I have made a study of Henry Clarke, the family and the business. My interest derives from my spending most of my shooting life using my great grandfather's Henry Clarke gun, which he bought new in 1923. In turn my grandfather and then my father used it, my father handing it on to me when I was in my mid-twenties and he bought himself a Frederick Beesley SLE.
I am unaware of any serial number books surviving, but do know some company papers are held by the Leicestershire County Records Office. Here below a short history followed by some guns with serial numbers and best guess dates.
Short History
1832 Edward Clarke established gunmaking business at Market Place, Leicester with brother James. Seems to have been more of a pistol maker. Later gun labels have this as the date of establishment.
1860 Edward died aged 50 and the firm was taken over by his widow, Louisa Clarke, aged 44; at around this time she moved the firm to 20 Humberstone Gate, the firm became Louisa Clarke & Son. Assume the ‘Son’ was Charles who, ten years later, had his own business in Andover. Continues to make mostly pistols.
1871 Census: Living at 20 Humberstone Gate, Louisa Clarke, 50 yrs old, Gunsmith, Born Hinkley, Leics; Henry Snr, 22 yrs old, Gunmaker, born Leicester. The first ‘Henry Clarke’.
1876 Louisa dies, aged 55 on 11 Nov 76. Firm left to Henry Snr in her will. It would appear that, with the death of his mother, Henry Snr could open up commercially in a way that he had not felt able to do whilst she was still alive. Perhaps this was out of a sense of respect for his father, or perhaps his mother actually ruled her family with a rod of iron. Given that she readily took over the running of the firm on Edward’s death, she was clearly a formidable woman. Either way, Henry Snr was now free to fly, thus opening a new and very prosperous era for the firm.
1877 An advert in the Leicester Journal has only 20 Humberstone Gate address. '“To Sportsmen, Henry Clarke, Gunmaker, 20 Humberstone-Gate, Leicester, Has on hand for this season an extensive stock of Choke Bore Guns, which can be confidently recommended for their first class shooting qualities and sound workmanship. Average pattern with 1 ¼ oz No. 6 shot, on a 30in circle, at 40 yards, with a modified choke, is 130 to 150 pellets, and with a full choke from 180 to 230 pellets. A great number of these Guns have been sold during the last two seasons, and in every case the pattern and penetration is highly spoken of. Breech Loaders rejointed as new, and all kinds of repairs executed. Cartridges and every description of Ammunition kept in stock.”
1878 In his first move to expand, Henry Clarke bought the connections and stock of George Lofley, who had his gunmaking business nearby at 37 ½ Gallowtree Gate. This gave him premises in both Humberstone Gate and Gallowtree Gate, increased stock and presumably additional craftsmen and tools. Not only that, but he had reduced his competition and gained additional customers for his business in one move. Advert: “Henry Clarke, Gun Maker, 37 ½ Gallowtree-gate, and 20 Humberstone-gate, Leicester, Begs to inform Sportsmen of this County that Having Bought The Business And Stock Of Mr G Lofley, Gun Maker, Gallowtree-gate, he intends offering the whole of the goods taken to at greatly reduced prices, consisting of upwards of 100 first-class Breech-loading Guns, and a large assortment of Rook Rifles, Revolvers, Etc. Cartridges and every description of Ammunition kept in stock.”
Oct 1881 The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News carried an advert for Henry in its edition of 8 October 1881, with details of other guns and another illustration, this time of a back lock gun. Clearly Henry had a number of drawings made for his new catalogue, which he promoted heavily. More tellingly though was the first use of the ‘Midland Gun Works’ moniker. The name was to remain in use for many decades.
Jan 1882 The Prince of Wales visited and shot at Earl of Stamford’s Bradgate Park, just north of the city of Leicester. Perhaps he needed cartridges or had a problem with his guns? This three day shoot is written about in the ‘Olly’ book, for Earl de Grey was a gun also. Some 15,000 spectators watched the shooting! Prince & Princess of Wales also visited Leicester on the 29th of May 1882
Oct 1882 Advert Leicester Chronicle & Mercury, following the PoW's shooting visit at Bradgate, includes first use of 'Under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales' and use of the PoW feathers: ‘Midland Gun Works, 371/2, GALLOWTREE-GATE, and 20, HUMBER- STONE-GATE, LEICESTER. HENRY CLARKE IS supplying CARTRIDGES loaded with Curtis' and Harvey's best Gunpowder, and under personal supervision, at the following low prices for Cash'.
Dec 1891 Advert: Henry Clarke & Sons [first use of ‘& Sons’] of the Midland Gun Works, Gallowtree-gate, is the recognised friend of all who have a predilection for shooting as a pastime. His stock of firearms is enormous, and every requisite is to be found at his well- known establishment, where a range is always available.’
