We attended the British Fly Fair recently and advertised a free valuation service for the two-day show.
Many of our customers visited the stand but one had a secret treasure. Among his whole collection of modern game fishing equipment was a very special rod.
So special that we bought it and agreed not to sell it. Why? because most people will not have seen a 150-year-old rod and it’s part of our angling heritage.
The rod is a Chevalier & Bowness of Bell Yard Temple Bar London 3-piece rod of bamboo greenheart and lancewood. The fittings are silver plated and foliate engraved as well as script engraved with the maker’s details on the butt cap. The rod dates from 1866-82.
Chevalier and Bowness were two separate families intertwined in their business, both dealing and fully immersed in the early angling manufacturing and retailing of the day. Chevalier was established in 1737 and Bowness in 1780. In the various reference books, there are approx. 30 combinations of trading names involving sons, wives, fathers and uncles of the families. All stayed in the central London area which was frequented by lawyers, bookkeepers, accountants, maritime establishments and other tackle makers. A real hotspot of concentrated angling development.
The reel is a Bowness and Bowness brass crank wind reel with a rare invoice from Chevalier Bowness & Bowness containing a gut loop cast with flies in original wrap. The early photograph in the background is related in its age. The anglers with their early sloping fine weave creels are certainly pre 1900, maybe much earlier, but who are they?
Possibly an angling club, a gentleman’s club, or just a merchant’s day out fishing. I see no sign of fish and they are all immaculately dressed so I assume this is the beginning of the day rather than the end.
Interesting names too; Samuel Levi, Ismiah Starter, Robert Winterbottom, James Waterhouse, John Cornitt and James Wallwork.
It would be a fascinating project for someone to identify this group and follow on from here.
We are committed to reaching out to all anglers, young and old to display, discuss and engage in discussion of our angling past. The shows we attend in the coming months will have more similar historic tackle items on display as we uncover them.
If you have a fine piece of angling-related history that others may enjoy seeing, please drop me a line and we can discuss it.
