Histories of Jersey Companies: The House of Voisin – Part 1
By Phyllida Campbell [Jersey Life 1966]
THE DATE WAS April 15th, 1837. Written at the top of the first page of a new cash book in neat copper-plate, opposite the figures £17.9.2d. were the words ‘First Day‘s Sales'. The hand-writing was that of twenty-one-year-old Francis Voisin who, a hundred and twenty-nine years ago, greatly daring, opened a little draper’s shop at 26 King Street, next door to an already established business of the same kind, known as ‘The Emporium’.
Seventeen pounds must have seemed a lot of money for such a small place in those days, and friends, customers and the curious public had been coming in and out all day. Perhaps his courageous advertisement in the Chroniques de Jersey (the daily of those days) had something to do with it. He had informed the public that he was on that day opening his shop in King Street with ‘a great assortment at the lowest prices, of drapery, haberdashery, silks, hosiery, gloves, etc., which have just arrived from the London Markets’. He added optimistically that he had a vacancy for ‘a respectable young man’ as apprentice. This original cash book is treasured by Voisin and Company to this day.
Francis Voisin was the great-great-grandfather of Mr. G. F. (‘Tim’) Voisin, the present proprietor, who through his ancestor’s early enterprise finds himself controlling a huge emporium covering a large stretch of King Street and the flanking areas of New Street and Don Street. He is also fortunate in that several of the firms he deals with started business with his great-great-grandfather and have been supplying the House of Voisin ever since. Among these are the Witney people (Charles Early & Marriott Ltd.), James Templeton the carpet weavers, Thomas Webb & Sons the glass manufacturers, the celebrated china firm of Josiah Wedgwood, George Smith and Sons the furriers and Bartrum Harvey the woollen cloth manufacturers. The Sun Fire Insurance and the Globe insurance companies took care of the firm almost from the beginning, and Voisin’s account number with the Midland Bank is still the same as when the account was first opened on February 20th, 1851. Cheque forms were not issued until 1861, so those early cheques were written upon flimsy paper, and like the cash books, carefully preserved today.
Jersey’s Greatest Traveller
Soon to be known as the most widely travelled Jerseyman of his day, early Victorian Francis Voisin believed in keeping up to date and regarded the world as his market. Astonishing to learn that in 1844 he went from Jersey to Granville en route for Paris at a cost of nine francs and in two—and-a-half hours, a faster time than often taken today.
By Phyllida Campbell [Jersey Life 1966]
THE DATE WAS April 15th, 1837. Written at the top of the first page of a new cash book in neat copper-plate, opposite the figures £17.9.2d. were the words ‘First Day‘s Sales'. The hand-writing was that of twenty-one-year-old Francis Voisin who, a hundred and twenty-nine years ago, greatly daring, opened a little draper’s shop at 26 King Street, next door to an already established business of the same kind, known as ‘The Emporium’.
Seventeen pounds must have seemed a lot of money for such a small place in those days, and friends, customers and the curious public had been coming in and out all day. Perhaps his courageous advertisement in the Chroniques de Jersey (the daily of those days) had something to do with it. He had informed the public that he was on that day opening his shop in King Street with ‘a great assortment at the lowest prices, of drapery, haberdashery, silks, hosiery, gloves, etc., which have just arrived from the London Markets’. He added optimistically that he had a vacancy for ‘a respectable young man’ as apprentice. This original cash book is treasured by Voisin and Company to this day.
Francis Voisin was the great-great-grandfather of Mr. G. F. (‘Tim’) Voisin, the present proprietor, who through his ancestor’s early enterprise finds himself controlling a huge emporium covering a large stretch of King Street and the flanking areas of New Street and Don Street. He is also fortunate in that several of the firms he deals with started business with his great-great-grandfather and have been supplying the House of Voisin ever since. Among these are the Witney people (Charles Early & Marriott Ltd.), James Templeton the carpet weavers, Thomas Webb & Sons the glass manufacturers, the celebrated china firm of Josiah Wedgwood, George Smith and Sons the furriers and Bartrum Harvey the woollen cloth manufacturers. The Sun Fire Insurance and the Globe insurance companies took care of the firm almost from the beginning, and Voisin’s account number with the Midland Bank is still the same as when the account was first opened on February 20th, 1851. Cheque forms were not issued until 1861, so those early cheques were written upon flimsy paper, and like the cash books, carefully preserved today.
Jersey’s Greatest Traveller
Soon to be known as the most widely travelled Jerseyman of his day, early Victorian Francis Voisin believed in keeping up to date and regarded the world as his market. Astonishing to learn that in 1844 he went from Jersey to Granville en route for Paris at a cost of nine francs and in two—and-a-half hours, a faster time than often taken today.
On another occasion, this time via St. Malo, his itinerary covered Rennes, Nantes, St. Etienne, Lyons, Geneva and Martigny, where he took a brief rest from business, climbing the St. Bernard Pass. On to Berne, Alsace, Mannheim and the ancient city of Coblencc, and later to England, Ireland and Scotland. As he went he collected silks, laces and household linen in great variety.
