MAYFIELD LEATHER WORKS – LOWER SOMERCOTES
by SLHS on
Thursday 14 November 2019
Mayfield Leather Works was established at Lower Somercotes in the mid-19th century. The first currier in Somercotes [a person who colours and works leather] was Ralph Hollingworth who was born in 1805 and baptised at St. Martin’s Church, Alfreton on 21 April the same year. Ralph married Frances Smith at St. Peter’s, Derby on 19 September 1830 and they set up home in Lower Somercotes.
The Hollingworth family name appears often in records from Somercotes and the surrounding district during the early 1800’s. Hollingworth & Silverwood were described as tea dealers at Pye Bridge in Pigot’s Trade Directory of 1835, and a Hollingworth & Green, shopkeepers and grocers of Somercotes, are listed in the same volume. It is not until the 1849 edition, however, that Ralph Hollingworth is mentioned. He is specifically described as a currier and leather cutter at Somercotes.
Prior to Pigot’s Directory of 1849, Ralph appeared in the 1841 census as a currier living at Somercotes with his wife, Frances and three children, one of whom was Joseph, then 8 years old, who would eventually inherit the business.
The leather works at Somercotes seems not to have been a tannery but more of a leather finishing works, where it was coloured, processed and cut before sale. It is possible that simple leather items such as belts and purses may have been made at the works, but the majority of leather would have been sold to specialist manufacturers such as saddleries and shoemakers.
Ralph continued in the business until his death in 1864. The Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald, published on 26 September ran a short notice in the birth and deaths column which read “…Ralph Hollingworth, currier and leather cutter of Somercotes, aged 60 years, much respected.”
The business was continued by his son, Joseph, who was born in 1832. Joseph married Agnes Smith in Glasgow in 1862. The Derby Mercury printed a notice regarding the marriage: “On 28th Ult. [28 October 1862] at 625, Gallow Street, Glasgow by the Rev. R. Glover; Mr Joseph Hollingworth, currier and leather dealer, Somercotes Derbyshire, to Agnes, daughter of the late Mr Joseph Smith, inland revenue officer of Frodsham.”
Joseph seems to have supplied leather to businesses all over the country and this may have been how he met his future wife and how they came to be married at Glasgow. The London Gazette reported that he was a trustee of the creditors of Henry Miller of Uttoxeter, a shoe manufacturer declared bankrupt on 7 February 1865.
The 1891 census return records that Joseph and his wife lived at Mayfield House, Somercotes. At the time the couple had two daughters, a son and a live-in servant. The business had been known as the Mayfield Leather Works for some time, and the house was attached to the premises. How it became known as Mayfield is not clear, but the name itself was relatively common for fields and closes in a time when the only identification for a piece of land was its name.
An Advert for Joseph Hollingworth from the Somercotes & Riddings Advertiser, 1896
Joseph Hollingworth died in 1900 and was buried in St. Thomas’s churchyard on 16 October. The business passed to his only son, Joseph Henry Hollingworth, who, on the 1901 census, was recorded as a currier and leather merchant living with his wife Mary Louisa at Lower Somercotes. Joseph had married Mary Louisa Llewelyn at Ironville Church on 30 August 1896. Mary was born in Etruria, Staffordshire and the Llewelyn family had settled in Codnor Park some years previously to her marriage with Joseph. Mary’s father and brothers were engineers who worked for the Butterley Company at their Codnor Park Works.
One of Mary’s sisters, Catherine Ann Llewelyn married Herbert Edward Cunliffe, who was born in Radcliffe, Lancashire in 1875. Prior to the marriage she was a school teacher, almost certainly working at the Ironville School. They also married at Ironville Church, on 2 October 1905 and eventually settled in Somercotes. On their marriage certificate, Herbert gave his occupation as Leather Merchant. By the time of the 1911 census Herbert Cunliffe was described as a currier and leather merchant, as was his brother-in-law, Joseph Henry Hollingworth. Herbert and his wife Catherine lived at “North View” Lower Somercotes and in 1911 had one son, John Llewelyn Cunliffe, who was born in Bolton, Lancashire. They were also wealthy enough to employ a servant.
