75 years of J Stamp & Sons: Congratulations
Jack and Ellen Stamp founded J Stamp & Sons in 1946, working as french polishers and antique furniture restorers. They worked from a small workshop in the village of Drayton, situated in the Welland Valley. Prior to the Second World War, Jack had worked for a local business. They were antique furniture dealers and restorers and undertakers in Market Harborough.
As their young family of four children, Bill, George, Mark and Jane grew up, the business moved to various different locations in Market Harborough, before a move to their present address, The Chestnuts, in 1960. It was following the move to ‘The Chestnuts’, which at the time could only be described as a semi-derelict Georgian hunting lodge, that the business began to grow.
Expansion
It allowed the expansion of a dedicated furniture showroom and the move into funeral directing by the development of the town’s first private chapel of rest. Gradually Jack’s three sons joined the business, ably supported by their wives in turn. The Chestnuts has made a wonderful family home, furniture showroom and funeral premises. The whole family has achieved this through determination, a lot of hours and a lot of hard work.
In 1997 the eldest son, Bill Stamp, retired so George and Mark’s sons, Jonathan and David joined the business. George retired in 2002 when Bill’s son, Chris, joined the firm. Following the retirement of Mark Stamp and the reduced demand in the brown furniture market, the business branched out into providing memorial stones which filled the gap left by the retiring furniture business.
In 2000 the memorial business was born and grew rapidly. There was the introduction of a dedicated indoor showroom, modern machinery and workshops and a full-time stonemason. As the complexity of funerals increased, the number of office staff grew and more space was needed. The former furniture showroom was converted to office space for the ever-expanding team.
J Stamp & Sons Now
Stamp and Sons is now owned and run by the third generation of Stamps. The three current directors of the business are Jonathan, Chris and David J Stamp. They are supported and backed up by a dedicated and loyal team. A number of whom have worked within the business for many years.
In June, Jonathan and David celebrated with all the staff and the family to recognise that they had been working in the family business for 25 years. The family and team are proud that they are able to carry on the good work and example laid down by previous generations and aim to serve the local communities to the very best of their ability for many years to come.
Janet’s Love of family history
