One of the wealthy residents in Penn was Sidney Cartwright, who purchased Leasowes House and garden in the 1840s. In 1843 it was occupied by Sarah Bate, who also owned the drive from Coalway Road, called the North Approach, along with a wooded area, a pond and the surrounding fields.

1851 census details:

The Leasowes, Upper Penn, Staffs
Sidney Cartwright, 48, Head, Staffordshire Magistrate
Maria Cartwright, 43, Wife, born in Nottingham
Emma Munday, 17, Servant
Sarah Kay, 19, Servant

1861 census details:

The Leasowes, Merry Hill, Penn, Staffs
Sidney Cartwright, 59, Head, Staffordshire Merchant
Maria Cartwright, 54, Wife, born in Nottingham
Lucy H. Marsden, 35, Niece, Colchester, Essex
Jane Ridley, 17, Servant, Pattingham, Staffs
Mary Batt, 16, Servant, Pattingham, Staffs

1871: Leasowes House, Upper Penn, Staffs
Sidney Cartwright, 68, Staffordshire Magistrate & Toy Merchant
Maria Cartwright, 63
Mary Ann Bate, 24, Servant, Pattingham
Charlotte Bate, 18, Servant,  Pattingham

1881: Leasowes House
Sidney Cartwright, 78, Steel Toy Maker and JP. for Staffordshire
Maria Cartwright, 73
Mary Bate, 34, Housekeeper, Pattingham
Charlotte Bate, 27, Dom Cook, Pattingham
Rebecca Washbrook, 20, Housemaid, Wolverhampton
Mary Ann Bate, 11, Visitor, Pattingham


Leasowes House.

The toy business started in 1816 when John Evans began making japanned toys at a factory in Dudley Road, Wolverhampton. He is listed in Parson and Bradshaw’s 1818 Staffordshire Directory as John Evans, japanned toy manufacturer. In about 1827, John Evans’ stepson, Sidney Cartwright, joined him in the business, which became Evans and Cartwright. The business is listed under Toy Makers and Dealers in Pigot & Company’s 1828 Commercial Directory.

For many years the business was extremely successful. All kinds of children’s toys were produced including model lifeboats, wagons with horses and a driver, railway engines, tramcars, model animals, doll’s house furniture, cradles, kitchen ranges, eight-day clocks, rattle hammers and even coal scuttles. There were dolls, prams and large wooden rocking horses. The toys were hand made and hand painted in realistic colours. Other products included snuff boxes and cigar cases. Many members of prominent families used to visit the factory to see the toys being made.

The products were exported in large quantities to many countries including the colonies, India, West Indies, Spain and North America. The order book was always full. As many as 70,000 to 80,000 of any one toy could be on order at any time. At its peak, the factory employed over 150 people, many of them children.

In 1842, after John Evans’ death, Sidney Cartwright took over the business, which was then in decline, due to a general depression and loss of orders from America, where American toy manufacturers were dominating the market and competing directly with British manufacturers in the UK. By this time, the workforce at the Dudley Road factory had shrunk to about 60. The site consisted of a narrow yard in the centre, surrounded by small workshops alongside an alleyway leading from Dudley Road to Bell Place.


The site of Evans & Cartwright's factory.


Evans & Cartwright's factory in the 1930s.

In the 1840s, compulsory education was still a few decades away. Most of the poorer families did their best to get their children employed as soon as possible, to boost their meagre income. Many children worked in appalling conditions, which were monitored by the Children’s Employment Commission. This section consists of part of their report which looked into the working conditions of children employed by Evans & Cartwright.

Child Labour at Evans & Cartwright. Children’s Employment Commission
Appendix to the Second Report of the Commissioners, 1842. Depositions taken from St. John's Church Sunday School.

No. 39. March 14. Mary Clive, age "going in 16"

Works in making tin toys at Mr. Sidney Cartwright’s; has worked there 18 months; finds the work not very hard. Works 13 hours a day, with one hour, allowed for meals. Is not an apprentice; works piece-work; does not think she is very kindly treated; likes her trade though. Is not beaten, only sometimes master gives her a box; not very often though; doesn't hurt her much; it’s only when he looks at the work and it’s not done right. Some of them can't do their work until they get a box. Gets about 4 shillings a week generally. Can read, not write; can do needlework; cannot make pudding - does not feel very tired at night.

