Trying to find James Margetts - Jam Maker in Hackney

[bobfilm]

I’m trying to find details regarding James Margetts who was born 23 November 1855 in Hackney. He was an Oil & Color Man, resident at 404 Kingsland Road, Hackney in 1899.

I have found reference that he was supposedly “a Hackney grocer and his shop was close to the London fruit markets and he started to offer his customers preserves. Business rapidly developed and in 1869 he moved to Hurtle Farm in Dalston? This site was still in use in 1969 and the brand name of Hurtle Farmhouse was retained when Lyons bought the company.”

Can’t find Hurtle Farm and think date is wrong as he would have only been 15 years old.

In 1901 James Margetts is shown a Jam Manufacturer, resident at 404 Kingsland Road, Hackney and in 1911 the Manager of Fruit Preserving Company, resident at 174 Upper Clapton Road. Hackney.

Not sure where his factory was in Dalston?

Any assistance appreciated.

[mckha489]

In 1969 there is an advertisement giving address as 160 Dalston Lane,  but that seems rather a splendid building so perhaps was their offices rather than the factory, and who knows when they moved there.

[jim1]

According to British History online Dalston was very much a middle class area in the 1860's/70's
& remained that way into the turn of the century.
By this time there appears to be some industrial activity looking at the occupations of the residents
in Dalston particularly along Middleton Rd.
This map shows where he was living in 1901.

[mazi]

I have found reference that he was supposedly “a Hackney grocer and his shop was close to the London fruit markets and he started to offer his customers preserves. Business rapidly developed and in 1869 he moved to Hurtle Farm in Dalston? This site was still in use in 1969 and the brand name of Hurtle Farmhouse was retained when Lyons bought the company.”

Can’t find Hurtle Farm and think date is wrong as he would have only been 15 years old.

The same researcher suggest that original meccano contained plastic parts, possibly not the best source of information

Mike

[arthurk]

There's a house and/or road junction in Dalston known as Margetts Corner, at 121-125 Dalston Lane. The origin of the name is uncertain, but some of the suggestions are on the following page, one of which comes from a descendant of James Margetts:

http://hackneybuildings.org/items/show/19572

There's also a reference to the company on the Grace's Guide website, taken from a 1914 business directory:

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1914_Who's_Who_in_Business:_Company_M

[jim1]

According to that it was established in 1880 when James was 15 which is what Bob has.

[mazi]

My maths suggests that born 1856 makes him 25 in 1880 

Mike

[mazi]

So in 1871 he was working for his dad as a stationers assistant, his brother Allen aged 10 is with the family.

If dad did some printing then “oil and colour man” might be a reasonable occupation, with the jam business just starting up and rapidly prospering.

Mike

At least he would get a discount on his jar labels

[bobfilm]

Still not sure where Hurtle Farm is? Can't find it on any map.