Charles Harrison Watch maker & Jeweller Spectacle Retailer / Optician
1 Market Place Morpeth possibly also 1 Bridge Street (see later), Northumberland
There is a little bit of speculation here but below is an electroplated teaspoon that I have owned for several years, proclaiming "Harrison Morpeth"
This spoon appears to have been made by Walker & Hall of Sheffield but does not carry any of that company's "dating" marks, apart from possible loose dating with the trademark "W&H" older style pennant flag.
A Charles Harrison is noted at 1 Market Place in Kelly's Directory of Northumberland, 1914, as a Watch maker & Jeweller. He is not in the next earliest directory I had access to. In Kelly's Directory of Northumberland, 1894 at the Market Place, Morpeth we find a watch maker "Agnes Harrison".
There is a reference to a connection at
https://www.clockswatches.co.uk › “show page” and relates to a multi-generational watch making "Harrison Family of Northumberland".
"Agnes Harrison (nee Richardson) (born c1821), of Warkworth and Morpeth
Agnes was the widow of John (b1826). She took over the business following the death of her husband in 1875. She is listed in the census returns as a clock and or watch maker up to and including 1901. An interesting article, dated about 1894, describes the Morpeth business as being run by Mrs. Agnes Harrison and her son Charles. Agnes died in 1906."
Warkworth is a coastal village some 15-16 miles North of Morpeth and the article suggests Charles Harrison's father "John" started his watch making business there around 1850 and moved to Morpeth in mid 1860's. Another reference states Charles continued the business, more as a jeweller until the late 1930's.
Here are "transcripts” of 3 adverts from the Morpeth Herald at the beginning of the 20th century. In 2 Chas Harrison is retailing spectacles and eye glasses some branded as "H.L.". He is calling himself an "optician" in the later November 1903 ad.
In the 3rd ad, he is, or a jeweller called Harrison is, at that different address, 1 Bridge Street. At this place and at this time "they" were selling "Coronation Jewellery". King Edward V11's coronation was late August 1902. Perhaps another premises was required to stock what we would now call memorabilia on a possible temporary basis. Bridge Street and the Market place are in fact in very close proximity.
Fishless