Luck and Sons (drapers)
Reference: D/Lu Catalogue Title: Luck and Sons (drapers) Area: Catalogue Category: Business and Industry Records Description:
Covering Dates: 1762; 1800-1965
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- Luck and Sons (drapers)
Catalogue Description
Records of Luck and Sonsdeposited on long-term loan
January 1966 Acc.: 134(D) Acc.: 136(D)
The firm of drapers was established in Darlington by John Watkin who had previously been in business in Staindrop and Richmond. About 1830 he was joined by his son, Christopher, and a junior partner called Richard Luck. The firm became known as Watkin and Luck. Thomas Barron was brought into the firm as a partner and the firm became known as Watkin, Luck and Barron until 1870 when Christopher Watkin retired. Richard Luck's sons, Robert Allan and Henry Leonard ,joined the firm which was then called Luck, Barron and Luck. Thomas Barron retired in 1878 and it took the name of Luck and Sons. H.L. Luck's son, Richard, joined the firm in 1902 and his son, Richard Charles Luck, entered in 1937.
The firm's main premises were at 26 High Row but they also traded at 6 High Row for a time (c.1880 - 1927). The main premises were modernised in 1927 by turning the old living accommodation for assistants into shop floor space. The premises were sold to Dressers in 1965 when Luck's ceased trading.
Catalogue Contents
Luck and Sons (drapers) (Ref: D/Lu) (Ref: D/Lu 1-32)
Luck and Sons
Ref: D/Lu 1Ledger of accounts with suppliers of stock, indexed, 1833 - 1848
(1 volume, vellum bound)
Ref: D/Lu 2Ledger of accounts with suppliers of stock, indexed, 1858 - 1863
(1 volume, vellum bound)
Ref: D/Lu 3Ledger of accounts with customers, indexed, 1839 - 1843
(1 volume, calf bound)
Ref: D/Lu 4Christopher Watkin's private cash book including:
f.1 Stocktaking, 1834 - 1841
f.14 Staff salary ledger, 1834 - 1842
f.30 Petty expenses, 1834
f.54 house expenses for furniture, 1838
f.67 house keeping expenses, 1838 - 1842
f.94 carriage expenses, 1834
f.100 cash received from shop, 1840 - 1845
f.131 Boarding expenses for young men, 1843 - 1844
f.151 gas company statement, 1846 - 1854
f.154 Statement of account with company partner R Luck, 1841,1847 - 1850
f.183 horse expenses, 1837 - 1842
f.186 bank statement with J Backhouse and Co., 1846 - 1847, National Provincial, 1847 - 1854
f.190 Statement of share account in Wear Valley Railway, 1847 - 1852, Great Northern Railway 1848
f.197 valuation of property, 1849 - 1852, with list of books bought by Edward Pease at Walkers Sale and dance steps for La Pantaloon, L'Ette, La Paule, La Treesiae, La Pastoralle and La Finale
(1 volume, vellum bound)
Ref: D/Lu 5Cash book, December 1840 - October 1853, includes boarding expenses for young men, 1846 - 1854; stock and capital accounts, 1840 - 1853; and monthly cash totals, 1838 - 1860
(1 volume, vellum bound)
Ref: D/Lu 6Staff salary ledger, 1841 - 1858
(1 volume, vellum bound)
Ref: D/Lu 7Staff salary ledger, indexed, 1857 - 1872
(1 volume, vellum bound)
Ref: D/Lu 8Staff salary ledger, indexed, 1872 - 1896
(1 volume, vellum bound)
Ref: D/Lu 9Ledger of share transactions, 1860 - 1878, capital and stock account, 1847 - 1853, accounts with suppliers, 1845, and R. Luck's cash account, 1863 - 1869
(1 volume, leather bound)
Ref: D/Lu 10Miscellaneous ledger, includes share transactions and sale of old workhouse, indexed, 1871 - 1885
(1 volume, card bound)
Ref: D/Lu 11Capital and stock account of C. Watkins, 1855 - 1860, certified capital account of partners, Watkin, Luck and Barron, 1860 - 1867
(1 volume, card bound)
Ref: D/Lu 12Capital account of Luck and Barron, 1870 - 1884; and division of property, 17 June 1885
(1 volume, card bound)
Ref: D/Lu 13Pass Book of Watkin and Luck in account with J. Backhouse and Co., 1842 - 1847
(1 volume, vellum bound)
Ref: D/Lu 14/1Partnership agreement, copy of articles of agreement between Christopher Watkin of Darlington, draper, and Richard Luck of Darlington draper, 9 August 1843
