Ruislip Park, 69 Addison rd Kensington, Hill House, Darkways, and The Cottage, Llanstephan
Shops at 100 Bishopsgate, 187 Bishopsgaten and 13 Gresham St West with Henry155
1868- 1871 160Beaufort Sq Chepstow Monmouthshire (Slaters directory)

1841 census 8 Arbour St East Stepney HO 107/712/12 41 p 19
Robert PARNALL 25 outfitter
Emma PARNALL 25

In the Machanics Magazine Journal and Gazette Jan 5th - June 29th 1850 appears a patent enrolled by Robert Parnall. London, clothier, for a new instrument for facilitating the stitching or sewing of woven fabrics, patent dated Nov 13, 1849

1851 Census, 30 March. PRO Ref. HO 107, Piece 1505, Folio 619. St John,
Hackney, Middlesex. Address 4 Shrubland Cottages. Robt PARNALL, Head, Marr,
Age 36, Clothier & Outfitter, birthplace Pembrokeshire. Emma PARNALL, Wife,
Marr, Age 42, birthplace Grundisburg, Suffolk. Martha STERN, Unm, Age 21,
House Servt, birthplace Whitechapel, Midx. 155

1851 Post office directory Sussex R. Parnall Esq 5 Shrubland Cottages Dalston160

According to “Chevington, a Social Chronicle of a Suffolk Village” by Frank Cooper, published Phillimore 1984 ISBN 0 85033 558 2 Page 57-62
White’s Directory 1855 says a factory was established in 1852 for the production of ready-made clothes mainly for London and the overseas market. Some years after 1855, a William Beales is listed as a clothes manufacturer at Chevington and at centres in Essex, and from 1865 Samuel Beales is listed as his manager, age 36 living at Malting Farm Chevington.
“Until recently” i.e. 1984, there was a farm known as Factory Farm, on Factory Lane, and it is probable that the granary at the farm was the original factory. It is partly brick and partly timber, with an open ground floor (for waggons?) and above a long low room above which has some small glazed windows.

Mention in an 1861 directory for Robert and Henry Parnall mentions the “ manufactory at Chevington”, and among papers at Tan House Farm it mentions a newly built clothing factory. There was also a sale of land between the Parnalls and the village grocer John Brewster on 21 Feb 1862, the village shop was next to the new factory, so he may have owned the land..

The 1861 census states that William Beales was the manager of the “factory for wholesale manufacture of men’s clothing especially for exportation” and that the proprietors were Robert and Henry Parnall & Co. There were 30 sewing machines in the factory, and 600 people employed. It was more likely to have been a large workshop than a factory with a lot of machinery. By 1861 600 women were employed as in-workers, part and full time, and as outworkers. The parish itself only numbered 621people, so it was important to the whole area.

A “Factory Festival”is referred to in 1854 at which Robert Parnall was present. (The Bury and Norwich Post, and Suffolk Herald, Wednesday, June 21, 1854161

“It is virtually certain” that in 1861-2 Messrs Parnall built the large complex “of brick and weatherboard” on Hargrave Road consisting of one large high workshop and other ancillary buildings, on the west side of the road about 100 yards from “The Greyhound” and appointed the previous owner-manager William Beales as their manager. The building existed for 130 years. Not known why the Parnalls chose Chevington, although it had rail links from Bury to Liverpool Street (that served Bishopsgate) and St Katherine’s docks. Also there was plenty of available labour in Chevington and the surrounding villages. The Bury railway also had electric telegraph in use.

Many employees were involved in work other than on the sewing machines, e.g. tailoring, laundering and pressing. Some family members might be ag. labs. and others working in the factory. In-workers sat at treadle machines which were arranged in 2 long rows, probably completing coats, jackets, and trousers; collars and sleeves having been made up at home. On large tables the garments would have been assembled, labelled and packed. Outworkers would have walked to the factory to get their materials and orders to take home. There was also a reception centre at Denston five miles away for outworkers from the villages nearer there.

