This is the kind of nerdy nonsense that London makes me do.
I was following the trail of the underground River Westbourne from Hampstead down to the Thames (like you do!) when I emerged through the mews arch of the very fine Cleveland Arms pub into Chilworth Street.
Whilst admiring the pub and trying to resist its alcoholic allure, my eye was taken by this rather cute shopfront on the other side of the arch.
Late Victorian or Edwardian, it has carved red brick features showing angel craftsmen at work either side of a main window above which, in burnished metal, is a sign with the word Kinninmont. The fancy doorway is carved in stone and there is a fading mosaic doorstep.
Who or what was this Kinninmont? The site is now occupied by a hairdresser but that is clearly a modern arrival.
I reached for google and this is what I have discovered so far.
The building was occupied by J. Kinninmont & Sons from at least 1885.
John Kinninmont was a builder and house decorator who took two sons into a partnership.
The eldest son was Alexander Thomas who was born in 1852. He was followed by another John , John Morton Kinninmont, in 1857.
I can’t find much about Alexander but John Morton Kinninmont married Annie Louisa in 1881 in the church of St George, Hanover Square.
John the father stepped down from the business in 1885 leaving the boys running it but the retained the name J. Kinninmont & Sons.
The London Gazette published the following notice:
NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership hitherto subsisting between us the undersigned, John Kinninmont, Alexander Thomas Kinninmont, and John Morton Kinninmont, carrying on business as Builders and House Decorators, at No. 26, Chilworth Street, Paddington, in the county of Middlesex, Builders and House Decorators, trading as J. Kinninmont and Sons, has been dissolved, by mutual consent, as and from the 1 st day of January, 1885, so far as regards the
said John Kinninmont. The business of the firm will be continued under the same style by Alexander Thomas Kinninmont and John Morton Kinninmont, who will receive all moneys due to the late firm and pay in due course all moneys owing by that firm.
The firm looks to have gone fro strength to strength under the brothers.They were clearly quality builders as you can see from these promotional photos taken by the firm to illustrate their work. Sadly neither this 1890 house in Hertford Street Mayfair nor this 1891 house in Berkshire remain standing.
They also specialised in fancy interiors such as this house at 19 Arlington Street in 1892.
In 1893 Alexander left the partnership, leaving John Morton on his own, as you can see from this notice in the Gazette. did the brothers disagree or did Alexander simply tire of the work. He was still relatively young at 42 years old when he left the firm. John carried on trading under J. Kinninmont & Sons despite being the only son left.
NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Alexander Thomas Kinninmont and John Morton Kinninmont, of 26, Chilworth-street, Paddington, in the county of Middlesex, Builders and House Decorators, trading as J. Kinninmont and Sons, is this day dissolved as from the 31st day of December, 1892, by mutual consent. . The business will henceforth be carried on by the said John Morton Kinninmont under the style
Perhaps the split was caused because John wanted to diversify and alexander didn’t.
They made a fancy shop front in 101 Gloucester Road at the turn of the twentieth century and perhaps this is when they refurbished their own shop front.
In a letter to a client of 1906 J. Kinninmont & Sons certainly appear to have branched out describing themselves as ‘builders, decorators, upholsterers, contractors for electric lighting’
The business appears to have operated as either a partnership or ultimately a sole trader during these years. Then the trail goes cold until 1939 when a limited company called J. Kinninmont & Sons limited was incorporated. They called themselves builders and property developers but left little trace of their work. It appears to have struggled in the 1990’s and was wound up in 1999 leaving behind only this lovely shop front to remind us of their lives.
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