Ref: D/Lu 14/2Memorandum (copy) of an agreement between Christopher Watkin and Richard Luck, both of Darlington, linen and woollen drapers, and Thomas Barron of Darlington, their assistant, 3 February 1848
Ref: D/Lu 14/3Articles of agreement between Christopher Watkin of Darlington, draper, Richard Luck of Darlington, draper and Thomas Barron of Darlington, draper, 25 January 1853 (2 copies)
Ref: D/Lu 14/4Articles of agreement, between Christopher Watkin of Darlington, draper, Richard Luck of Darlington, draper, and Thomas Barron of Darlington, draper, 17 February 1859
Ref: D/Lu 14/5Copy of articles of agreement between Christopher Watkin of Darlington, draper, Richard Luck of Darlington, draper, and Thomas Barron, Darlington, draper 29 July 1862
Ref: D/Lu 14/6Articles of agreement between Richard Luck of Darlington, draper, Thomas Barron of Darlington, draper, Robert Allan Luck of Darlington, draper and Henry Leonard Luck, Darlington, draper, 11 June 1870
Ref: D/Lu 14/7Copy of articles of agreement between Richard Luck of Darlington, draper, Robert Allan Luck of Darlington, draper, and Henry Leonard Luck of Darlington, draper, 21 September 1877
(3 files, 8 papers)
Ref: D/Lu 15Account of John Windall to Messrs Luck and Barron for shop and house fittings, September - December 1870
(1 file)
Ref: D/Lu 16/1Letter from William Rigden, Paris, to Richard Luck suggesting reward of opera glass each for young men who found Luck's purse in Paris, 15 June 1878
Ref: D/Lu 16/2Correspondence regarding insurance claim for fire damage, with list of losses of stock, January - February 1925
Ref: D/Lu 16/3Letter from Drapers Chamber of Trade of the United Kingdom to R. Luck, Darlington, about wage rate for shop assistants, 21 May 1926, with a schedule of minimum rates approved and adopted by Council of the Drapers Chamber of Trade, 20 April 1920
(2 files, 1 paper)
Ref: D/Lu 17Catalogues of Furnishing Department, n.d.; ladies fashion, dress materials and fancy good 1912 and white sale, 3 April 1916
(3 booklets)
Ref: D/Lu 18Sale catalogue for 26 High Row, 30 September 1965
(1 file)
Ref: D/Lu 19Poster announcing Rules for Closing as agreed to by the Drapers of Darlington, printed W. Lee, n.d. [c.1856]
Note on frame backing paper that John Watson and Co., bookseller, stationer and music seller, 6a High Row, was succeeded by W. Lee, 5 November 1855, removed to Horsemarket, November 1857, and succeeded by John Bailey, 1800
(2 papers)
Ref: D/Lu 20Photographs of shop fronts at No.6 and 26 High Row, 1884 - 1922
(13 photographs)
Ref: D/Lu 21Extract from will of Mrs. Jane Featherstone devising farm of Low Lees or New Barns at Yalding and Brinchley, Kent, to her nephew Rich Luck and wife Catherine, 8 May 1807
(1 paper)
Ref: D/Lu 22Copy of will of John Watkin, Darlington, gent., 3 April 1855, devising to son, Christopher Watkin, and friend, Richard Luck, Darlington, drapers, as trustees to pay various bequests to the family with residue of estate to son Christopher Watkin
(1 file)
Ref: D/Lu 23Appointment of Richard Luck of Darlington, draper, Jonathan Angus of Newcastle, warehouseman, and Thomas Yellowby of Newcastle, grocer, assignees of the estate of Thomas Lee of Cockfield, draper, grocer, dealer and chapman, 2 December 1840
(1 parchment)
Ref: D/Lu 2428 March 1859
(1) Henry Leonard Luck
(2) Henry Footman, William Pretty and Alexander Francis Nicholson, Ipswich, linen drapers and general warehouseman
Apprentice indenture of (1) to (2) for four years
Consideration: £52
(1 paper)
Ref: D/Lu 2531 January 1857
(1) Robert Allan Luck
(2) Christopher Watkin, Richard Luck and Thomas Barron
Apprenticeship indenture of (1) to (2) as linen and woollen draper until 2 June 1862
(1 paper)
Ref: D/Lu 2614 October 1876
(1) James William Malkin
(2) Richard Luck, Thomas Barron, Robert A Luck and Henry Leonard Luck
Apprenticeship Indenture of (1) to (2) as linen and woollen draper for six years
(1 paper)
Ref: D/Lu 27n.d.