Does not know what I mean; does not know what pudding is. Clean and well clothed, poor in stature and health, skin eruptive and disgusting.

No. 40. March 14. Mary Perry, aged 10; Works at toy-painting; at Mr. Cartwright's; has worked there about six months. Feels very tired at night; feels ill sometimes – sick. The place feels very hot and close sometimes; master treats her kindly. Gets 1s. 6d. a week, regularly. Can read, not write – never learnt. Can do needle-work - sewing. Has been a great while to the St. John's Sunday-school; she went when it was first built up years ago, but there was such a cruel governess at that time, mother took her away. Likes the Reverend Mr. Pountney, he’s a very nice man. Some of the girls at the shop where she works go to a chapel, but mother says she shouldn’t let her leave school. She would learn nothing, going from one to another.

A poor sickly little thing; very little clean; well clothed; read well; very intelligent.

No. 41. March 14. Harriet Jones, aged 14:

Works at toy painting; does not find it hard for her; is not very tired at night; has worked at it about eight months. Gets 2s. 6d a week, standing wages. Paint does not make them feel sick when they get used to it. Can read, cannot write; would like to learn, can't write her own name. Can do needle-work - can sew - nothing to speak of. Does not know the name of the Queen of England. Has read Robinson Crusoe.

Clean, well-dressed, poorly grown, but not unhealthy in appearance.

No. 44. March. 14. Samuel Tidmarsh aged l2:

Works at tin toys. Gets 3s. a week, by piece-work; sometimes does not get so much. Is not an apprentice; does not feel very tired at night. His master treats him well; only beaten when deserved it. Has been above 12 months at a Sunday-school. Can read very well; cannot write at all, nor read hand writing. Knows who Sampson was; he was a great man – the strongest man as was; knows who Jonah was and St. John' the Baptist, who Herod beheaded. Has read many little books; never heard of Robert Burns; has heard of Jack Sheppard – he was a robber. Knows the name of Queen Victoria; she married Prince Albert.

Rather unhealthy looking, dirty, well-behaved; read very well indeed.

No. 68. March. 31. Charles Crisp, aged 13 "last Pancake-day":

Works at pressing tin-toy looking-glass frames. Comes at seven in the morning, leaves at seven at night. Has an hour for breakfast, an hour for dinner, and half an hour for tea. Gets 2s. 9d per week. Mr. Cartwright pays him. Is beaten sometimes with a strap on the hand by some of the men, but does not feel it long - not for half an hour; not much hurt, it’s for not minding his work. Has been at a day-school - Mr. Dalton's schoo1; was there two or three years. Can read easy words; cannot write; cannot write his name. Goes to Mr. Dalton's Sunday-school. Twice 10 are 20, twice 20 are 40. Take 5 from 20, there remains 30; take 5 from 30, there remains 20. Never heard of Job, nor of Samson, nor of Jonah; has heard of Pontius Pilate; has heard of Christ - he was God; has heard of Moses; has heard of a place called London. Wishes he could write.

Very small of his age; not unhealthy; not dirtier than necessary; pretty well clothed; naturally clever; quick, unguarded, yet undaunted.

No. 69. March 31. William Washer. Age 10:

Works at tin-work. Does not know how long he has worked here. Gets 2s. 9d a week. Mr. Cartwright pays him. Gets a slap on the head sometimes for not doing his work right; one of the foremen sometimes beats him with his hand or a strap. Gives the money to his mother. His mother works at screws. Has two brothers who work at locks, at Worton's - down in the pudding-bag, near Snow-Hill. Goes to Mr. Dalton's Sunday school. Cannot read. Does not know his letters - not many. Has been to school about two months.

Very fine, healthy, fresh-coloured boy, well grown, dirty, and in very dirty rags, and not enough of them to cover his nakedness.

No. 70. March 31. John Moseley, aged 12 nearly:

Works at pressing tin horses, and things. Gets 2s. a week. Has his wages raised 3d a-month, according as he gets on. Mr. Cartwright pays him. Nobody ever beats him, except sometimes a slap on the head, when he deserves it, for going out without leave, or playing about the shop; don't hurt him much. Does not feel tired at night. Feels sick in the day sometimes, when he's ill, when he gets cold. Gets cold because he's got bad shoes; all his toes are quite out upon the floor and pavement. Gives the money he gets to his mother; her shoes are nearly as bad as his. His mother does not drink, nor his father; but they are all very poor. His mother's shoes arc nearly as bad as his. Should go to a Sunday-school, but does not like in such shoes as these. Can read easy words.

