77/223

This is a painted wooden signboard for attaching to a dog cart. It bears the words 'E. Seymour // Saddler // Minster St.' in gold lettering. Mr Seymour was a third-generation saddler, with a shop in Reading (which closed in the 1930s) and a shop in Twyford (which closed in 1975).

1 signboard: wood; iron; good condition

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Description: SIGNBOARD E. SEYMOUR, SADDLER // MINSTER ST. READING // A wooden sign with iron fixings which once belonged to Mr. Seymour’s Dog cart. Gold lettering on back. // Dimensions: Length: 95.0 cm Width of board: 13.0 cm // Associated information: Mr. Seymour’s Reading shop closed in 1930’s. The Twyford shop closed in 1975. // MERL Library CoSIRA Publication Making a Saddle // See also Acc. Nos. 77/249 & 77/250. // References: Article about Mr. Seymour in ‘Leatherworker’', MERL Miscellaneous note – ‘SEYMOUR – Saddler – Twyford // Mr. Seymour was working until he was 90 years old and gave up around November 1975. The shop was in Twyford next to the Post Office (between the butcher and P.O.) The shop was cleared by Mr. Kingdom [Technical Officer for saddlery at CoSIRA]. // Both his father and grandfather were saddlers and there is a picture of three generations which Mr. Kingdom will try to obtain for us (or a copy). // Mr. Seymour worked by gaslight until 1971 when he changed to electricity.’

Wood, Metal, iron

Kingdom, Peter B. (Agent)
Seymour & Sons