French polishers around Yardley, 1900s

[maccalenny]

Hi - a hopelessly optimistic enquiry.....

Family history tells that my great-grandmother had to walk to work at her factory with no food, and was fed by a friend of hers. Both girls were french polishers, and lived in the Yardley area - my grandmother in
Forest Road, and her friend on Warwick Road. I wondered if there is a way of finding out where they might have worked? What places in Yardley would have used french polishers?

Thanks!

 

[lencops]

maccalenny. One place which comes to mind is Painters Undertakers of Church Rd & later Yardley Rd for french polishing the coffins. Len.

 

[sistersue61]

One of Dads 2nd cousins also worked as a French Polisher in 1901, around the Bordesley/ Yardley area, dad thinks there was a furniture manufacturers but can't recall their name, will let you know if he does, Sue

 

[lencops]

There was the Co-op furniture factory in Kings Rd and it was approx the same distance from Warwick Rd & Forest Rd, not sure what year it opened though. Len.

 

[maccalenny]

Thanks Len, that's a definite possibility, as 'factory' is mentioned in the family story.

 

[sistersue61]

Maccalenny and Lencops, that's the answer Dad came up with too, though he thinks Co=op took over the works from a small company. He's now got stem coming out of his ears with the thinking!!!

 

[sheri]

My four gt. aunts worked as french polishers in the 1880's and 90's. Iv'e never been able to find out whether they were employed or whether they were self-employed? They lived at this time in Bread St and then Bell Barn Rd both in Market Hall Ward.
Sheri

 

[maccalenny]

Thanks everyone for your help on this - it seems there were a lot of french polishers around then. I suppose any decent quality furniture was french polished in those days?