Henry Joseph Hamblett: The London Connection
Born in Middlesex (which covered much of North and West London at the time), Henry Joseph would have been part of the generational furniture trade.
The St Pancras Roots: When Sidney was born at 49 Howland Street in 1862, he was born into the household of a man already established in the trade. Howland Street was a prestigious address for craftsmen—living there meant Henry Joseph was likely a highly skilled journeyman or master cabinet maker.
The "Mansfield" Link: While our Great-grandfather Sidney later adopted "Mansfield," it was Henry Joseph’s guidance and training in London that gave him the foundational skills to eventually move into high-end marquetry and miniatures.
The Industrial Shift: Henry Joseph lived through the transition from small, bespoke London workshops to the larger manufacturing era. It was likely this shift that prompted his son Sidney to eventually seek his fortune in the booming industrial "Centre" of Leicester.
The Hamblett Family at 6 Kimpton Buildings (1871)
According to the 1871 Census extract:
Henry Hamblett (Head): 33 years old, born in Middlesex. His profession is listed as Cabinet Maker.
Emily Hamblett, nee Davis, (Wife): 32 years old, born in Surrey, on two censuses, Emily is shown as from Norfolk, evidence not found online.
Louisa Hamblett (Daughter): 13 years old, born in Marylebone.
Sidney Hamblett (Son): 8 years old, born in Marylebone. This is Great-grandfather.
Henry Hamblett (Son): 6 years old, born in Westminster. This Henry was later to emigrate to Canada
Emily Hamblett (Daughter): 4 years old, born in Westminster.
Sarah Hamblett (Daughter): 2 years old, born in Walworth.
Henry Joseph Hamblett at Kimpton Buildings
In the 1881 Census, you can find Henry Joseph Hamblett and his family living at 2 Kimpton Buildings, St Pancras.
This census record is a "gold mine" for your family history because it catches your Great-grandfather, Sidney Mansfield Hamblett, right at the start of his career.
| Name | Role | Age | Occupation |
| Henry J. Hamblett | Head | 43 | Cabinet Maker |
| Jane Hamblett | Wife | 40 | |
| Sidney M. Hamblett | Son | 18 | Cabinet Maker |
The Apprenticeship Confirmed
At age 18, Sidney is already listed as a Cabinet Maker. Living under the same roof as his father, who shares the same trade, confirms that Sidney was apprenticed directly to Henry Joseph. He wasn't just learning a job; he was learning the "family secrets" of the London furniture trade in the very workshop where he lived.
Life in Kimpton Buildings
Kimpton Buildings (located off Tottenham Court Road/Howland Street) were typical of the Victorian "industrial dwellings."
These were often built specifically for the local artisan class—printers, cabinet makers, and watchmakers.
By living here, the Hambletts were at the absolute centre of the West End Furniture Trade. Tottenham Court Road was lined with grand showrooms, and the tiny streets behind them, like Kimpton Buildings, were where the actual carving, inlaying, and construction took place.
The Corner of Change: From Cabinet Making to the Ricky-Tic
There is a particular corner in Guildford, at the junction of North Street and Friary Street, where the echoes of my paternal history are buried beneath layers of local legend. Long before it was a gateway to a modern shopping centre or the site of the famous Ricky-Tic nightclub in the 1960s, it was the proud domain of the Hamblett family business. Standing at this busy commercial heart, the shopfront was more than just a place of work; it was a statement of the 'breed apart'—a hub of modern and antique furniture, upholstery, and master cabinet making that defined our family’s transition from the workshops of London toward the Sussex coast.
The Visual Journey”
The Original View:
“In this earliest view, the H. Hamblett sign dominates the frieze. You can see the pavement acting as an outdoor showroom for sideboards and chairs, proving that the family were as much retailers as they were artisans. The signs for 'Upholsterer' and 'French Polisher' in the window speak to a complete mastery of the trade.
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| courtesy of Facebook group Historic Guildford |
The Mid-Century Shift:
“By the mid-20th Century, the sawdust had cleared to make way for the scent of baking. The same building—recognisable by those distinct arched upper windows and its proximity to the old Friary Brewery arch—was now home to F. Ayers & Sons and later the well-known Fogwells. It remained a landmark in the town centre, even as the trades changed with the times.”
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| courtesy of Google Maps Street View |
The Modern Landscape:
“Today, the physical bricks of the Hamblett shop are gone, replaced by the glass and steel of The Friary development. Where my ancestors once polished mahogany, the 1960s generation eventually crossed a bridge to the bus station or danced to the Rolling Stones. Seeing the spot on Street View now, it’s hard to imagine the quiet, precise world of the Victorian cabinet maker that once stood exactly here.”
The Passing of a London Master (1909)
Henry Joseph Hamblett passed away in the January-March quarter of 1909 in the district of Pancras. He was 71 years old.
While there is no formal probate (Will) listed in the National Probate Calendar—which was common for artisans who may have passed their physical tools to their sons before death—the timing of his passing coincides with a major shift for his children:
The Tools: In the cabinet-making tradition, a father’s "kit" was his most valuable possession. By 1909, Sidney Mansfield was already a master in his own right in Leicester/Chilworth. It is highly likely that Sidney’s move into the specialised Sussex miniatures and marquetry (which he said he started around 1910) was facilitated by inheriting Henry Joseph's finest London-made chisels and saws.
The Family Home: After Henry Joseph's death, the family’s long association with the St Pancras "Furniture Quarter" began to fade as the younger generation, like Henry Jnr in Canada and Sidney in Sussex, fully established their own legacies.
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