yeovil people
robert james damon
Draper of High Street
Robert James Damon was born in 1838 at Fordington, Dorset, the first son of Robert Damon and his wife Jane. Robert Damon senior was a farmer of 160 acres employing 6 men, 2 boys and 2 women at his farm, Near Court House, at Fordington, Dorset. Robert had two younger brothers, Henry and Edmund, and two younger sisters, Nancy and Ellen.
By the time of the 1861 census Robert Damon senior had moved his family to Parsonage farm, Dorchester, and was now a farmer of 400 acres employing 10 men and five boys. His wife and four of his children including Robert lived with him and Robert, now aged 20, described his occupation as linen draper.
By the time of the 1871 census both Robert and Edmund had moved to Yeovil where they had set up, in partnership, a draper's business in the High Street. By this time Robert was aged 30 and Edmund was 27. Living with them at the draper's shop were five draper's assistants, a draper's apprentice and two general domestic servants. For many years Robert and his younger brother Edmund ran the Cooperative Outfitting Stores, later R&E Damon, Drapers, Clothiers, and Outfitters, in the Borough at 16 and 17 High Street, seen in the photographs and advertisement below.
Robert was a Freemason, initiated into the Lodge of Brotherly Love in Yeovil in 1871. He served as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1878/79 and again in 1889.
The site of their premises is where Superdrug is today. Robert, a silk mercer and costumier, managed the drapery side of the business and Edmund ran the clothing and outfitting side. Robert also undertook funerals, advertising in Whitby's Yeovil Almanack Advertiser "Washington Funeral Car, Shillibeer & Mourning Coaches kept".
In 1881 Robert, by now aged 39 and still unmarried, was listed in the census as a draper. He was living above the premises at 17 High Street and with him were a cook and a housemaid, six young female draper's assistants and five young male draper's assistants. In 1891 and 1901 the situation was almost identical to that of 1881.
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In the 1891 edition of 'Where to Buy' the Damon Brothers' business was given the following description -
Messrs.
R and E
Damon,
The district of South Somerset, of which Yeovil is the commercial centre, includes a wide area and a large and prosperous agricultural population, among which reside some of the leading county families. In such a district the business of silk mercer, draper and outfitter, is a very important one, and one of the most notable houses in this line is Messrs. R & E Damon's, Silk Mercers, Linen and Woollen Drapers, Hatters and Outfitters, of High Street. It is appropriate that such a leading house should have its seat in the principal centre of the town, and the extensive premises are in every way adapted for the purposes to which they are applied. There are two adjoining shops in High Street, forming two separate departments entirely distinct from each other. In one branch the silk mercery business is carried on, the spacious ware-rooms being fitted up with every modern convenience. The stock is extensive, and includes all the most fashionable dress materials in silk and other fabrics. The latest novelties are always on hand, Messrs. Damon having made special arrangements with the leading wholesale houses whereby they are enabled to offer the very latest fashions at the same moment as the London houses. A fine assortment of woollen, drapery and hosiery, of guaranteed quality and at moderate prices, is on hand. A competent staff of work people are engaged in dressmaking, the garments turned out being noted for elegance of style and perfect fit. The mourning department, under able management, is a speciality, and funerals are furnished throughout in a faultless manner and at the very minimum charge.
The
adjoining
shop,
No. 16,
High
Street,
is
devoted
exclusively
to male
outfitting,
and an
extensive
assortment
of men's
and
boys'
ready-made
clothing
is
always
on hand
in a
great
variety
of
materials.
Suits in
tweed
are
offered
at
exceedingly
moderate
figures,
and cord
trousers,
dust
coats,
covert
coats,
Jersey,
sailor
and
knickerbocker
suits
for
boys,
are
remarkable
for the
low
price as
well as
the
excellent
style in
which
they are
made up.
There is
also a
tailoring
department,
where
orders
are
promptly
carried
out by
first
class
cutters
and
workmen.
A very
large
assortment
of hats
and caps
by the
best
makers,
hosiery,
ties,
scarves,
collars,
cuffs,
gloves
and
shirts
of a
high
class,
and, in
fact,
general
outfitting
of every
kind, is
on hand.
Throughout
the
whole
business
the
proprietors
adopt
every
means to
ensure
the
complete
satisfaction
of
customers,
and both
in
quality
and
price
their
goods
can bear
comparison
with any
offered
to the
public
in this
district
or
elsewhere.
The firm
have
been
established
for 25
years,
and have
gained a
wide and
permanent
connection
in
Yeovil
and the
counties
of
Somerset
and
Dorset. |
In 1897 he was appointed as a Borough Magistrate.
The business partnership was dissolved in January 1901 but Edmund carried on the business until he retired in 1908.
Both Robert and Edmund joined the Yeovil Volunteer Fire Brigade in April 1871, as soon as they moved to Yeovil. Robert was made Brigade Lieutenant in 1875 and became Captain in 1885 until his death, at which time his brother Edmund took over the Captaincy. Robert Damon was also a Justice of the Peace and a churchwarden for eighteen years at Holy Trinity church in Peter Street.
In 1902 Robert was the sole beneficiary of spinster Elizabeth Indoe, in the sum of £4,059 18s 4d (over £420,000 in today's value). Robert died in 1905 and in 1906 a five-light stained glass window depicting the four Evangelists was placed in the south transept of Holy Trinity in his memory by his brother Edmund.
gallery
Robert Damon's horse-drawn funeral bier outside the Damon Brothers' store in High Street. This colourised photograph was taken around 1900 and the business partnership between the two brothers was dissolved in January 1901. Edmund ran the clothiers and outfitters at left (and clearly doing a nice line in pith helmets) while his brother Robert ran the drapery and haberdashery at right as well as his funeral service.
This postcard of the Borough dates to about 1905 and shows the premises of the Damon Brothers as the first two of the three buildings at left.
A Damon Brothers advertisement from Whitby's Yeovil Almanack Advertiser of 1897.