Soon the markets of Europe did not seem large enough and he visited Asia seeking Oriental silks and even attended the great fair at Njini-Novgorod to buy fine furs. Transport was of many kinds, horse, steamer, sail and sometimes for long distances his own two feet. The United States sounded a progressive country, so he did an intensive tour there, studying business methods as he went. All this must have been to good effect because in 1857 the unfortunate ‘Emporium’ next door gave up the unequal struggle, went into liquidation and he was able to acquire the property with an eye to future development.
At this stage Mr. Charles Bisson, a trusted employee (perhaps, who knows, that ‘respectable young apprentice of 1837?) was taken into partnership to leave the owner more freedom for his business journeys abroad. He retired after twenty years when the company reverted to sole ownership, but in the meantime there was much expansion of business. Francis Voisin retired from active business during his latter years, leaving his sons in charge, and took his place in public affairs. At one period he was Constable of St. Helier, and he died, full of years and wisdom in 1894. .
He had brought his sons up the way they should go, and after his death Francis Bishop and Emile Adolphus carried on a successful partnership with brother John in charge of the tailoring department.
Soon the markets of Europe did not seem large enough and he visited Asia seeking Oriental silks and even attended the great fair at Njini-Novgorod to buy fine furs. Transport was of many kinds, horse, steamer, sail and sometimes for long distances his own two feet. The United States sounded a progressive country, so he did an intensive tour there, studying business methods as he went. All this must have been to good effect because in 1857 the unfortunate ‘Emporium’ next door gave up the unequal struggle, went into liquidation and he was able to acquire the property with an eye to future development.
At this stage Mr. Charles Bisson, a trusted employee (perhaps, who knows, that ‘respectable young apprentice of 1837?) was taken into partnership to leave the owner more freedom for his business journeys abroad. He retired after twenty years when the company reverted to sole ownership, but in the meantime there was much expansion of business. Francis Voisin retired from active business during his latter years, leaving his sons in charge, and took his place in public affairs. At one period he was Constable of St. Helier, and he died, full of years and wisdom in 1894. .
He had brought his sons up the way they should go, and after his death Francis Bishop and Emile Adolphus carried on a successful partnership with brother John in charge of the tailoring department.
Another property was acquired, another department opened ‘especially to attract tourists from France, until in 1888, Emile‘s health was failing, and his brother bought him out and became sole proprietor. Some rather leaner years followed as a large slice of capital had thus been removed from the firm, but when the intensely hard-working Francis Bishop died in 1915, the firm was more prosperous than ever and high in esteem as it is today.
Long Service Tradition
Today with the many different facets of the business, including the largest men's wear department in the south of Britain, a flourishing restaurant and a staff of about 220 on the payroll, the present Mr. Voisin has little time to travel. ‘I can’t be the rover that my ancestor was' he said. ‘I go to Switzerland occasionally—the Swiss confectionery department in Gaudin’s is rather a favourite of mine—and I send my buyers to France and England. Of course, there isn‘t the same necessity to travel today as we have our agents in most parts of the world.
‘One rather surprising thing is that we have one or two members on the staff who were working for Voisin before my great-grandfather, the hard-working Francis Bishop, died. There’s Mr. Young of the bedding department, he’s been with us since 1914, and Mr. John Arthur our floor manager, came to us from school at about the same time—when I say ‘us' of course I wasn’t born then. We have two brothers, Mr. Clarry Bisson of the china department and Mr. Reg Bisson our carpet adviser who number 110 years on the staff between them. Mr. Osmont, one of our drivers first clocked in 48 years ago, and so did Mr. Lillycrap who works in the bakehouse. Mr. Benest in the bakehouse too, dates back to 1918, and Mr. Besbirel, our hardware buyer is another old-timer’.
With this tremendous tradition of family and staff continuity, it would seem unthinkable that anyone but a Voisin should inherit the business. The present owner has a son, Francis Gerald aged three, together with three sisters, and is as yet rather young to give his views on his future.
Long Service Tradition
Today with the many different facets of the business, including the largest men's wear department in the south of Britain, a flourishing restaurant and a staff of about 220 on the payroll, the present Mr. Voisin has little time to travel. ‘I can’t be the rover that my ancestor was' he said. ‘I go to Switzerland occasionally—the Swiss confectionery department in Gaudin’s is rather a favourite of mine—and I send my buyers to France and England. Of course, there isn‘t the same necessity to travel today as we have our agents in most parts of the world.
‘One rather surprising thing is that we have one or two members on the staff who were working for Voisin before my great-grandfather, the hard-working Francis Bishop, died. There’s Mr. Young of the bedding department, he’s been with us since 1914, and Mr. John Arthur our floor manager, came to us from school at about the same time—when I say ‘us' of course I wasn’t born then. We have two brothers, Mr. Clarry Bisson of the china department and Mr. Reg Bisson our carpet adviser who number 110 years on the staff between them. Mr. Osmont, one of our drivers first clocked in 48 years ago, and so did Mr. Lillycrap who works in the bakehouse. Mr. Benest in the bakehouse too, dates back to 1918, and Mr. Besbirel, our hardware buyer is another old-timer’.
With this tremendous tradition of family and staff continuity, it would seem unthinkable that anyone but a Voisin should inherit the business. The present owner has a son, Francis Gerald aged three, together with three sisters, and is as yet rather young to give his views on his future.
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