Mullins & Westley History

[PhilipS2]

It doesn’t have much of a history (hence a short post) but does anyone know when, exactly, they started renting their current venue in Covent Garden? Any other snippets of information welcome.

Mullins & Westley was incorporated as a limited company on the 27th April 1943.
They were based at 43 New Cavendish Street and sold a limited selection of cigars such as Mulwest Panatelas and cigarettes. Their current address at 27A The Piazza, Covent Garden was once part of Fowler’s Market Building which was restored by the Greater London Council in 1980, and now consists of bars, shops and restaurants.
I don’t know exactly when, during or after 1980, Mullins & Westley setup shop but it appears that it was only after they did that snuff was sold under the Mullins & Westley label. Unless I’ve missed something, Lists of Retail Prices for Tobacconists prior to that time show that no snuff was associated with Mullins & Westley and I certainly never came across their snuff products during my snuff career until relatively recently.
The last time I was there was in February 2011 after visiting the London Transport Museum. They had a good selection of Gawith Hoggarth & Co snuffs sold in little plastic tubs with a label and screw-on lids. I bought several of these and a tin of all their own-label snuffs despite the outrageous cost. The only snuff box they had in stock was a stainless steel one with a pewter lid depicting what Wilsons like to call a ‘Tom Buck hunting scene’. Actually, the image is of Major William Wilson (IV) from the painting at Horsley Gate and presented to him in 1950 on the occasion of his 50th year as Master of the Barlow Hunt.

[Filek]

It seems that the cooperation between the two gentlemen did not last very long, because, as we read in the newspaper from November 1943, one of them suffered a fatal accident.

The death of a Farnham man on the railway line at Woking was the subject of an inquest held by Mr. G. Wills Taylor (West Surrey Coroner) at Woking on Friday last week. The victim of the accident was Leslie Richard Mullins, aged 40, of Sunnyfield, Dene Lane, Lower Bourne, Farnham, a wine spirit, and cigar merchant. He was partner in the firm of Mullins and Westley, Ltd., of London, and it was when he was returning home from business on Monday of last week that he met his death. The Coroner recorded a verdict od “Accidental death.”

*His wife, Mrs. Florence B. M. Mullins, said she and her husband had been living at Farnham for three years. Her husband wore glasses, and was particulary “blind” in the blackout. She felt he must have gone to sleep and the train pulled up just outside the station. Possibly her husband awakened, opened the door, and was either jerked out by the train re-starting or srepped out thinking he was at a station. *

Further evidence indicated that Mr. Mullins was probably a passenger in the 5.47 train from Waterloo, and a porter at Byfleet station said the doors were perfectly all right when the train left there.

Another porter, Francis John Fewings, who was on duty at Ash Vale station, said he received a communication from the signalman that a door was wide open on the off side of the train. There was nobody in the compartment.

The guard of the train, Alfred James Clark, of Aldershot, said everything was normal with the journey.

Nelson Hill, of Balham, inspector of carriages, said the carriage had no fault.

Fredk. Charles James, of Vale Farm Road, Woking, said he was walking from the goods yards at Woking to the passenger sation at about 10.15 p.m., neat the Victoria Arch he saw the body on the line.

P.S. Langridge said Mr. Mullins’s case, torch, and spectacles were found on the track near the body.

Dr. Eric Gardner, of Weybridge, said death was due to multiple injuries. The man had been run over probably by more than one train.

The Coroner in recording his verdict, said Mullins must have stepped out while the train was running, which would be the action of anybody who thought they were just arriving at a station. There was everything to indicate it was an accidental death.

Mr. J. Smyth, who represented the Southern Railway, expressed sympathy with Mrs. Mullins.

Source: “Farnham Man’s death at Woking” in: Surrey Advertiser, Saturday 13 November 1943, p. 5

[PhilipS2]

Oh, my goodness! There could not have been much left of Mr. Mullins after several trains went over him. It’s amazing what you have found - and how sad that the partnership lasted just a few months.

Accidental deaths as a result of the blackout were excessive. Despite there being far fewer cars on the road during the Second World War, road fatalities reached a peak never exceeded since.

The name Westley has snuff associations (Tally Ho snuff) and I wonder if there is a connection here.

[Filek]

Rather doubtful. So far, the only mention I’ve found of Augustus Westley is from 1838. However, the year of establishment for English companies given by “Cigar” magazine in 2009 is interesting. Leaving aside that Heges is given as 1800, i.e. before the birth of the founder, for M&W we have 1870 here. Why?

[PhilipS2]

Yes, those establishment years for Hedges and Mullins & Westley are incorrect. Also, according to J.W Dunderdale’s comprehensive history of the Kendal firms, Gawith Hoggarth was established in 1887 – not 1854.

It sounds to me like you are gathering information for your next book

[Filek]

I understand now where the oft repeated mistake that the company was founded in 1870 comes from. The Mullins & Westley logo includes the words “Covent Garden in 1870” - which is a damn clever marketing move, resulting in the company looking old. On the other hand, we have information that the current owner of “M&S” is Davy’s & Co, founded in 1870. So they just standardised it for all their businesses.

As for the change of location to Covent Garden, the oldest reference I know of for this location is 1994.

I thought we were collecting materials for your book on the history of snuff in England

[PhilipS2]

Your source is certainly wrong in assigning 1870 for the establishment of Mullins & Westley when, as you say, that’s the date for the establishment of what is now the parent company. It’s very deceptive – especially as the partners hadn’t even been born in 1870. (L.R Mullins 1902-1943 and L.C Westley 1903-1965). Perhaps the same ‘logic’ applies to assigning the year of establishment for Hedges as 1800.
The source also gives the incorrect date for the establishment of Gawith Hoggarth.

My curiosity, piqued, I emailed Davy’s yesterday to find out when the Covent Garden shop first opened for business and hope to receive a reply.