William Alfred ALSTON [6025]

  General Notes:

William was shown as a batchelor aged 24 cabinet maker of Borahamgate St when he married.

Directory of Suffolk Whites 1874
William Alston King St Cabinet Maker.

Directory of Suffolk 1885.
He was a Master Cabinet Maker and furniture broker of 95 North St Sudbury.

Kelly's Directory 1908: Councilor - William Alston 1909

William was aged 79 at his death and his address was 9 Old Market Place.

  Research Notes:

The Alston family has been involved with furniture for over two centuries. As far back as 1776 there were Alstons repairing furniture in their Chelsea workshop. The present family's direct ancestors started the business in Sudbury, Suffolk. William Alston (1839-1919) and his brother Ambrose (1834 - 1902) were both master cabinet makers during the middle of the 19th century. William Alston later became a furniture dealer as well, selling from premises in 95 North Street, Sudbury. The business prospered and moved to 9 Old Market Place, Sudbury in 1875 Both of William Alston's sons, Hammond and Percy worked in the business and together they then created one of the first all electric workshops. The premises at Old Market Place became a retail furniture shop as well, with additional workshops. One of which was to eventually form the beginnings of the upholstery operation much later on. In 1921 Percy Alston's son Leslie started an apprenticeship with his father and then completed this at Fisher Trade Woodworking in London's East End. In 1937 Leslie started his own manufacturing business at a redundant coconut matting factory in Long Melford.
The business was set up with a L.6,000 bank loan. Leslie's brother Roy joined him there to help run the new venture. The company later adopted the trade mark Albro as an abbreviation of Alston brothers, this continued into the 1980's. During the Second World War, the factory in Long Melford switched its production to 'utility' bedroom and dining furniture. Extra work was also taken on to manufacture coffins for the war effort. Later in the war, the Long Melford factory was burnt out and new premises were sought in Ipswich. Initially production was resumed within Wrinch's factory in Nacton Road, Ipswich.
Land was also purchased adjacent to Wrinch's and a factory was built by joining war surplus Nissen huts together to form a linear building and a continuous production line was created within it. This temporary structure survived until 1971 when new building was errected over the old huts ensuring that not an hour of production was lost. The cabinet business has remained at this site to this day. During this time a new Head Office has been built and a programme of continuous investment in machinery maintained. It has manufactured almost exclusively bedroom furniture during this period.In the 1950's and 60's this was centered on suites of bedroom furniture of veneered teak , walnut and mahogany finish (a suite comprised a ladies wardrobe , a gents wardrobe and a dressing table). The 1970's saw the introduction of modular bedroom furniture ranges in veneered and painted finishes.In more recent years the company has become a market leader in the production of traditional and contemporary bedroom ranges of laminate and painted finish.
Leslie Alston remained in charge of this business until his death in 1976 at which point his oldest son Rex (John) took over as Managing Director with Leslie's brother Percy (Roy) as Chairman. In 1979 Alan, Leslie's other son became Chairman and Managing Director assisted by his bother Rex and with their cousin Noel (Percy's son) as Sales Director. John P Alston joined the family business in 1974 becoming a Director in 1987 and Managing Director in 1995. In 2008 David Alston became company Chairman, taking on this role directly from his father.
Also in this year John's daughter Jessica Alston joined the business as a design assistant. In parallel during the post war years, the original businesses in Sudbury flourished, both with retailing,repairs and removals. The retail side would eventually comprise separate furniture, china, baby linen and toy shops. The china shop was the personal responsibility of Percy Alston (snr)until his death in 1969 whilst his son Percy (Roy) was responsible for the other shops.
The upholstery workshop at Old Market Place,Sudbury was boosted by a contract to refurbish chairs for local airfield in 1949. This encouraged Leslie Alston to start an upholstery manufacturing business with two friends - Charlie Rayment and Fred Avent. The new business started in 1950 making fireside chairs and three piece suites from premises in St Peter Street, Colchester. Subsequently the business expanded and in 1958, moved to a 14,000 sq foot factory in Maidenburgh Street, Colchester. This council owned factory was a four floor building which made production problematic. Consequently it was decided to build a new factory and to this end, 4 acres of land was purchased in Gosbecks Road, Colchester. The task of building the factory was given to Alan Alston, Leslie's youngest son. In 1964 the new factory opened for production. Leslie Alston had also purchased a kitchen cabinet business in Rayleigh, Essex. The change in fashion away from freestanding kitchen cupboards meant that this became increasingly less profitable. It was therefore decided to move it,s woodworking machinery into the new upholstery business in Gosbecks Road, to provide the basis for a wood mill of its own.
The Upholstery business flourished and within 10 years, further satellite factories were opened in Hadleigh, Suffolk and Clacton, Essex. The recession of the early 1980's saw a contraction of the business and the satellite factories were closed down and production and investment consolidated at the Colchester site. Up until 1995 Alan Alston continued to be responsible for the running of the business. In 1995 David Alston, Alan's youngest son became Managing Director of the company and the responsibility passed on.In 2008 John Alston took on the role of chairman from his father. Durring the companies life it has manufactured sofas, sofa beds, chairs and recliner chairs. Originally sofas were in leather but this soon changed to vinyl in the 1950's ,to be followed by plain velvet (dralon) in the 1970's and various chenilles and modern velvets more recently.
The company continues to make all its production from its factory in Colchester and is now one of the leading producers of upholstery in the UK.

