Grt Grandfathers Printing Business

[maureen39]

Im trying to find my Grt Grandfathers Printing Business. (Printer and Compositer)
The Family moved to Levenshulme in 1885 and were still there on the 1891 Census.
There was a child born in 1897 in Leeds so they could still have been living in Levenshulme up and until 1896 ish.
According to information I have he worked in Preston and also Manchester so the business could have been in Levenshulme Preston or Manchester or a place around those areas.
As far as I know the business was called Ramshaw and Knowles,or visa versa, as I understand he was in partnership. Knowles could also be spelt differently.
I would be grateful for any help or advice as I dont know where to look.

The Business eventually broke up, could have gone bankrupt! I dont know.

[clayton bradley]

Sorry, I had a look in the Gale collection of newspapers, but couldn't find anything. If they went bankrupt they ought to be in the London Gazette, claytonbradley

[alpinecottage]

Nothing in Historical directories (www.historicaldirectories.org) for Lancashire 1890s, 1900s, 1910s apart from a John Ramshaw and Son, Druggist in Preston in 1917.

[mosiefish]

Hi,

On the 1891 and 1901 census he states he was Employed and not an Employer so he must have set up his business after that in Leeds, if that is where he stayed or perhaps it was a quite shortlived partnership and inbetween a census.  Have you checked the 1911 census to see if he was listed as an Employer? 

Regards,
Mo

[maureen39]

Sorry, I had a look in the Gale collection of newspapers, but couldn't find anything. If they went bankrupt they ought to be in the London Gazette, claytonbradley

Thank you for looking, I will see if I can get to look in the London Gazette.

[maureen39]

Nothing in Historical directories (www.historicaldirectories.org) for Lancashire 1890s, 1900s, 1910s apart from a John Ramshaw and Son, Druggist in Preston in 1917.

Thanks for looking in the directories and also for the link to the historical directories

[maureen39]

Hi,

On the 1891 and 1901 census he states he was Employed and not an Employer so he must have set up his business after that in Leeds, if that is where he stayed or perhaps it was a quite shortlived partnership and inbetween a census.  Have you checked the 1911 census to see if he was listed as an Employer? 

Regards,
Mo

Hi Mo, thanks for noticing the 1891 census showing he was employed.
That narrows it down a bit, so if he went bankrupt it was before that date.
He didnt have a business in Leeds, it was definitely Lancashire.

[jds1949]

There is no entry for any printer called Ramshaw in the Kelly's Directory for Lancashire in 1924.

There is one for Knowles, Chas. 72, Darwen Street, Blackburn and another for Knowles H Ward & Co. Model Press, Bull Bridge, Accrington and that's it I'm afraid.

[Modified] Just found an entry in the 1913 Trade Directory for Preston, Barrow & District:
Printers
Knowles W H 53, Berry lane, Longridge

but still no Ramshaw

jds1949

[HOWMUCH]

Hello Maureen,
Thought I would put my "twopennyworth" in as well , but it can easily be disregarded.
The Slaters 1895 Directory for Manchester has a printing firm shown twice .

CHORLTON and KNOWLES printers , lithographers,engravers and accounts .
17 Mosley Street
Newton Street mill ,
presumably Manchester.

Steuart KNOWLES of CHORLTON and KNOWLES printers.
34 Broomfield Road , Heaton Moor .
I would think that this would be his home address.

Heaton Moor today is in Stockport but borders on with Levenshulme and I think that Broomfield Road is very close to it . Boundaries may change though.
If your man is'nt called Steuart then you can disregard it .
Regards
Eric