William Tonks & Sons
Active: 1851 - 1891
Function: Medieval metal workers, brassfounders
Policy: 'Manufacturers of the various kinds of work in brass, iron and other metals, both plain and artistic used in the construction and furnishing of public and private buildings, ships etc...illustrations and particulars free by post' (1886)
History or description: The firm was longer established than these dates suggest, having been founded by William Tonks (c.1797-?) or his father, a family of Dutch descent. The second or third generation of the firm included William Henry Tonks (c.1829-99) and Edmund Tonks (c.1825-98), a barrister and owner of the firm. Edmund was the father of the artist, Henry Tonks (1862-1937). William Henry Tonks Junior (c.1871-) exhibited a sculpture in 1895 at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists' exhibition. The third or fourth generation of the firm included William Henry Tonks and Percy Tonks (born c.1875).
Employees, Students & Members
Numbers: 370
Period Start: 1871
Locations
Address Wellington Road Edgbaston Birmingham | View on map
1851 (Circa)
The family home of William and William Henry Tonks
Address 4 Carpenter Road Edgbaston Birmingham | View on map
1861 (Circa)
The family home of William and William Henry Tonks
Address 118 Gough Road Edgbaston Birmingham | View on map
1871 (Circa)
Family home for William Henry Tonks.
Business located at Moseley Street Birmingham | View on map
1876 (Circa) - 1877 (Circa)
Business located at 201 Moseley Street Birmingham | View on map
1886 (Presumed)
Associated People
Related to Henry Tonks
This firm was partly managed by Henry Tonks' father, Edmund Tonks (c.1825-98).
Descriptions of Business or Institution
Listed in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
Both William Henry Tonks and his father William Tonks both 'Brass Founder'
Listed in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
Both William Henry Tonks and his father William Tonks 'Cabinet Brassfounder employ(s) 200 people'
Listed in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
William Henry Tonks 'Brass Founder employing 370 hands'
Listed in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Brass Founder'
Listed under Art Metal Workers Hulley's Birmingham Directory, Part 2, Alphabetical List to SAD-ZIN and Trades, 1876-77 Hulley's Birmingham Directory
1876 - 1877
Listed as 'Medieval Metal Workers'.
Listed under Art Metal Workers Kelly's Directory of Birmingham, Trades Section, 1886 Kelly's Trades Directories
1886
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
2004
HO107 piece 2049 folio 158 page 39
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2004
RG09 piece 2123 folio 117 page 31
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
RG10 piece 3191 folio 86 page 9
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
RG10 piece 3084 folio 23 page 40
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
RG12 piece 2438 folio 95 page 24
Hulley's Birmingham Directory, Part 2, Alphabetical List to SAD-ZIN and Trades, 1876-77 Hulley's Birmingham Directory
1876 (Probable)
p. 620.
Kelly's Directory of the Building Trades Comprising Every Trade and Profession in any way connected with Architecture and Building throughout England, Scotland and Wales, 1886 Kelly's Trades Directories
1886
Birmingham Advertisements, p. 32
Kelly's Directory of Birmingham, Trades Section, 1886 Kelly's Trades Directories
1886
p. 558.
Citing this record
'William Tonks & Sons', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib4_1213280781, accessed 30 Mar 2023]
