Ede and Ravenscroft: 300 years of ceremonial dress
1689
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In the same year that Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary are crowned, what was to become Ede and Ravenscroft is founded by William and Martha Shudall in Holywell Street at the heart of London’s tailoring district. Research shows that the company existed some fifty years before, but became “established” when appointed for royal work. They began a tradition of keeping detailed records and the day book for the years 1747-62 survives to this day and is now housed in the Guildhall Library. |
1757
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William Shudall dies and his widow, Martha, continues to run the business. |
1760
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His Majesty King George II dies, and the firm deals with the ceremonial dress for the funeral. |
1761
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The firm sets to work, preparing robes for the lavish coronation of His Majesty King George III. Francis Stone, robemaker joins Martha Shudall in partnership. |
1770
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Around this period, Martha Shudall retires. Francis Stone maintains the firm's position as robemakers to the knights of The Most Noble Order of the Garter and the court. He is also appointed as robemaker to King George III. |
1797
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Francis Stone dies, leaving a well-run and successful business to his son-in-law, William Webb. Webb is granted a new royal warrant. He introduces an ornate invoice for the firm, which acted as an early form of mission statement and states – William Webb supplies ‘…. all kinds of robes for peers, peeresses and bishops, serjeants, clergymen, king’s council, barristers and attorneys, livery’ gowns and robes for any corporation in Great Britain’. |
1811
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Joseph Ede joins the firm as an apprentice. |
1827
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The firm moves premises to 193 Fleet Street. |
1831
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William Webb dies and the business is passed to his son, Frederick. Frederick Webb continues his father’s work, assisted by Joseph Ede, and soon receives a royal warrant appointing him robemaker to His Majesty King William IV. |
1834
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Joseph Ede's well-to-do uncle, Thomas Adams, buys the firm and the new name Adams and Ede is displayed over 193 Fleet Street. Joseph Ede is appointed robemaker to William IV, and continues the firm's unbroken record as holder of the royal warrants. |
1837
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Joseph Ede is appointed as robemaker to Her Majesty Queen Victoria. This is the first of a series of warrants granted to the firm throughout Queen Victoria’s long reign. |
1862
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Joseph Ede dies and his widow Anne assumes control, but does not survive her husband by many years. |
| 1868 | Their son, Joseph inherits the company and is appointed robemaker to Queen Victoria. The name changes to Ede and Son and the shop moves to 93 & 94 Chancery Lane where it remains to this day. |
| 1871 | Joseph Webb Ede marries Rosanna Ravenscroft, daughter of Burton Ravenscroft who runs a successful wig making business. Joseph Webb Ede dies soon after at the age of 26. For the third time in its history, the firm is under female management and remains so for the next 60 years. |
| 1901 | Queen Victoria dies and the Court mourns for one year. She is succeeded by her son His Majesty King Edward VII. |
| 1902 | Ede and Son merges with Ravenscroft, the wig maker. |
| 1911 | As well as being robemakers at His Majesty King George V's coronation, Ede Son and Ravenscroft is appointed robemaker for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, making his Garter Robes for the coronation and the purple velvet robe for his investiture at Caernarven. |
| 1921 | The firm's name changes to Ede and Ravenscroft. |
| 1931 | Rosa Ede dies, all the London papers commemorate this remarkable woman who held a royal warrant as robemaker for over sixty years. The firm remains in the Ravenscroft family for the next forty years. |
| 1936 | After the death of George V the firm receives the appointment of robemaker to His Majesty King Edward VIII. After only 11 months, Edward abdicates, having never been crowned. |
| 1937 | The Duke of York becomes His Majesty King George VI after the abdication of his elder brother. The Duchess of York becomes Queen Elizabeth. |
| 1952 | Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth succeeds to the throne on the death of her father wearing a coronation robe made by Ede and Ravenscroft. |
| 1969 | The investiture of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales takes place at Caernarvon Castle. He wears a robe made by Ede and Ravenscroft. |
| 1989 | Ede and Ravenscroft embarks on its fourth century and holds all four royal warrants as robemakers to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness Prince Phillip The Duke of Edinburgh; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. |
