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Edward Kerrell was born in 1846 in
Streatham to John Kerrell and Caroline, he was one one
of six children. John was from the Coulsdon branch of the
family. He was a Gardener at the time of the 1861 census, although he had
been an Apprentice Blacksmith in Gatton when aged
18 years old.
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At age 15, he was a shopman grocer living with the Trotman
family of Croydon at 85 Westow Street. The
family head Frederick Trotman was a Grocer and
Cheesemonger from Brixton, Surrey.
In 1868 Edward married Ann Redington from Magdalen
Laver, Essex.
Three years later, in
the 1871 census, Edward is a Grocer living at 19 Cadogan
Street, Chelsea with his wife and her sister Emma.
Edward and Ann have no
biological children but in the 1881 census, living with Edward and Ann is
an adopted daughter Florence H White, aged 13 from Buckhurst Hill in
Essex. Edward is listed as a Dry Salter. Edward’s younger sister Clara
Jesse Kerrell is living with them and working as a packer.
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Figure 1 - 19 Cadogan Street,
Chelsea today.
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Drysalters
from Wikipedia
Drysalters were dealers in a range of chemical
products, including glue, varnish, dye and colourings. They might supply
salt or chemicals for preserving food and sometimes also sold pickles,
dried meat or related items. The name drysalter
or dry-salter was in use in the United Kingdom by the early 18th century
when some drysalters concentrated on ingredients
for producing dyes, and it was still current in the first part of the 20th
century.
In 1882 Edward is a manufacturer and
merchant of baking powder and placed the following advertisement:
“The housekeeper's delight
! Edward Kerrell's ... baking powder.
Makes delicious bread, pastry, cakes, buns ...
Only 2d the ¼lb packet ...
manufactured ... by E. Kerrell & Co.,19,Cadogan St, Chelsea”
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Figure
2 - 33 Cadogan
Street, Chelsea today.
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In the 1891 census, Edward is listed
as a baker powder manufacturer and merchant but now at new premises, 33 Cadogan Street, Chelsea. Today, this address is a now a corner
shop occupied by an estate agent.
By 1896 Ann must have died, as
Edward married Elizabeth Bates.
In 1896 Edward is also advertising
on hoardings. A French film made in that year shows one of his adverts.
The film is called ALERTE DE POMPIERS: LONDRES. The following describes
the action:
“Horse-drawn
fire engines emerging from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade headquarters in
Southwark. No titles. An electric tram passes left to right. The
advertising hoarding reads `Kerrell's Baking
Powder'. One of the destinations reads `Vauxhall'. A horse cart passes
right to left. In the background a man knocks on the doors of the fire
station....”.
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At some point unknown, Edward was also
manufacturing custard powder and advertised both products on matchboxes.
  
Figure
3 - Advertisements on a matchboxes
Edward died in 1900 and left his
estate to Elizabeth. The company is still trading in 1902 as evidenced by
this cheque made payable to E. Kerrell & Co. The cheque is stamped on
the rear “Par. Pro. E.KERRELL & Co., LIMD” and signed Alfred Robinson –
Secretary.
Figure
4 – Cheque made out to E. Kerrell & Co
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