E Dent and Co Ltd , clock and watch makers

E Dent and Company Limited was founded in 1840 by Edward John Dent. Apprenticed first to a tallow-chandler, Dent transferred his apprenticeship in 1807 to a watchmaker, Edward Gaudin, having lived for some time with his cousin Richard Rippon, watchmaker. Dent appears to have stayed with Richard Rippon at King Street, Seven Dials, either working for, or independently of, him until 1830, when he entered into a partnership with John Roger Arnold. Arnold and Dent, 84 Strand, existed for ten years and on 1 October 1840 Dent opened his own business, E J Dent, at 82 Strand. In 1843 Dent married Elizabeth Rippon, formerly the wife of Richard Rippon (d 1835). Dent died in 1853 and his business was divided between his stepsons Richard and Frederick Rippon, but both had to take the name of Dent, under the terms of Dent's will.

Richard Dent (Rippon) inherited the Cockspur Street business. He died in 1856 and the business passed to his wife Maria Frederica and became independent, as M F Dent, until 1920 when it was acquired by E Dent and Company Limited. The shops at 61 Strand and 34 Royal Exchange, which included the turret clock business (at this time involved in the construction of 'Big Ben') and the marine and compass business, passed to Frederick William Dent (Rippon) and the firm became Frederick Dent. Frederick died in 1860 and control passed to Elizabeth Dent (E J Dent's widow, now 71 years of age); the firm's title changed to Dent and Company and comprised a partnership between Elizabeth and her sons-in-law Thomas Buckney and Henry Gardner. The latter died in 1861 and was replaced by his wife Amelia Lydia Sophia Gardner and the company was renamed E Dent and Company. Elizabeth Dent died in 1865 and control of the firm passed to Amelia Gardner and Thomas Buckney. Thomas Buckney died in 1872 and was succeeded by his son, Thomas, who became senior partner in 1881 upon the death of Amelia Gardner.

The firm became a limited company in 1897. In 1900 Thomas Buckney died and his brother Daniel took control as managing director until his death in 1927, when his son Daniel Edward took over; Daniel Patrick Buckney became managing director in 1956, resigning in 1968, thus ending the Buckney connection. K A G Butcher became managing director in 1968 and in 1975 the company was taken over by Toye and Company Limited. In 1977, on moving to Great Queen Street, the company became known as 'The House of Dent' (in association with Toye, Kenning and Spencer Limited).

a) The company had shops at: 82 Strand 1840-1850; 61 Strand 1850-1920; 34 Royal Exchange 1844-55; 34 & 35 Royal Exchange 1856-84; 4 Royal Exchange 1884-1936; 33 Cockspur Street, Charing Cross 1843-61; 33 and 34 Cockspur Street 1862-1904; 34 Cockspur Street 1905-20 (from 1856-1920, trading as M F Dent, an independent company); 28 Cockspur Street 1920-1; 41 Pall Mall 1936-77; and 19/21 Great Queen Street 1977-

b) The company had factories at: Somerset Wharf c 1840-66; Savoy Street 1866-75; "Russell Works, W.C." 1876; 14 Gerrard Street, Soho 1877-85; 4 Hanway Place 1885-1948; and Crown Works, Theed Street, Waterloo 1948-71.

c) In addition a seven year lease on a messuage in Carting Lane, St Clement Danes, was obtained in 1855, for reasons unknown.