By 1875 the factory had been sold to William Henry Smith who had already established a clothing factory in Barrow about 6 miles east of Bury St Edmunds (the book also mentions a factory at Cowlinge belonging to the Parnalls that was sold to Smith at the same time). Later it was owned by Richmond & lewis of Colchester, eventually closing in 1918 when J Harvey & Co of Bury owned it. It was later used as a petrol station for a haulier, Alfred Cawston Rolfe, and in 1981 it was irrevocably gutted by fire.

Robert Parnall sold the properties in Chevington in 1877 in four lots, Lot 1, a brick built messuage containing Grocer’s and draper’s shop, warehouse stabling coach house offices etc, garden and orchard (close to the factories of Mith & son, Lot 2 small farn at Chevington with land, Lot 3 arable land called ‘Broad Green” Lot 4 in Barrow arable land. (Bury and Norwich Post and Suffolk Herald, April 24 1877)

The sites were visited by Kate Cole in 2011 who found that the building on Factory Lane still exists (on private land), but the site on Hargrave Road is probably part of the Greyhound pub car park.161

Robert was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, the Hosiers Company, by redemption on 6th December 1858 (No 8831 on the Register.) and was carrying on the business of wholesale clothier. States he was of 187 Bishopsgate, father Edmond Parnall, Llanstephan, farmer.94

1861 census RG 9/211/84 page 25 187 Bishopsgate St London
Robert PARNALL Head unm 45 Wholesale clothier b Carmarthen Llanstephan
Anne sister unm 52 b Llanstephan
Mary HUGHES niece 22 housekeeper b Llanstephan
Alice HUGHES visitor 20 Draper’s assistant b Pembrokeshire Haverfordwest
David R THOMAS assist. 22 draper’s assistant b Carmarthen
William WATSON nephew 32 draper’s assistant b Cambridge
Rachel GODDARD servt 32 b Berkshire


1871 census RG10/1310/7 page 5 Ruislip Ruislip Park the village
Robert PARNALL Head mar 55 Clothier and landowner b Pembroke S Wales
Elixth. PARNALL wife 32 b London Stepney
Rose Elizth daur 1 mo b Midx Ruislip
Henrietta JAMES Mother in law widow 68 Landowner b Manchester
Benjamin WILLIAMS Serv 55 Footman b Llanstephan
Thomas BIRD serv 30 Coachman b London
Rachel BEVAN serv 32 cook b Carmarthen
Mary DAVIES serv 29 Housemaid b Swansea
Anne DIXON Serv 23 general servant b Carmarthen
Frances MORGAN serv 20 nurse b Llanstephan
Emma S?ENTON serv 52 nurse b Mildenhall Suffolk

In Watkins Directory 1852 at 100 bishopsgate with Henry and 13 Gresham st West clothiers and hosiers

Robert lived at The Cottage (purchased 1870 for £!600)"in a sheltered spot near the beach to the E. of Llanstephan162.. now the Cottage Hotel163

1877 Robert Parnall - high sheriff of Carmarthen163 Also magistrate, a horticulturist of renown164

Vice-president of University College Aberystwyth (155 email 6 May)

1873 Robert Parnall gave organ to Christ Church Carmarthen163 On 27 Jan. 1873 according to Spurrell’s “Carmarthen and its Neighbourhood” - “The new organ presented to Christ Church by Mr Valentine Davis and Mr Robert Parnall, first publicly tested”164

Journal Cambrian, Catalogue Index L42; EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL, UNIVERSITY, Journal Date 19 February 1875. UNIVERSITY OF WALES:
MR.HUGH OWEN RECEIVED DONATION OF £1000 FROM MESSRS R & H PARNALL, BISHOPSGATE, LONDON. P5.155,165

A P. C. Parnall appears in the 1873 Owners of land, LLanstephan, this must surely be him as no P C is known:-
Parnall P. C. Llanstephan (extent of lands) 292 A 1R 5P (gross rental value) £344. 3s

1881 Census living at 69 Addison Rd: Kensington
Robert Parnall age 65 Wholesale clothier
Elizabeth Parnall age 41 born Stepney
Rose E. Parnall age 10
ALSO Mary Davies, parlourmaid; Rachel Bevan cook; Ann Dickson housemaid; Frances Morgan nurse; Mary Treherne kitchen domestic; Benjamin Williams Valet. all born in Carmarthenshire.
seperately listed is Robert H. Parnall (their son) who was staying with an uncle, David James.