Some Products 2011
Alstons Lavenham Footstool Alstons Courtney Footstool
Market price: L.349.00
Alstons Monaco Footstool
Market price: L.319.00
Alstons Rutland Footstool
Market price: L.279.00
Alstons Cadiz Footstool/Storage Footstool
Market price: L.249.00
Ref: Alstons - Ashbury Furniture (Page 4)
http://www.ashburyfurniture.co.uk/onlineshop/alstons/index4.html?&sort=price&sort_direction=1[03/11/2011 10:24:10]

Images Courtesy Roy Alston 2010

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 7 Jun 1841, St Gregory Sudbury SFK. William is described as aged 2 born SFK

2. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, Straw Lane Sudbury. William is recorded as a son unmarried aged 22 a cabinet maker born Melford

3. Census: England, 2 Apr 1871, King St St Peter Sudbury. William is recorded as head of house a widower aged 32 a master cabinet maker born Melford SFK

4. William Alfred Alston: Business Invoices, 1877.

5. Census: England, 3 Apr 1881, 9 Old Market Plc Sudbury St Peter SFK. William is recorded as head of house married aged 42 a master cabinetmaker employing one man 4 boys and 6 girls born Long Melford SFK, other than family in the house: were 2 women one described as an assistant milliner one an assistant dressmaker

6. Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, Sudbury SFK. William is recorded as head of house married aged 52 a furniture dealer born long Mellford Suffolk.

7. William Alston: Will, 15 Mar 1919, Sudbury SFK.
The Will of William Alston who died 7 May 1919, was dated 15 Mar 1919 (on file (2004) to be transcribed), it was proved at Bury 30 Oct 1920 to James William Hammond Alston, Percy Walter Filbee Alston and William Ambrose Alston upholsterers for L9034 15s 3d
Ref Bury RO Film J599 & Will calendar

William married Sarah Elizabeth HAMMOND [6026] [MRIN: 2007] on 14 Apr 1863 in Old Meeting House Sudbury. (Sarah Elizabeth HAMMOND [6026] was born circa 1841, died on 20 Jan 1864 in Sudbury SFK and was buried on 25 Jan 1864 in St Peters Sudbury SFK.)

William next married Fanny Amelia FILBEE [6028] [MRIN: 2008], daughter of William FILBEE of Tivetsall NFK [10019] and Unknown, on 20 Nov 1878 in All Saints St Johns Wood LND. (Fanny Amelia FILBEE [6028] was born about 1848 in Wotton NFK, died on 24 Jun 1899 in Guys Hospital London and was buried on 30 Jun 1899 in St Peters Sudbury SFK.)

William next married Kate SMITH [6030] [MRIN: 2009] on 20 Dec 1905 in Felstead Chapel.