A History of the Beuzeville Silk Manufactory
Spitalfields (1725-1889)
Number 24, Steward Street, Spitalfields (far left) was paired with number 25, refronted about 1760 and otherwise much altered. Each house was two rooms deep and contained in a cellar-basement and four storeys. The tall plain fronts of yellow brick had three windows in each upper storey, all with guaged flat arches, stone sills, and recessed sashes with slender glazing bars.
Between the fronts was a lead rainwater-pipe with a moulded box-head. The houses were uniformly finished inside. The rooms were generally lined with plain panelling that, in the best rooms was set in ovolo-moulded framing. Fluted Doris pilasters marked the junction of the narrow hall with the staircase compartment and the staircase had cut strings, slender turned balusters, and a moulded handrail. Both houses were demolished towards the end of 1956. City of London website.
Abt. 1725 The family silk manufacturing business was established in Spitalfields, Old Artillery Ground, within the Liberties of the Tower of London, by Jacques Beuzeville, the original Huguenot emigrant of this branch of the Beuzeville family, and was carried on by various partners, first Beuzeville, Beuzeville & Levesque (a cousin) then, as partners died or retired, a son or son-in-law became a member of the firm.
1743 The firm was then Beuzeville, Beuzeville, Levesque & Belconcle (son-in-law of Jacques).
1785 Beuzeville, Levesque & Belconcle
1790 Beuzeville, Levesque & Barbet. William Levesque was a cousin, and James Barbet, a son-in-law of Jacques Beuzeville (January 2, 1799). His son, Stephen, was born on February 2, 1784.
Following the death of Jacques Beuzeville, Barbet objected to any portion of his capital remaining in the business, since there was no one to manage it, Stephen B. being still a minor. Levesque objected to Barbet remaining a partner without capital. Jacque Beuzeville's executors, with the consent of all the interested parties, agreed to lend Barbet four thousand pounds, on his bond, from the Estate of Jacques.
1800 William Levesque retired from the firm, and it appears that James Barbet purchased his interest. The firm was Beuzeville & Barbet.
1805 Stephen Beuzeville attained his majority, and James Barbet repaid the four thousand lent to Stephen Beuzeville by the executors because Barbet objected to his entering the firm without capital. The firm then became Barbet & Beuzeville.
1809 Stephen's son, James Beuzeville, was born at 24 Steward Street, Spitalfields. This property was later sold by the Executors for one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine pounds, and the proceeds invested in London Dock Stock.
1823 Stephen Beuzeville's home was 'Lavender House', Park Place, Berks. His son, James, sketched Charles Hovelles School in 1823/4 when a pupil there.
1824 The firm of Barbet & Beuzeville was dissolved. Stephen left an undated memo as follows:
James Barbet, Junior, was manager of the concern at Reading at a salary. At the winding up of the concern, my share of his defalcation was about eight hundred pounds. Thomas Fidkin was of the firm of Fidkin & Harrison, with which house we (Barbet & Beuzeville) have a large Bill transaction, at the dissolution of the partnership of Fidkin & Harrison. Fidkin was in business by himself, so we still continued the
Despite the dissolution of the partnership of Barbet & Beuzeville. Fidkin owed Barbet two hundred pounds and Stephen Beuzeville one hundred pounds. Fidkin was in financial difficulties, so he went to Ostend, where Stephen Beuzeville, hearing of this, followed him and obtained the three hundred pounds owed to him and the two hundred pounds owed to Beuzeville. Sometime after Fidkin's assignees heard of the transaction, they had Stephen Beuzeville up at Quality Court, and, as Barbet did not wish to have his name in the business, he persuaded Stephen Barbet to take the whole amount on himself, and he would repay him the two hundred pounds. This I agreed to do. (illegible)... I could not pay them by the time stated, and an execution was put on the house of Hurley, which might have been prevented by Mr Barbet paying me his two hundred pounds, which he never did. Not to this day have I ever received one farthing of that amount".
At the time of the dissolution of the partnership of Barbet & Beuzeville, James Barbet owed the estate of his father-in-law, Jacques Beuzeville, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six pounds fifteen shillings. This amount was never repaid by Barbet but was eventually recovered from his estate. However, the sum of one thousand pounds owed to Stephen Beuzeville by the Barbets (Father and son) was never recovered. This represented a considerable sum in the early 19th century.
James Barbet, senior, must have been, to say the least, an astute businessman. At the time of his father-in-law's death in 1799, he was a junior partner in the firm, without capital, but by 1805, he had bought Levesque's share when the latter retired. Thus, he had a two-thirds holding in the firm of Barbet & Beuzeville.
1825 The Townsford Mill, Halstead, Essex, was converted from a corn mill to a silk throwing mill by Samuel Coutauld and his partners and operated by them for Stephen Beuzeville.
1827 Stephen Beuzeville declared himself insolvent. At the time, he was living at Hurley, Berks.
In 1828, Coutauld and his partners acquired the Townsford Mill at Halstead, probably from Stephen Beuzeville's assignees, following his insolvency.
1828 Stephen Beuzeville was living at Gibbons End, Braintree. James, his son, sketched there.
1829 Living at Oxney House, Writtle, near Chelmsford, about 12 miles north of Braintree. Also sketched by James.
1830 James Beuzeville went to Spain to manage a silk concern. He sketched the 'Fabrica de Vinaler(?)' near Valencia.
1833 On March 12, James was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London. The certificate states that he is the son and later apprentice of Stephen Beuzeville. He visited England and was married on December 7.
1834 James Beuzeville returned to England because of his wife's health
1838 Sometime prior, or during this year Stephen Beuzeville returned to Braintree, and lived at Bocking End until his death on November 4, 1862. His mother, Mary Beuzeville, died at Bocking in 1838 and possible Stephen had returned to take over her home.
1848 On January 6, James Beuzeville, with his family, migrated to Australia on the 'Brankinmoor' under the command of Captain Pain(?). They arrived on 2 June 1848 after a voyage of 5 months. His daughter, Ellen, was then 13 years of age.
In 1862, Stephen Beuzeville died at Bocking End, and his widow died on November 25, 1864.
1889 Stephen's daughter, Eliza, died on 2 April. She was the last Beuzeville of this branch of the family remaining in England.
Notes & Sources
Byles Family Records: Ralph Byles, Goolwa, South Australia.
Image: Metropolitan Archives (City of London),
Description of the Buildings at 24 Steward Street,” archival record.