From the Internet Gun Club-------------
Name
C E Hillsdon
Other Names
Hillsdon & Hillsdon; Hillsdon & Stones Ltd; Russell Hillsdon; Russell Hillsdon Ltd
Address1
South Street
Address2
30 South Street
Address3
46 South Street
Address4
Address5
Address6
Address7
City/Town
Chichester
County
Sussex
State/Region/Province
Country
United Kingdom
Trade
Gunsmith & general engineer
Other Address
14 Harbour Street, Folkestone, Kent; 2 Alexandra Gardens, Folkestone, Kent; Snargate Street, Dover, Kent; 149 Oxford Street, London; Eastergate, Barnham, Bognor Regis, Sussex; 9 Bishopric, Horsham, Sussex; 33 Brighton Road, Worthing, Sussex; Cape Town, South Africa.
Dates
1888-1901
Notes
C E Hillsdon was recorded in business from 1888 to 1901, he owned shops in South Street (no number known), Chichester, Sussex, and at 14 Harbour Street, Folkestone, Kent.
In 1891 a shop was opened in Snargate Street (no number known), Dover, Kent, which traded under the name of Hillsdon & Hillsdon (possibly C E Hillsdon and brother or son or two brothers / cousins?).
The firm described themselves as gunsmiths and general engineers, but it would appear that they developed a cycle manufacturing business when cycling became popular in the early 1890s. The firm employed William Joseph George who was a champion cyclist who opened his own gun shop in 1896 (at 181 Snargate Street, Dover).
In 1893, a representative of the company attended the inaugural meeting of the Inanimate Bird Shooting Association.
In 1895 it would seem that C E Hillsdon retired or died because although the firm of C E Hillsdon continued trading at 14 Harbour Street, Folkestone, as did Hillsdon & Hillsdon in Snargate Street. It may be that the C E Hillsdon name was retained to demonstrate continuity. However, in 1895 a new firm by the name of Hillsdon & Stones Ltd (gunsmiths only) started trading at 149 Oxford Street, London. They also traded at 14 Harbour Street, Folkestone, and opened another shop in Folkestone at 2 Alexandra Gardens. The London shop closed in 1897 but the firm, trading as Russell Hillsdon, was represented in London by Gieves Ltd at 21 Old Bond Street, and also by Gieves Ltd at The Hard, Portsmouth. At this time the firm also had a branch in Cape Town (precise address unknown).
C E Hillsdon and Hillsdon & Stones Ltd appear to have ceased trading in 1901. The Folkestone shop appears to have traded as Hillsdon & Hillsdon from 1901 but it closed in 1903 however, the Chichester and Dover shops remained open trading as Hillsdon & Hillsdon until at least 1913. There are no known records of Hillsdon and Hillsdon or Russell Hillsdon trading between 1914 and 1924, but in the latter year Russell Hillsdon was recorded in Barnham and Bognor in Sussex, and at 30 South Street, Chichester, Sussex, so it appears the firm re-opened or had continued trading through the war years and in their aftermath.
In 1932 a new shop was opened at 33 Brighton Road, Worthing, and another at 9 Bishopric, Horsham. The Worthing, Barnham and Bognor shops were not recorded after 1934, and after 1936 only the 30 South Street, Chichester shop was recorded. In about 1940 it appears to have closed but in 1955 Russell Hillsdon Ltd was recorded at 46 South Street, Chichester.
The firm sold guns made in Birmingham and Liege, but in 1947 they commenced having their guns made by S Wright & Sons (Carlton, Royal Counties, Goodwood and Special Carlton models).
The company ceased trading in 1986.
Other Info
The firm sold shotgun cartridges under the names the "Sussex Express", the "Sussex Champion", the "Goodwood", the "Revenge" and the "Combat" (post 1927).
