Wilcoxon
A bit more information about Peter Litherland,
On the north side, opposite the church, stands the establishment of Messrs. Roskell and Co., watch manufacturers. The history of the watch trade in Liverpool is not devoid of interest, as being one of the few manufactures which have been carried on with success. It is said that there are only three places in the United Kingdom where watches are actually made, viz. London, Liverpool, and Coventry. I have alluded, in Chapter V., to John Wyke, who was one of the first to introduce the manufacture into the town. John Wyke died in 1787. William Tarleton is said to have been the first person who brought the Liverpool made watches into high repute. In the Directory of 1766 he is found in Bixteth Street. Before 1781 he had removed to No. 8 Church Street, then recently built. The neighbouring Tarleton Street in all probability derives its name from this source. In 1803 he was succeeded by Robert Roskell, who had previously carried on business in Byrom Street, and had married Tarleton's daughter. On the same premises the business has been carried on by successive generations of the same family to the present time.
The Right Rev. Dr. Roskell, R.C. Bishop of Nottingham, was a descendant of Robert Roskell.
Another well known name in the same manufacture, Peter Litherland, the inventor of the lever watch, was long connected with Church Street. In 1796 we first find him in Mount Pleasant, about which time a circular was issued by Litherland, Whiteside, and Banning, calling public attention to their improvements. They then removed to Ranelagh Street, and in 1810 to Church Street, the firm being subsequently changed to Litherland, Davies, and Co.
About 1837 they removed to Bold Street, where they still remain.
From:
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE BY J.A.PICTON,F.S.A. SECOND EDITION, REVISED, WITH ADDITIONS IN TWO VOLUMES
VOL.II.
TOPOGRAPHICAL
LONDON:
LONGMANS,GREEN,& CO.
LIVERPOOL:G.G. WALMSLEY 1875
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