RefNoX159
TitleGeorge Bassett, Confectioner, Sheffield (1818 - 1886)
AdminHistoryGeorge Bassett (1818 - 1886) was born at Ashover, near Chesterfield. He was apprenticed on 30 April 1832 to William Haslam of Chesterfield, confectioner and fruiterer. In about 1842, he acquired the business of Henry Brooks of 30 Broad Street Sheffield, a dealer in wines and confectionery. By the 1850s, he was describing his business in trade directories as that of wholesale and retail confectioner and British wine, butter and lard merchant. By 1856, he was also operating from the New Market Hall, later known as the Norfolk Market and was living in Norfolk Road. On 15 July 1856, he opened a new shop on Snig Hill.

By 1859, his brother John had joined him in the business, which was now known as Bassett Brothers. George was also involved in another joint venture, trading as Bassett and Lodge from a confectionery works in Portland Street, Infirmary Road. William Lodge was a wholesale and retail grocer and tea dealer at premises in Market Street and the Wicker and had been working as such, from premises at High Street, from at least 1841.

By 1862, Lodge has ceased to be involved in the confectionery works, returning to his previous business, but Bassett continued with the joint business with his brother. By this date, the company employed about 150 and were manufacturing lozenges, liquorice, pastilles, candied peel and orange marmalade. In 1869, Bassett moved house to Endcliffe Crescent.

In 1865, the brothers were still operating the three shops, but by 1876, only the shop in the Market Hall remained. This perhaps can be linked to the detachment of John from the firm for, by 1876, he had returned to live in Ashover.

After suffering several strokes, the first of which occurred in 1878, Bassett retired from active participation in the firm in 1883 and died three years later. In addition to making his business one of the leading confectionery firms in the country, he was a director of the Sheffield Union Banking Co. and Earles Shipping Co. He was also active in local politics, becoming a borough councillor for the Park ward in 1851, alderman in 1873 and mayor in 1876.

After his death, the business was directed by Samuel Meggitt Johnson, whom Bassett had taken on as an apprentice in 1851. After a brief period elsewhere on completing his apprenticeship, Johnson rejoined the firm in 1860 at Bassett's invitation and remained there until his death in 1925. The famous 'Liquorice Allsorts' brand with which the firm became synonymous was introduced in 1899.
DescriptionApprenticeship Indenture between George Bassett and George Smith, and William Haslam, 1832 (X159/1)
Co-Partnership Deed between Messrs Bassett and Lodge, 1858 (X159/2)
Invoices/accounts for confectionary bought from Bassett and Lodge, Confectionery Works, Portland Street, Infirmary Road, Sheffield, c. 1859 - c. 1869 (X159/3)
Postcards from overseas customers sent to The Don Confectionery Co, Bridge Street, Sheffield, 1895 - 1904 (X159/4)
Date1832 - 1904
Extent11 items
AccessStatusOpen
LevelCollection
RelatedMaterialAccount book of George Bassett, 1856 - 1870 (X 131).

There is also related material at Sheffield Local Studies Library:
Biographical details of George Bassett and photograph in 'Sheffield Portrait Gallery', Jan 1877, pp.1 & 3 (Sheffield Local Studies Library O52.74S).
Biographical details of George Bassett and photograph in 'Newspaper Cuttings Relating to Sheffield', Vol 27, p. 289 (Sheffield Local Studies Library 942.74SF).
Obituary notice for George Bassett in 'Miscalleneous Newspaper Cuttings', Vol 2, p.134 (Sheffield Local Studies Library 942.74SQ).
Historical article on George Bassett in 'The Hub', May 1974, Vol 22, No. 11, pp. 17 - 20 (Sheffield Local Studies Library 380S).
CustodialHistoryThese items were deposited anonymously via Sheffield Local Studies Library and transferred to Sheffield Archives in 2008.
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