The story begins in 1702, when a Spanish convoy was taken capture and amongst the loot a large consignment of snuff was found. The bulk of the cargo was distributed around the ports and costal towns, and a large amount of snuff found its way into London. The gentry became aware of snuff and found it a pleasing alternative to the clay pipe. This coincided with the reign of Queen Anne, who was known to enjoy a pinch regularly, her manners were copied in court and soon every one of her ladies in waiting were also enjoying snuff. And so the consumption of snuff began to increase enormously, as did the demand for the now popular tonic.
So it was that in 1792, a young man by the name of Thomas Harrison noted its rise and the commercial potential in the product waiting to be developed. He saw a gap in the market and decided to fill it and went north of the border to learn his trade.
He returned not only with a professional knowledge of snuff but the ability and machinery to make it. He transported roughly 50 tons of second hand machinery via packhorse from Glasgow all the way to the Lake District town of Kendal. Amazingly, some of the machinery he transported by packhorse is still in use today at the manufacturers in Kendal, Samuel Gawith & Co. It is said to be the “oldest piece of industrial machinery still in regular production use” and dates back to 1750.
This machinery that enabled an entrepreneur to realize a vision was the inspiration for two other businessmen, and the company that was started by Harrison was eventually spilt into three.
It went through many developments before it was to divide; it was passed down from generation to generation before being left to three trustees: Samuel Gawith, Henry Hoggarth and John Illingworth. The three names are cohesive with three famous snuff manufacturers, and all were based in the Lake District town of Kendal.