Hi Fifi,
Hope you don't regret posting that you have a staff book on the post about Frederick Gorringe ...
I have ancestors who were in the 'drapery business' who I believe were brother-in-law and nephew to Frederick Gorringe. Originating from Dorset, I don't know if they worked for Gorringes but somewhere Charles must have gained experience as a tailor, so I have been wondering if Gorringes might be the connection...
I am researching into my great grandfather's brother, a Charles Pennington Poynter, born 1853 in Weymouth, son of a James Hare Poynter, draper. James married Emily Gorringe, a milliner, in Islington in 1852, who I believe was Frederick Gorringe's sister. From census information they had moved to London by 1861, James's occupation a Commission Agent. In 1871, Charles was listed as a Commission Agent's assistant, in 1881 an Agent in the Wool trade. Around this time, Charles was employed by John Redfern, a draper/tailor in Cowes, Isle of Wight (for his tailoring expertise) and went on to establish and run a branch of Redferns in Paris! (I had no trace of Charles after the 1881 census until I stumbled across some of his drawings/fashion designs being listed on a Paris auction site a couple of years ago, which led me to find out about what had happened to him.)
As these dates fit with when Frederick Gorringe was expanding his business on Buckingham Palace Road, I would be really interested in finding out if either(or any other Poynters) were employed at Gorringes, when they moved up to London. Other names of interest include Eliza Chamberlain , a dressmaker. If you are able to check your staff book for any of these names, I would really appreciate it.
Many thanks
Lucy A