CHADBURN BROS

Alfred Chadburn (1810-1887), Francis Wright Chadburn (1813-1890) and Charles Henry Chadburn (1816-1890)

Judging by the names on different instruments, the company occurred under several names during the 19^th century.  “William Chadburn” was making barometers in 1816-1817 in Sheffield. “Chapman & Wright” were formed at the same address in Sheffield in 1818 by William Chadburn and David Wright. In 1825 they were advertising optical goods and all kinds of hardware, using water mills to grind their lenses. By 1830, both “Chadburn & Co” and “William Chadburn & Co” were at the Sheffield address and “Chadburn & Son” was operating in Liverpool.

William Chadburn and Sarah Wright married in 1807. They were Quakers. In 1837, their sons, Alfred and Francis took over the Sheffield and Liverpool businesses as “Chadburn Brothers”, to be joined by their brother Charles in 1841. (Curiously, Francis is known only as “Wright” in registers and the census.) Their advertisement from 1845 also mentions a “photographic portrait gallery”. Adverts from the end of the 19^th century describe them as “opticians & manufacturers of spectacles & all kinds of optical lenses, optical and mathematical instruments, Albion Works”. They had a substantial exhibit at the Great Exhibition at the Chrystal Palace in London, organised by Prince Albert in 1851, and received the honour of terming themselves as “by Appointment, suppliers” to the Prince. The catalogue of the exhibition describes them as “of Sheffield and Liverpool”. In 1871, the company employed 40 people.

In 1893, the company was owned by W.T. Morgan, described as a “nephew of Chadburn Brothers”.