Robert Parnall’s will bequests

died 31st January 1885 at 69 Addison Rd Kensington
proved 6th May 1885
Value £216,628:2s:6d

187 Bishopsgate St Without
The Cottage Llanstephan
Ruislip Park Middlesex
69 Addison Rd Kensington

Elizabeth PARNALL wife
Bequests: all freehold and leasehold properties given to her at marriage, and all personal and household effects. £1000 within one month
Trustees to invest £70000 in stocks and English Railway debenture, Elizabeth to get income, and after her death to go to whoever she decides in her will
Trustees to invest £25000 in stocks andEnglish Railway debenture, income to go to Elizabeth for education and maintenance of daughter Rose Elizabeth PARNALL

Rose Elizabeth PARNALL daughter
Bequests: At age 21 years £25000 stocks etc that had been in trust for her

Robert Henry PARNALL, son
Bequests: To be held in trust by William Henry WOODS underwriter at Lloyds of the Cedars Addiscombe Rd Croydon, and David JAMES wine merchant of Devonshire Square Bishopsgate and Royal Crescent Notting Hill, to be handed over when Robert Henry attains age 25 years.
Pilroath, freehold Farm in Llanstephan and Llangain.
Githin Isaf freehold farm near St Clears
Cwm-du Freehold Farm near Carmarthen
Templas Freehold farm near Carmarthen
The Cottage Freehold messuage Llanstephan
Ruislip Park Middlesex freehold messuage
Chevington, and Barrow Suffolk, freehold and copyhold Messuages etc
Trehiddion freehold Farm Llanstephan
Parknook Freehold farm Llanstephan
Darkway Freehold farm Llanstephan
Lanygowr? freehold farm Llangunnock
Freehold messuage in town of Carmarthen now in the occupation of Mr Davis
Church House freehold messuage Llanstephan
69 Addison Rd Kensington leasehold

All in trust, with Elizabeth PARNALL having use and enjoyment of 69 Addison Road. The rents etc of remainder to keep them in good repair and to be paid to Elizabeth PARNALL until her decease or remarriage and for education & upkeep of son Robert Henry PARNALL until he is 25 yrs old, allowing him £250 yearly after age 21.


Anne PARNALL sister
Bequest: £1000

Annie WOODS spinster wife of William Henry WOODS
Bequest: £500

Emma Slaney JAMES wife of David JAMES
Bequest: £500

Sarah BEALES wife of William BEALES of Hamill Hall Mildenhall Suffolk farmer.
Bequest: £500

William Henry WOODS, in recognition of trouble in execution of will
Bequest: £1000

David JAMES, in recognition of trouble in execution of will
Bequest: £1000

Samuel PRENTICE solicitor, 238 Whitechapel Rd
Bequest: £500

Isaac WATTS, James BROWN, David THOMAS in his employ
Bequest: £2000 each

Constance Eleanor ANTHONY spinster niece of wife Elizabeth PARNALL
Bequest: £2000

George WALLACE, Anthony Charles ANTHONY, and John ANTHONY nephews of wife Elizabeth PARNALL
Bequest: £1000 each

May GREENISH, spinster, second cousin,
Bequest: £500


Rachel CLARKE (formerly BEAVAN) spinster (cook), Mary DAVIES (housemaid), Benjamin WILLIAMS (footman), John PHILLIPS(gardener), Robert COPEMAN (coachman),
Bequest: £100 each

Ann DIXON (kitchen main)
Bequest: £50

Will made 24th January 1882 Witnesses John ASHBRIDGE solicitor, Thomas BENHAM clerk to Saml. PRENTICE solicitor 238 Whitechapel Rd

CODICIL

David JAMES no longer in partnership as wine merchant, but now in wholesale clothing business with Robert. Premises at 187 Bishopsgate may now be compulsorily purchased by Great Eastern Railway Co.


Robert was left £10000 in Henry’s will 1878

Company Robert & Henry Parnall & Co Ltd still in process of being wound up in 1905 Ref j13/4119 Records of the Cghancery Division Royal Courts of Justice