William Chilvers (1809-1878)
William Chilvers was born in 1809 in the same area of Norwich as another dulcimer maker, Mark Widdows.
He was working in the family trade of weaving in 1826 when he married Ann Tooley and for the next 16 years they stayed in Norwich, bringing up their children and still working in the weaving trade. In 1842 they moved to the east Suffolk town of Halesworth, where, a couple of years later White’s Directory records him as a musical instrument maker and music teacher in Chediston Street. In the 1851 census he is listed as a master tuner, indicating that he worked with pianos, which were becoming very popular at the time, creating a growing demand for tuners in both provincial centres and country villages. He remained in Chediston Street and in a trade directory from 1855 he is again a musical instrument maker and teacher, while in the 1861 census he is described as a music master.
One newspaper report has emerged which tells us that he played the dulcimer as well as making them – in September 1861, “Mr Chilvers of Halesworth, on the dulcimer, accompanied by a violoncello, discoursed some lively music” for the Henham and Wangford School Treat hosted by the Countess of Stradbroke. (Ipswich Journal, 28 September)
William Chilvers continued to live and work in Halesworth until his younger brother James died in June 1870. James had continued to work in Norwich as a piano tuner in the early 1860s and then established a music shop in the St Andrews area of the city, at 5 Bedford Street. In his will, made in January 1870, he laid out arrangements for William to take over the business and run it with two of James’s sons. So in the 1871 census, William and his family are found back in Norwich – not once, but twice – once at the home address and once at the business address.
William Chilvers died on 18th September 1878. The 1879 Kelly’s Directory carried an advertisement which must have been placed before his death – for Chilvers and Nephews music warehouse in Norwich. By 1888 his nephew was running the business on his own and it had moved premises to 10 St Stephen’s Street.
Much family research was helpfully provided by Julian Chilvers, a great grandson of William.
Three dulcimers are believed to have been made by William Chilvers, including one handed down through the Philpot family to one of the best known players in recent years, Reg Reader.
William Chilvers’ dulcimers
More photos and information about William Chilvers’ dulcimers
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