Today's Object of the Week is a simple brass plaque which tells the story of a young woman who overcame tragedy to run a successful business in 19th century Durham. It is one of many items found in the River Wear under the city's Elvet Bridge by underwater archaeologist Gary Bankhead.
THIS object is a complete copper-alloy (brass) sheet metal company makers mark.
It is oval-shaped with a dull brass colour but with a dark brown/black coloration deposited around its surface.
The obverse has a smooth surface with raised lettering around the circumference and the middle which reads: ELLEN CALDECLEUGH; IRON MONGER; SILVER STREET DURHAM
Two small three-part line relief design separate the lines of text.
Although Ellen Caldcleugh was born in July 1854 to John and Eline Caldcleugh in St. Nicholas Parish, Durham, it was events which took place the following year that would have a significant bearing on her later life.
On February 24, 1857, the London Gazette gave notice that, from December 31, 1855, her father’s partnership with his son George had been dissolved by mutual consent and that John was to carry on the Durham City ironmongers, tinners and braziers business himself.
The business had originally been established in 1846 as George Caldcleugh and Son.
However, Ellen’s father John, would die in May 1869 when Ellen was only 15-years-old.
Although Ellen’s mother carried on the business for a number of years, by the time of the 1881 census it appears that she had also died as Ellen – now aged 26 – is listed as the ‘head of the household’.
She was living at 38 Silver Street – presumably above the shop – with seven younger brothers and sisters and a 15-year-old domestic servant called Elizabeth Baker. Ellen is not recorded as having an occupation.
This same building contained a very fine carved oak staircase originally built by Sir John Duck.
Although it appears that there are no extant records that Ellen took over legal ownership of the business, the fact that her sole name appears on the brass makers mark implies that she did.
That Ellen was ultimately successful in her endeavours is suggested by an 1892 advertisement in The Durham University Journal, published on the February 13 that year.
Her Silver Street shop had not only evolved into a bath and stove warehouse but she was also described as a manufacturing and furnishing ironmonger, coppersmith and zinc worker offering an array of services and ‘liberal discounts to cash buyers’.
Ellen also probably sold goods produced by her brother Charles, an iron monger master employing five men and four boys.
By 1914, the business, now listed as an ironmongers and silversmith, occupied 38 and 40 Silver Street and had become ‘one of the oldest firms in the trade’.
It was being run by George’s grandsons Charles and Wilson. Charles Caldcleugh was also a member of Durham City Council and became Mayor of Durham in November 1913.
* This article was compiled by Gary Bankhead based on the research by Durham University Archaeology Student Bria A Dean. For more information on Gary's finds, visit http://www.diveintodurham.uk/
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