A poor little creature for his age, all in rags; unhealthy, unhappy; his expression of face all perplexity, his limbs very nervous.

No. 71. March 31. Daniel Ford, aged 10 or 11:

Works at pressing tin hammer-rattles. Works from seven in the morning till seven at night. Has two hours allowed in the day for breakfast and dinner, none for tea - i.e. works from two to seven. Works for one of the men. Mr. Cartwright pays him. Gets 2s. a-week. Has been to the St. John's school a long time - three or four years. Can read in the Testament. Twice 3 are 12; twice 2 are six -ayn't it; twice 5 are 10. Never heard of Job, nor St. Paul, nor Moses, nor Jonah, nor Samson. Does not know what month or year it is, but it’s Wednesday. Never saw or heard of a snow-drop or crocus. Knows about a nettle, was stung once.

A little dirty boy, healthy and strong; not more dirty than necessary; pretty well clothed. He could not read anything but easy words; intelligent but guarded; a bright dark eye, full of perception and mental reservation.

No. 72. March 31. Jane Inscoe, aged 17 nearly:

Works at pressing tin. Has worked here two years next Easter. Gets 3s. 6d. a. week. Works for the master, Mr. Cartwright, who pays her. Works from seven in the morning till seven at night in summer, with an hour for breakfast and an hour for dinner: in the winter they come at eight in the morning and work till eight at night, with an hour out for dinner, and half an hour for tea; but never leaves the shop for tea, summer or winter - they can if they don’t. Does not like her work – it’s too dirty - properly boy's work. It is not so very hard work. Has no pains now anywhere; never feels ill in the day. Went to a day school for about two years - The National - Mr. Blower’s. Can read and write. Twice 30 are 60, twice 60 are 120. Was taken from school when she was 11. Goes to the Unitarian Sunday-school. Can do needle-work-plain work, hemming, and sewing pieces together. Learnt to do this at the National School. Can make a pudding; her mother taught her.
(Signed) Jane Inscoe.

Fresh coloured, healthy, and strong across the shoulders and arms, the rest of her person seemed very poor and diminutive for her age; very well clothed and very cleanly.

No. 73. March 31. Elizabeth Munn, aged 14 or 15:

Works at toy-painting-flowering. Gets 8s. a week. Has worked at it more than four years. Feels sick sometimes. Her mother thinks it's the paint; she herself does not; there's not enough of it. Does not feel any pains anywhere. Likes her work pretty well. They treat her kindly here. They’re very well for that here. Has been to the Unitarian Sunday School nearly six years. Can read and write. Twice 30 are 60; take 10 from 30, there remain 20; 40 pence are 3s. 4d.
(Signed) Elizabeth Munn.

Comparatively well grown, tolerably healthy, very cleanly and well clothed.

No. 74. March 31. Susannah Clemson, aged 14:

Works at soldering. Gets 5s. sometimes 6s. a week. Works for the master, who pays her. Likes her work very well, has worked at it for about 5 years. Is well treated, does not feel tired at night. Feels no pains anywhere. Does not feel sick in the day; felt sick at first for a little while. Worked in the stove-rooms at first, and thinks the smell of the coals made her feel sick. Never went to a day school. Cannot read; does not know her letters. Sometimes goes to a Methodist’s chapel. Never heard of the Virgin Mary, nor of Mary Magdalen, nor of Job, nor of Adam. Can do plain needlework; and knows how to cook a dinner for her father, and could mend his stockings or jacket.

Very well grown in height, thin and strong, very healthy, cleanly and well-clothed.

No. 75. March 31. Mr. Sidney Cartwright, proprietor of the Tin Toy Manufactory.

Has lived in Wolverhampton all his life-40 years. Employs about 60 pairs of hands. Fifteen years ago he employed nearly 160. Attributes the reduction to the general depression of trade, the want of the same demand as formerly, America now competes with him, not only buying his articles but selling them from their own manufactories. No alterations have been made in the mode of carrying on his works since 1840. Thinks that the moral character of the parents of those children he employs is depressed and injured by their extreme poverty.

Their want of bodily comforts makes them dispirited and careless of their reputations and characters. Is strongly of the opinion that the parents would oppose any legislative enactments for the education of their children, which would deprive them of their earnings while in their present condition of poverty. That their earnings become too important after the age of nine years, to be dispensed with. Thinks that the bulk of the parents would be indifferent on the subject of education up to this period of nine years.

