Talk:Willson Group
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The spelling of Willson or should it be Wilson
[edit]The author's excellent contribution about this artists' collective carries one subject for discussion. Should the name be Willson, or Wilson?
In both Graces Guide and the V&A (Victoria and Albert) museum website, the name is spelt as Wilson. In fact, on the Graces Guide website there is a photograph of a presentation clock under their Wilson, Walker and Co page. The paragraph about the clock reads as follows:--
"1858 'Sheepscar Leather Works. The erection of these large and well-adapted works, for which Mr. W. D. Boothman was the contractor, being now nearly finished, Messrs. Wilson, Walker, and Co., on Thursday, presented to Mr. Boothman's foreman a splendid timepiece, with glass shade. The following inscription, inscribed on a steel plate, tells its own tale:- "Presented to William Nichols by Wilson, Walker, and Co., as a token of esteem for his care and efficiency during the erection of their Sheepscar Leather Works in 1857. Leeds, 2nd Month 6th, 1858."
If I remember correctly, newspaper articles written in the 19th century refer to Wilson, Walker and Co. For example, there was this article:--
The Leeds and West Riding Express - Sat 12 Nov 1859 P 3 Col 2
LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRES IN LEEDS.
On Monday evening a disastrous fire occurred at the Sheepscar Spanish leather and glue works, Buslingthorpe, the property of Messrs. Wilson, Walker, and Co. The works in which Messrs, Wilson and Co. conduct their business, consist, in addition to out-houses, &c., of two distinct buildings, ....."
Then Wilson (or Willson) Walker and Co exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and they are catalogued as "Wilson, Walker and Co."
I suggest that to avoid any confusion, a note should be added about the alternative name spellings and possibly where the variation on the spelling exists.
I am new to the etiquette in making edits to articles on Wikipedia. So my apologies for causing any upsets with my editing this article back in 2024.. Umberich (talk) 08:45, 18 July 2026 (UTC)
- Done. See diff. Thank you for your comments. As you probably know, English surname spellings remained inconsistent until the 19th century when education for literacy became available to all, via Sunday schools, mechanics institutes, board schools etc.. I don't know why J.J. Willson changed the spelling, but my guess is that he had access to the family bible, deeds, or copies of wills, which perhaps contained one or more early spellings of the family name as "Willson". Storye book (talk) 07:32, 19 July 2026 (UTC)