John Millward - Lace Desiger
The Millwards, who were a family of Lace buyers and designers, seem to have come from Newport Pagnell, where a designer of that name was carrying on business in 1761, but knowledge of them, and indeed of all the early designers, is unfortunately hard to locate. They were first heard of in Olney on October 31st, 1780. John Millward was born 1790 in Olney and died in 1860 in Newport Pagnell at the age of 70. John also had three brothers: William, Joseph & Benjamin.
A ‘William Millard’ may have been the father of the John Millward who designed many signed patterns dating from 1822 to 1850. John was a tall, thin, sharp-featured man with a long pendulous nose. He also apparently suffered from some sort of foot disability and was nicknamed ‘Dabfoot’ in the town.
When in Olney he lived at No.44 High Street, which still survives to this day. The entry alongside his house, which goes through to East Street, is still known as ‘Mill’ards Entry’.
John Millward was also the inventor of the Buckinghamshire crowns for babies’ muslin caps. These were exhibited in the Great Exhibition of 1851, and he won a gold medal. He exported his caps to America, and this continued until after the Civil War 1860. He also gave evidence to parliament of the piracy of lace pattern designs.
The Bucks Point lace used by Queen Victoria at her accession was designed by Millward and made at Olney – the pattern being the rose, shamrock and the thistle; and a similar but narrower lace adorned the Christening Robe of the Princess Royal. The Queens interest in Bucks Lace was further stimulated in 1845 during a visit to Stowe House, when she inspected the specimens submitted to her by the Duchess of Buckingham.
The work of John Millward was continued by Mr George Smith, who from 1870 made some very tasteful designs. He was a lace designer and trader and when John Millward passed away in 1860, he carried on the business. John Millwards live-in servant was Elizabeth Clayson, who was a lacemaker herself and married George Smith in 1861, who happened to live next door!
When Queen Victoria visited the Great Exhibition in 1851, Elizabeth Clayson had the honour of working a George Smith design in the Queen’s presence. The Queen asked various questions, but one being “Are the different coloured bobbins a guide to which thread you turn over”, to which the answer was a ‘No”! A question a modern lacemaker gets asked frequently.
One of the oldest parchments of Bucks Point in existence is a flounce for a dress. It was given to George Smith in 1862 by an Olney lacemaker, who was then about 80, and it belonged to her grandmother. Where is this now I wonder?
The photo above of John Millward, in a high ‘stove-pipe’ hat is dated around 1850 alongside his fellow lace designer friend William Soul.
No. 44 High Street, Olney.
A John Millward design of a Muslin Cap – 1827 – Photo from the V&A, London