Comments on: Receipts From London’s Oldest Ironmonger https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/11/receipts-from-londons-oldest-ironmonger-iii/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:23:59 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Stella van der Gucht https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/11/receipts-from-londons-oldest-ironmonger-iii/#comment-1929657 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:23:59 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206079#comment-1929657 Adore these. Especially because the second one down is connected to my family. My GG grandfather was William Caston. The receipt has been signed by my G Grandfather Henry Caston. A great find for me. Very special so Thank you!

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/11/receipts-from-londons-oldest-ironmonger-iii/#comment-1929442 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:24:56 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206079#comment-1929442 I have always loved ephemera for the unintended beauty of the snippets, and the inherent story-telling. As I perused these receipts ( smiling to see the “spike” holes in each one) I came across one of the documents issued by T. Dixon. Full stop. Surely the flourishing curvaceous letter forms here are better intended for love letters? Perhaps this person could have set themselves up in a little booth, making bales of off-the-books cash, inscribing billet doux for customers? I note the wildly- swirling cap letters, the “decorated” pound sign, the concluding swash under the “PAID” notation. Surely this is the handwriting of someone who longs to break out and inscribe declarations of love?
(or maybe I am just in a romantic lather, as Valentine’s Day approaches?)

As always, the beauty of the bill heads AND the inscriptions are glorious. Thank you, GA.

]]> By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/02/11/receipts-from-londons-oldest-ironmonger-iii/#comment-1929290 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:33:34 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=206079#comment-1929290 A great snippet of history.

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