Chair, late 1700s
A plaque on the back of this chair says it belonged to Samuel Thompson. Samuel sold timber that arrived at Hullâs docks by ship. The plaque tells us the exact date he was born and that he died in 1803. After Samuel died his wife and sons continued his business. No one knows for certain if this chair was made in Hull but as Samuel was a local man itâs likely. Perhaps it was made from the wood he sold? Hull was an important regional centre for furniture making in the 1700s and 1800s. The cityâs furniture industry was founded on its role as a timber port. Wood imports from northern Europe and the Baltic have been part of Hullâs commerce for centuries. As early as 1304, 25 000 boards of timber arrived in Hull. They were used mainly in the building and shipbuilding industries. By the 1600s, Hull was second only to London as a timber port. The easy availability of timber encouraged furniture makers to settle in Hull in the 1700s. This in turn changed the character of the timber trade. From the 1770s, Hull timber merchants began to specialise in importing exotic hardwoods from South and Central America. Woods like mahogany were in great demand for making good quality furniture. Hullâs first constructed dock opened in 1778, covering 9 ¾ acres. Before this, the only place for timber ships to dock was in the âOld Harbourâ in the River Hull. New timber yards sprang up around the dock. This tempted furniture makers to set up business in the surrounding streets, such as Savile Street and Bond Street. Hullâs trade links meant that by 1800 it had become the regional centre for furniture making, overtaking Beverley and York.
