Gloving in yeovil

cobb & Pittard

Glove Manufacturers of South Street and Town Mill

 

Cobb & Pittard was a small, short-lived glove manufacturing company of the early 20th century. It was a partnership between Alexander Henry Cobb and Russell George Pittard.

Alexander Cobb was born in Bury, Suffolk, in 1861 and baptised there on 16 June.  He was the son of editor and publisher Henry Cobb (1831-1921) and Anna née Coates (1836-1925), both originally from Essex. In the 1861 census Henry and Anna were living at 51 Berners street, Ipswich, with one day old Alexander (at this time un-named), together with a monthly nurse and a general servant. By the time of the 1871 census the family had moved to 5 Trinity Street, Colchester, Essex, where two daughters had joined the family; Fanny (b1863) and Emma (b1863). By 1891 Alexander was living in Yeovil, where in the winter of that year he married Minnie Eliza Hull. They were to have three sons; Charles Graham (b1893), Arthur Henry Kingston (1896-1986) and Keith Loveland (1902-1982). In the 1901 census the family were living at Newlands Villa, Summerlands.  39 year old Alexander listed his occupation as a glove manufacturer.

Russell George Pittard was born in Yeovil in 1874, the son of leather merchant Ebenezer Pittard and Sarah Jane née Wing. In the census returns of both 1881 and 1891 Ebenezer and his family, including Russell, were living at 52 Middle Street but by 1901 Russell had married Beatrice Lillie Hallett (1882-1943). In the 1901 census 27 year old Russell and 18 year old Beatrice, together with their one year old son Eric and a general domestic servant, were living at 43 The Avenue. Russell listed his occupation as 'Glove Manufacturer (Employer)'.

It is not really known when Alexander Cobb and Russell Pittard formed their partnership. Records are scant for the company although I found a reference to the company in Whitby's 1903 Yeovil Almanack Advertiser when the company was listed as glove manufacturers of South Street.

The next reference I found was in the Western Gazette's edition of 4 March 1904 when Cobb and Pittard "of Summerland and Woodlands, Yeovil, glove manufacturers" were declared bankrupt. The notice of sale of their factory and equipment is shown below.

Following the bankruptcy Russell Pittard had changed occupation completely and in the 1911 census was listed as a builder.  He and Beatrice, together with her four children; Eric Russell (b1900), Leslie George (b1903), Irene Lilian (b1905) and Gordon Ebenezer (b1909), were still living at Woodside, Penn Hill, South Street.

Alexander Cobb died on 29 July 1915 at Calcutta, India, his address being given as 10 Croxted Road, West Dulwich, London. He was aged 54. His effects amounted to £1,578 15s 10d (around £700,000 at today's value - not bad for a former bankrupt).

Russell Pittard died on 1 August 1953 at Tone Vale Hospital, Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton.  His effects amounted to £7,411 10s 10d (around £600,000 at today's value - again, not bad for a former bankrupt).

 

GALLERY

 

The notice of sale of the factory and equipment of Cobb & Pittard in the Western Gazette's edition of 12 August 1904.