20 Oct 1893 Henry Snr dies aged 44 yrs, probate in Feb 1894 to Margaret his widow, effects of £5,239/19/1
1893 Henry Jnr aged 15 and George aged 14 take over company though must have been apprenticed to someone there; it appears their mother Margaret helped run the business with her brother George Duxbury.
Jul 1895 Advert in Sporting Goods Review 1/2 page 'Repairs & conversions of all kinds by skilled workmen, have their best and prompt attention. 40 yard range on the premises'. Indicates that perhaps no new gun building but many workmen kept on to keep the business going.
Oct 1906 Sporting Goods "Owing to the death of Mrs Henry Clarke of Leicester, the gunmaking business of Messrs H Clarke & Sons, Gallowtreegate, Leicester will in future be carried on by Messrs Henry and George Clarke, who will trade, as heretofore, under the existing style". Confirming she did carry on managing the firm after her husband died. Family tradition!
1910-1912 Gun Works Factory. Once the Midland Gun Works were closed in 1909 it may be that Clarke ceased making his own guns and bought in from the trade. Clearly practical gunsmiths, the firm may have retained a small team to finish off these guns and even perhaps continuing to put guns together themselves. However, the Great War decimated the gun trade and it would appear that Clarke managed by selling, servicing and repairing guns from the shop, as well as introducing fishing gear, before the great depression and Second World War reduced trade even further.
1911 H. Clarke & Sons took over the firm of HE Pollard & Co of 62 Broad Street, Worcester in about 1911. It is not known when Herbert Pollard retired or died, but it continued to trade under the Pollard name. Pollards had originally been Perrins & Sons, Pollard being a son in law.
Oct 1922 London Gazette: NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Henry Clarke, George Clarke and Frank Clarke, carrying on business as Gunmakers and Fishing Tackle Merchants, at 62, Broad-street, in the city of Worcester, under the style or firm of "" H. E. POLLARD & CO.,""' has been dissolved by mutual consent as from the 31st day of October, 1922.
1929 Frank and George appear in Gunmakers Association photograph.
13 Jan 1936 Henry Jnr died aged 58, effects of £21,938/18/6
12 Apr 1942 George died aged 62 effects of £5,815/8/2
1955 Recorded again as H Clarke & Sons (Gunsmiths) Ltd at 20 Halford Street. Since Henry Jnr and George appear not to have had sons (we don’t know about Frank) then Eric E Lovett, who married Edyth B Clarke ran the business. Recorded as a member of the Gun Trade Association in 1955.
Nov 1963 Notice in Harpers: "Mr Eric E Lovett, director of the Leicester firm H Clarke & Sons (Gunsmiths) Ltd, tells me that they will be closing down the business when their present stocks are exhausted - this, it is anticipated, will be some time about the middle of December. A letter to customers, signed by the two directors, Mr Lovett and Mr EM Clarke, explains that they find it impossible to replace two of their key employees, and rather than continue at a reduced rate of efficiency, they have reluctantly decided to close the business down. Mr Lovett tells me that the firm have been gunsmiths since 1832 and fishing tackle specialists since the latter half of the 1800's. Probably because they are of the 'old school', they feel that for the business to style itself 'Gunsmiths' or 'Fishing Tackle Specialists', it is necessary to have the craftsmen of both spheres within the business itself to give the practical service which is so vitally important. Unfortunately they now find this impossible."
Guns and Serial Numbers
Earliest known gun: The stock action and forend of a 12 bore double barrelled hammer gun by H.Clarke. Serial No.384.
1887-96 Smooth, round, 18 mm cal. barrel, with rib signed "HENRY CLARKE MAKER MIDLAND GUN WORKS LEICESTER" in gold, engraved at the base, foresight; long tang, engraved and gilt with floral motifs; backward spring locks signed "F. GATES", engraved, as the receiver and the mounts, en suite with the tang; briarwood butt and fore-end, partially checkered; iron mounts, serial number "895", trigger guard with integrated lever.
1868-75 12-bore (3in) sidelock hammer gun by H. Clarke, no. 3588 Jones patent rotary underlever, rebounding sidelocks with dolphin hammers, percussion fences, well figured replacement stock with steel butt-plate, the Damascus barrels with game-rib Weight 7lb. 3oz., 143/8in. pull, 30in. barrels, approx cyl. choke, 3in. chambers, nitro proof. 3" chambered hammer guns with Damascus barrels are unusual and this is a good example by Clarke, who specialized in guns for wildfowling throughout his time in business. This gun is an upscaled bar action hammer gun with slightly heavier construction and a little more weight than normal for a game gun, enabling it to digest the heavier loads required for duck shooting.
