Cloth Seal, Clothier's Seal, Leeds, York & Sheepshanks Seal
Cloth Seal, Leeds, Clothier's Seal, Image by StuE, Found by Goretex.
Found in Yorkshire, 27mm, 10.1g.
With the help of other seals:- LEEDS across the middle and around the outer border a five pointed star with YORK & SHEEPSHANKSs all in raised lettering.
The following would indicate that they were manufacturers, dyers and finishers of woollen cloth:- Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations 1851 includes the following entry on page 75 under "South Side. J Classes 12 & 15. WOOLEN and WORSTED. - 49 YORK & SHEEPSHANKS Leeds, Manu. Dyers, and Finishers. --- Woaded wool black; second woolen cloth. Piece-dyed black,and black medium, and fast dye."
From Paul Cannon, "These two references provide the beginning and end of the firm ‘York & Sheepshanks’ ie 1796-1871.
“Leeds, August 4th, 1796. The King having granted his Royal Licence and Authority to Whittell Sheepshanks and his issue, to take and use the name of York, instead of Sheepshanks. Notice is hereby given, that from and after the seventh day of this month, the firm of W. and J. Sheepshanks, Merchants, in Leeds, will be changed to York and Sheepshanks.” [Leeds Intelligencer, 8 August 1796, p1]
“Leeds. Highly important to the home and foreign woollen trade. Great unreserved sale of the first portion of the immense and truly valuable stock of Messrs York & Sheepshanks, Woollen Merchants. Messrs Hepper & Sons are favoured with instructions from Messrs York & Sheepshanks in consequence of the failing health of the surviving partner, to sell by auction, without the slightest reserve, during the month of August next. The first portion of their stock of several thousand ends of cloth. Catalogues, days for viewing and further particulars of this most important sale will appear in future advertisements.” [Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 22 July 1871, p 4]"