Address of Office

3 Huggin Lane, Wood Street (1866)
3 Huggin Lane E C (1875)

Address of Factory

15-18 New Nichol Street, Shoreditch (1866)
19-23 New Nichol Street, Shoreditch (1875)

I tried to find out more information about James Vavasseur hoping it would include some information about Robert Collier:

Appendix James Vavasseur

Colin Bower
5 June 2023

Links to:

Silk Weavers named Collier - The Story So Far

Collier Family - Progress to Date