When Joseph Henry died at a relatively young age in 1918 it seems that Herbert Cunliffe took over the business of the Mayfield Leather Works.
The change from the Hollingworth to Cunliffe families is confirmed in an article in the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald which was printed on 4 January 1935. It relates to the retirement of Mr George Hunt, who had worked for the business for a staggering 66 years. The whole of the article is transcribed as follows: “66 YEARS’ SERVICE - Retirement of Well-known Somercotes Leather Trade Traveller - Well-known in the leather trade in many parts of the county, particularly in Alfreton, Bakewell, Clay Cross, Chesterfield, Staveley, Ripley, Eyam and surrounding villages, Mr. George Hunt, 1 Bank Street, Somercotes, retired on Saturday on completing 66 years’ service with Messrs. J. Hollingworth and Son, curriers, at the Mayfield Works, Lower Somercotes. Beginning work at the age of ten he subsequently became a currier, passed on into the sale-shop, and then began as traveller, a post which he has occupied for many years. He has served three employers, viz. Mr. J. Hollingworth, his son, Mr. J. H. Hollingworth who died at an early age, and the present proprietor, Mr. H. E. Cunliffe. Mr. Hunt's elder son, Mr. W. E. Hunt, has also been with the firm over thirty years, and is now in charge of the sales dept. Mr. Hunt has given excellent service to the cause of Methodism. He attended Swanwick Derby Road Methodist Church and Sunday School, and beginning at an early age has now entered his 54th year as a preacher. In 1931 he received a testimonial on completing fifty years’ service. A native of Ripley, Mr. Hunt removed to Birchwood at an early age, and was educated at Birchwood Methodist Sunday School, which was also used as a day school. He also resided at Sleetmoor Lane. Somercotes, Leabrooks and Swanwick, before finally settling in Somercotes and becoming closely associated with Birchwood Methodist Church and Sunday School. Twice married, Mr. Hunt has only one surviving brother, Mr. Alfred Hunt of Swanwick, who is superintendent of Derby Road Methodist Sunday School, and an official at Butterley Ironworks.”
As well as being the owner of the leather works, Herbert was well-known in the community. He was a member of both Riddings Tennis Club and Cricket Club, a Freemason and a director of Ollerton Pictures, which owned the Empire Cinema in Somercotes from 1936.
Herbert Cunliffe continued as head of the Mayfield Leather Works at Lower Somercotes until his death in 1942. An obituary was printed in the Ripley & Heanor News on 9 October: ”DEATH OF MR. CUNLIFFE, OF SOMERCOTES - A well-known business man in the person of Mr. H. E. Cunliffe, of Mayfield Leather Works, Lower Somercotes, died last Friday after a trying illness, at 67 years of age. Mr Cunliffe was a well-known local sportsman. Formerly a playing member of Riddings Tennis Club, he was also a vice president of Riddings Cricket Club and a member of Riddings Working Men's Institute. A Freemason, Mr. Cunliffe was a member of the Royal Alfred Lodge. Mr. Cunliffe leaves one son. His wife died two years ago. The funeral took place on Monday a St. James' Church, Riddings, the Rev. Dawes officiating. The mourners were: Mr. L. Cunliffe, Mrs. Hollingsworth, Miss M. Llewelyn, Mrs. H. Bailey, Miss E. Bailey, Mrs. S. Bailey, Mr. W. A. Hunt and Mr. L. Bradley. Amongst the friends in church and at the graveside were members of the Royal Alfred Lodge of Freemasons. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. L. Clarke, Mr. E. Cox, representatives of Ollerton Pictures (of which deceased was a director). Messrs. L. George. L. Sharpe. T. Taylor, A. Else, and George Hunt of Riddings.” There followed a further list of floral tributes.
Business for the leather works slowly declined and the premises were eventually purchased in the 1960’s and re-opened as Mayfield Antiques, which became Mayfield Furniture. Whilst the new business had no direct relationship to the leather works, the historic name “Mayfield” was retained and is used to this day.