Has been one of the Poor Law Guardians and has seen the feeling on the part of the parents. Thinks that the education of children up to the age of nine years would be a national good, provided the bodily condition of the children and parents were first ameliorated. Thinks that, from some cause, we are loosing ground in our national pre-eminence as manufacturers, and believes that one principal cause of distress is the want of a free trade in corn, which would enable our merchants to receive shipments in corn in exchange for our manufactures as well as other commodities. Thinks the remarks of Lord Ellenborough on the subject of building new churches, in the present poverty-stricken condition of large masses of the manufacturing population are extremely just.
(Signed) Sidney Cartwright.

62. The work of children employed in the tin toy manufactories is also very light in general, except for a few who work at the presses, which however are not very laborious, and the paint is used in quantities too small to be injurious, though it makes some of the more delicate children feel sick at first.


Sidney Cartwright.


Some of the dolls house furniture.


More dolls house furniture.

Sidney Cartwright was a well-respected benevolent employer, who became an alderman of the borough, a Staffordshire magistrate, chairman of the Wolverhampton Branch of Justices and chairman of the Wolverhampton Bank. He was a keen art collector who amassed a vast collection of paintings including works by Frederick Daniel Hardy, Edwin Henry Landseer, John Faed and works by the Kent-based Cranbrook Colony.

Two important figures at the factory were M. J. Munday and Henry Munday, known as the brothers Munday, who undertook much of the clerical work. Their father, John Munday, started work there as a boy.

In 1865 the business was advertised as Evans & Cartwright, tin toy manufacturers and general merchants, 113 Dudley Road.

When Sidney died on the 13th March, 1883, at the age of 81, he left his collection of paintings to his wife, Maria. When she died on the 24th March, 1887, at the age of 82, she left the vast collection of paintings to the Borough of Wolverhampton, where they are now an important  part of the Wolverhampton Art Gallery's collection. Sidney and Maria were both buried in St. John's Churchyard, which was badly vandalised by local children in the 1940s.

After Sidney's death, M. J. Munday and Henry Munday, ran the business. Henry Munday’s daughter, Mrs. Beech and M. J. Munday’s eldest daughter, Mrs Slater, were also involved at the factory.

Later products included large numbers of tin whistles, which led to the factory being known as Whistle Hall Works. Everything went well until German manufacturers flooded the UK with cheap mass-produced toys. The business is listed in the 1892 Wolverhampton Red Book under Tin Toy Manufacturers, as Evans and Cartwright, Dudley Road. Within a few years the firm had gone out of business. In the 1897 Wolverhampton Red Book, the factory is listed under wire manufacturers and was run by Mr. Orlando L. James.


The factory yard in 1915.


Tin Alley and the front of the factory, shortly before demolition.


Tin Alley and the front of the factory during demolition in 1974. Courtesy of David Clare.


A corner of Leasowes House in the 20th century.

Cartwright family members buried in St. John’s churchyard:
Abraham Cartwright   1765 – 7th Nov 1848
Benjamin Cartwright   1782 – 27th Jan 1852
Elizabeth Cartwright   1844 – 20th Oct 1849
Emma Cartwright   1850 – 10th Feb 1850
Esther Cartwright   1841 – 28th Feb 1841
John Cartwright   1840 – 20th Dec 1840
Maria Cartwright   1839 – 5th Oct 1845
Maria Christian Cartwright   1805 – 24th Mar 1887
Philip Cartwright   1778 – 21st Mar 1850
Sarah Cartwright   1838 – 11th Oct 1842
Sidney Cartwright   1st February, 1802 – 13th Mar 1883
When Maria died in 1887, her nieces, Christian Wright and Agnes Champion Wright, organised the Sidney Cartwright Trust, planned by Maria. It consisted of £300 that was paid to the Vicar of St. John's Church, and the Town Clerk, under the terms of a deed dated the 21st June, 1887. The trust was managed by the following trustees:

The Vicar of St. John's Church, the Mayor of Wolverhampton, the Town Clerk of Wolverhampton and the churchwardens at St. John's Church.

The income of £300 was to be paid annually on the 1st February (Sidney Cartwright's birthday), each year, to inhabitants of St. John's Parish who were in need.
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