Hicklenton & Phillips (formerly Hicklenton & Sydal)

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HICKLENTON & PHILLIPS (formerly HICKLENTON & SYDAL)

London




The firm of Hicklenton & Sydal was formed in 1910 by two former employees of Mappin & Webb, George Ernest Hicklenton, a salesmen at M & W, and William Sydal, the Jewellery Manager at M & W, set up business on their own account at 4, Queen Street, Cheapside, EC2. They were to become an important player in the London jewellery trade.

By 1928 the firm was in the hands of H G Hicklenton and S A Phillips. By the early 1930's, the firm was styled Hicklenton & Phillips and now noted as having another establishment located at 29, Cannon Street, EC4., and in March 1941 at 83, Cheapside EC2, which was the former premises of G.L. Connell Ltd., (a location that must have been very close to the former premises of Goodbehere, Wigan & Bult, who were noted as at 85-86 Cheapside in the late 18th/early 19th century). In 1955 they moved to 6, Imperial Parade, New Bridge Street, Ludgate Circus, EC4.

Hicklenton & Phillips were responsible for many important commissions over the years, including the manufacture of the Mace for the University of Toronto in 1951 and a box that was presented to Sir Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister of Australia, by the Corporation of London in 1952.

Hicklenton & Phillips are still in business today as badge and emblem makers, based at Wimbourne, Dorset.

Marks were entered by the firm at the London and Birmingham assay offices.

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William Sydal was the Jewellery Manager at Mappin & Webb when they were the victims of a huge robbery that occured at their premises at 18-22 Poultry, on Sunday, 22nd August 1909.

For full details of the subsequent trial at the Old Bailey go to: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.j ... #highlight" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Hicklenton & Sydal - London - 1928

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Hicklenton & Phillips's move to 83, Cheapside was prompted by the bombing of their Cannon Street premises during the London Blitz. Having taken out the lease on 83, Cheapside from the Mercers' Company in March 1941 and preparing to open in May of that year, they were again victims on the last night of the Blitz (10th/11th May 1941 Mercers’ Hall was destroyed in a firestorm resulting from German bombing of London).

They did, however, open by September that year, as mentioned in the below advertisement:


Hicklenton & Phillips - London - 1941

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Perhaps an indication of further damage to 83, Cheapside, a similar advertisement, but this time mentioning June, rather than May.


Hicklenton & Phillips - London - 1941

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A MACE FOR TORONTO UNIVERSITY



We give an illustration of the finely designed silver mace which, together with two Esquire beadles' staves, has been made by Messrs.
Hicklenton and Phillips of Cheapside, London, for the University of Toronto, Canada. The mace and stave heads were inspected by the
Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Denys Lowson, and Major J. S. P. Armstrong, Agent General for Ontario, at the Mansion House before being dispatched to Canada. The presentation to the University was made by Col. W. Eric Phillips, chairman of the Board of Governors, on June 6th.

Source: The Connoisseur - September 1951

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Hicklenton & Sydal - London - 1929

Geo. E. Hicklenton - H.G. Hicklenton - S.A. Phillips

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Old-Time Repairs to Mace

The City of London's oldest mace, that of the ward of Cheap, which dates from about 1624, has just had a thorough overhaul, says the London 'Daily Mail.' So delicate and difficult was the work that only a man of 40 years' experience, an employe of Messrs. Hicklenton and Sydal, jewellers, of Queen-street, Cheapside, E.C., was entrusted with the task.

The 300-years-old methods used in making the mace, down to the charcoal furnace, had to be used in the renovation.

An employe of Messrs. Hicklenton and Sydal said to a 'Daily Mail' reporter: "When the mace was made there was no gas or machinery, so to make the work as nearly perfect as possible we repaired under exactly the old conditions".

Source: The Daily News - 21st April 1932

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GEM THIEF'S CUNNING

SHOP WINDOW SMASHED BANDAGES AND GLOVES WORN

Elaborate precautions to safeguard himself from injury were taken by Leonard Walter Westcott, aged 22, waiter, when he recently smashed the shop window of Messrs. Hicklenton and Sydal, gem merchants, in Queen Street, London, E.C., and snatched a diamond bracelet, value, £1500. A partner in the firm, Mr. Howard George Hickleton, chased Westcott through the streets until he caught him with the bracelet in his possession. Westcott, it was stated at the Old Bailey, bandaged his arm from wrist to elbow, and wore kid gloves to protect himself from broken glass. In addition, he wore rubber gloves, because he believed the protecting grille in the window was electrified. Informed that Westcott had fallen into bad company, the Recorder, Sir Holman Gregory, K.C., ordered him to a Borstal institution.

Source: The New Zealand Herald - 10th April 1937

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Hicklenton and Phillips Ltd. - London - 1959

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BLUE DIAMOND

VALUED AT £50,000

MYSTERIOUS HISTORY

Guarded by detectives night and day, a mysterious blue diamond, valued at £50,000 and said by experts, to be one of the finest ever seen, has just been placed on the London market. Experts have been trying to trace it's early history without success, but it is believed to have come from an Indian collection.

I was privileged to see the jewel which has been insured by 750 Lloyd's underwriters (says an "Observer"reporter). Already an attempt has been made to steal it, and the greatest precautions are now being taken to ensure it's safety.

Though in weight it does not rival the famous gems such as the Great Mogul or Orloff, its colour is unique. Mounted temporally on a ring, it is half-an-inch thick, while the sides measure 5/8in. and 1/4 in.

Mr. Stanley Phillips, of HIcklenton and Phillips of Cheapside, who are looking after the jewel, said: "It is the finest I have ever seen in my 25 years as an expert. Geologists who have seen it are of the same opinion. Had it been an ordinary white it would have been worth about a third the amount.

"We cannot display the diamond, which has not yet been named. We have taken great care about people who have asked to see it. We had the stone in the shop for only two hours when a man entered. A detective was speaking to me and the man, a well known jewel thief, bolted down the road. We have now placed the stone in safe and secret custody."

Source: The Mount Barker and Denmark Record - 9th August 1937

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Hicklenton and Phillips - London - 1955

Imperial Parade, Ludgate Circus, London.

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Hicklenton and Phillips - London - 1948

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Hicklenton and Phillips - London - 1938

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Hicklenton and Phillips - London - 1950

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Maker's mark of Hicklenton and Phillips entered with the London Assay Office:


H.G.H/S.A.P (Howard George Hicklenton and Stanley A. Phillips)

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Hicklenton & Sydal - London - 1925

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Hicklenton and Phillips Ltd. - London - 1959

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Hicklenton and Phillips Ltd. - London - 1960

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Hicklenton & Sydal - London - 1926

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