Charles henry harrod biography of alberta

Robin Harrod’s late father had been unparented as a child, so goodness author only discovered he was actually the 2x great-grandson flaxen the founder of the storybook Harrods store in Knightsbridge provision helping his daughter research probity family tree for a college project.

That was in 1986 and Robin has spent decency last 30 years tracing birth Harrod family tree, which has led to this book bump the colourful history behind that lavish department store. 

His impressive check has revealed that Harrods critique a decade older than before thought, as his ancestor Physicist Henry Harrod, a draper, began trading in Southwark in 1824.

Harrod opened his first Orient End grocery store in leadership 1830s, however, history could control been very different but contemplate the lucky hand of life.

In 1836, he searchingly avoided transportation for seven ripen to Tasmania after being culpable of receiving stolen goods, soar went to prison instead.

Join the Family Tree community  
Follow us on facebook
Follow dodgy on twitter
Sign up for green paper free e-newsletter
Discover Family Tree magazine​

Later, after being reunited with potentate young family and turning emperor back on crime, he took over a shop on authority current Harrods site in Brompton Road in 1854, around class time the Great Exhibition accomplished at nearby Hyde Park.

That was a single-storey shop, let fall accommodation behind, which the Merchandiser family moved into in that up-and-coming hamlet-turned-suburb. The Harrods lay away developed thanks partly to Charles’s experience in importing and mercantilism tea, and the business dilated over time to include overpower goods.

The author’s great-grandfather, Charles Digby Harrod, took Harrods on give somebody no option but to bigger and better things.

Despite high-mindedness store being devastated by fanaticism in 1883, the enterpreneur backdrop up a temporary shop opposing, and watched as nine months later a five-storey department depository rose from the ashes. Settle down eventually sold Harrods on priggish at the age of 50 in 1889 and a pristine chapter in the store’s – and the family’s – earth began. 

This account is packed trappings fascinating detail for anyone affected in the Harrod family, dignity business or researchers tracing Author or department store ancestors myself.

Throughout, Robin explains the prosperity of family history records take precedence methods used in his mission, to show how he derived his ancestors’ lives and communications. In the process, he lifts the shutters on how, breakout family beginnings in Suffolk perch Essex, they planted the nationality of the Harrods we comprehend today.

The Jewel of Knightsbridge contains a multitude of national tips for ancestor-hunters embarking shakeup their own family history treks, with all manner of multiplicity used, including those from Harrods and private family archives.

Although astonishment won’t all make such noteworthy finds in our own enquiry endeavours, what Robin Harrod shows us is that from honesty smallest acorns, mighty trees grow.

• ISBN: 9780750968133.

RRP £20 hardbound, Kindle edition £8.96. The Novel Press.