Not later than 1883 A 10 bore single barrel side hammer underlever shotgun. Serial No.9138. By Henry Clarke Leicester. Tapered browned curley twist barrel with signed top flat chamber. Signed and engraved side lock, rounded hammer, figured walnut stock with chequered wrist and forend.
Gun built 1884-1887. 1875-1887 proof marks H. CLARKE & SONS SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 10105. Back action sidelock 16 bore. Originally a non-ejector, it was converted to ejector using the Perkes 'box' as used in most Blanch guns: not a bad job but showing its age. Lock shape is classic Perkes with concave upper edge and indented lower edge. Cocking mechanism is by Perkes push rods. London proof marks are 1875-87. Barrels are 30"" damascus, concave game rib, 2 1/2"" chambers, engraved 'H Clarke & Sons Midland Gun Works Leicester', on top extension. Patent gas checks on the breech face, auto safety, ball fences, bold foliate and bouquet engraving, 'Block Patent Safety' intercepting sears, 'Scott' spindle, Purdey bolt, top lever. Gold lined cocking indicators which work the opposite way round to normal, ie. in line when cocked, tipped forward when fired. The patent for this action was sold to Scott by Perkes so it may have been manufactured by either of them. It has been restocked with a cast on piece of rather plain wood, or at least I assume it is a re-stock: not very good quality work.
Post 1897 12 bore SLE Single trigger. A Good Quality double barrelled 12 bore single trigger sidelock ejector shotgun, by H. Clarke & Sons, Serial No. 10817 Concave top rib engraved. New barrels by C. Smith & Sons, Newark Ltd. The action locks and furniture nicely scroll foliage engraved overall. Chequered straight hand stock, Anson forend.
1895-99? FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF H.H. THE MAHARAJAH OF BHAVNAGAR H. CLARKE & SONS AN IMPRESSIVE PAIR OF 4-BORE PUSH-FORWARD UNDERLEVER HAMMERLESS BOXLOCK SELECTIVE-EJECTOR SINGLE-BARRELLED WILDFOWLING GUNS, serial no. 11284 & 11285, 36in. bold damascus nitro barrels engraved 'H. CLARKE & SONS. MIDLAND GUN WORKS. LEICESTER.', short sight rib gold-inlaid '1' & ‘2’ in a roundel, surrounded by fine acanthus scroll motifs, massive hammerless action with push-forward underlever, carved arcaded fence, removable striker disc, broad topstrap gold-inlaid '1' & ‘2’, automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, selective ejector system (ejects on firing only), fully engraved with best bold acanthus scrollwork on a matt background and with beaded borders, with 'H. CLARKE & SONS' in a scrolling banner, retaining much original colour-hardening and some finish, 14 1/4in. well-figured pistolgrip stocks including 1in. rubber recoil pad, engraved and colour-hardened steel pistolgrip-cap, outsized sling eyes (rear eye with William Keith Neal collection medallions attached), the rear of the comb of the stock inlaid with a large gold escutcheon exquisitely enamelled with the crest of the Gohil dynasty, the Royal House of Bhavnagar, fore-end with horn finial and scroll-engraved grip-catch release lever, gold-inlaid '1' & ‘2’, weight 14lb. 13oz.
1904 onwards H.CLARKE & SONS 12 BORE ASSISTED OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no: 11590, 30in. nitro barrels, 2.5in. chambers, bored approx. imp and 3/4 choke, locks and action engraved with scrollwork, chiselled leaf fences, 13.5in. well-figured stock, weight 6lb. 13oz., in a brass cornered leather case.
1923 Serial No 11887 My gun. Bought by JW Wilkes in 1923. 12 bore BLE, replacement barrels by William Powell in 1969 [following burst barrel when my father was shooting]. 28in. nitro proved, rib engraved 'H. CLARKE & SONS. MIDLAND GUN WORKS. LEICESTER.', 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. imp. cyl. and 1/4 choke, automatic safety, border engraving, with rubber pad. Original barrels have WL engraved as barrel makers intials: suspect William David Lane, 40 Bagot St B'ham.
Last know sequential serial number Not later than 1925 A Cased DB 16-Bore Boxlock Ejector Gun by Clarke No 12984. With 28 in nitro barrels (reproved) bored improved cylinder and 3/4 choke, 2 1/2 in chambers, concealed third bite extension, rose and scroll engraved action and furniture, 14 1/4 in figured walnut stock including 3/4 rubber recoil pad, side panels, drop points, white metal initial plate, weight 6lb 2 oz, in a lightweight baize lined case.