(1) Trustees of the late Miss Sarah Wilkinson of Eaglescliffe
(2) Richard Luck of Darlington
Lease of farm at Stressholm, Blackwell, from (1) to (2) for 7 years
Rent: £170 per annum.
(1 paper)
Ref: D/Lu 28Returns of Richard Luck's property for legacy duties. 1885
(1 bundle)
Ref: D/Lu 29Newspaper cuttings on History of the Firm (Darlington & Stockton Times, 26 January 1935); the firm's delivery van a 12 cwt Morris (Motor Transport, 2 May 1927); Furnishing Trade Dinner (Journal and Northern Standard, 19 January 1928); History of Firm (Northern Despatch, 10 September 1959); Cartoon of Richard Luck (North Eastern Daily Gazette); business development, photograph (Northern Echo, 9 April 1933); Fashion patterns 'Metropolitan Fashion' supplied by Luck & Sons, November 1886; Picture of Prince George's visit to Darlington (Northern Echo, 6 May 1933); A Picture Review of local events in 1937 (Northern Despatch, 31 December 1937); drawing of Luck's premises in High Row
(10 papers)
Ref: D/Lu 30/1Darlington School Board Bye Laws and Regulations, 1874
Ref: D/Lu 30/2Travel and Transport in Olden Times by Rev. A.W.M. Close, August 1927
Ref: D/Lu 30/3Programme for the Opening of the Memorial Hospital 5 May 1933
Ref: D/Lu 30/4Nominal Roll of Officers, non - commissioned officers and troops of the Northumberland Hussars and Durham County Contingent of the Imperial Yeomanry who volunteered for duty in South Africa, 1900 - 1902
Ref: D/Lu 30/5Railway Centenary Souvenir, Darlington Corporation Official Handbook 1925
Ref: D/Lu 30/6Souvenir of the opening ceremony of the Burnhope Reservoir, 15 September 1937
Ref: D/Lu 30/7Souvenir Blotter of Darlington, 1921
Ref: D/Lu 30/8Proclamation by the King about the Coronation, 18 December 1936, Proclamation announcing Abdication of King Edward VIII and Accession of King George VI, 1936
Ref: D/Lu 30/9Judgement in case about need for hawkers licence for temporary sale goods in South Shields, 13 November 1858
Ref: D/Lu 30/10Christmas Numbers of All the Year Round by Charles Dickens, 1864, 1866
Ref: D/Lu 31Photograph of John Watkin, presented to R Luck, January 1858, with poem Ode to Spring composed by J. Watkin, December 1857; poem on R Luck as member of the Darlington Literary and Philosophical Society, 1836, by (C Watkin?); account of walk from Darlington to Gateshead by John Watkin when 86 in 1854 presented to Mrs. Luck
(3 papers, 1 photograph)
Ref: D/Lu 32Map of Yorkshire by E. Bowen, 1762
(1 plan)
Additional deposit (Ref: D/Lu 33-34)Ref: D/Lu 33Cash Book, 1854 - 1871
Includes:
f1 Tees Cottage 1854 - 1855
f15 account with National Provincial Bank 1855
f19, 33 boarding expenses for young men 1854 - 1863
f40 capital and stock account 1854 - 1869
f57 South Shields stock account 1860 - 1871
f60 rent account for the houses in Silver Street, Bank Top, indexed, 1860 - 1870
(1 volume, leather bound)
Ref: D/Lu 34Pass book of Messrs. Luck and Sons in account with National Provincial Bank Ltd., March 1938 - July 1940
(1 volume, vellum bound)