James Shudi Broadwood
Encyclopedia
James Shudi Broadwood was a piano
maker in Middlesex
and a magistrate in Surrey
.
and his first wife Barbara Shudi. James originally worked as a clerk for his father from 1785. In 1795 his father made him a full partner in the family business. He took over the running of the Broadwood Piano Company with his half-brother Thomas after the death of their father in 1812. James was named in the annual Court registers as 'Organ
Builder in Ordinary to His Majesty' from 1799 to 1821 and again in 1836. James was an experienced piano tuner
and contributed an article to 'The Gentleman's Magazine
' on the subject in 1811. He experimented in many ways including the use of iron frames to improve the design of the pianos the company made.
Volunteers. Two years later he became Captain of a company from the same regiment formed from Broadwood workers. He was also honorary Regimental Treasurer. The Volunteers were disbanded in 1802 when the threat of invasion was lifted by Britain's naval victories at the Nile
and Copenhagen
. He was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey
in 1835. In 1824 he obtained a Grant of Arms
. Warnham School in West Sussex was built in 1850 with money provided by James, the local vicar and others.
in Middlesex on 11 July 1797. They had three children, two sons and one daughter. After Sophia's death in 1801 he remarried to Margaret Schaw Stewart at Marylebone in Middlesex on 11 June 1804. They had thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters. Their fourth daughter Mary Drummond Broadwood married Alfred Lyall
. This couple's second son was Alfred Comyn Lyall
. Their eldest son Henry Fowler Broadwood married Juliana Maria Birch. This couple's tenth daughter was Lucy Broadwood
.
in West Sussex
. He had increased the area there to 1280 acres (5 km²) by 1841 (including the farm of Temple Elfold in the parish of Capel in Surrey
in 1833). By 1842 he owned various estates in the parish of Rusper
in West Sussex with an area of nearly 700 acres (including the Crown estate of 333 acres (1.3 km²)). His estate on his death was valued at £319,180. The executors of his will controlled over 584 acres (2.4 km²) of land with a rentable value of £263 16s in 1871 at Crawley
in West Sussex.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
maker in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
and a magistrate in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Piano making
He was born in London and died in Lyne Drive, Surrey. He was the second child and eldest son of John BroadwoodJohn Broadwood
John Broadwood was the Scottish founder of the piano manufacturer Broadwood and Sons.-Life:Broadwood was born 6 October 1732 and christened 15 Oct 1732 at St Helens, Cockburnspath in Berwickshire, and grew up in Oldhamstocks, East Lothian...
and his first wife Barbara Shudi. James originally worked as a clerk for his father from 1785. In 1795 his father made him a full partner in the family business. He took over the running of the Broadwood Piano Company with his half-brother Thomas after the death of their father in 1812. James was named in the annual Court registers as 'Organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
Builder in Ordinary to His Majesty' from 1799 to 1821 and again in 1836. James was an experienced piano tuner
Piano tuning
Piano tuning is the act of making minute adjustments to the tensions of the strings of a piano to properly align the intervals between their tones so that the instrument is in tune. The meaning of the term in tune in the context of piano tuning is not simply a particular fixed set of pitches...
and contributed an article to 'The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine was founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term "magazine" for a periodical...
' on the subject in 1811. He experimented in many ways including the use of iron frames to improve the design of the pianos the company made.
Other activities
In 1797 James was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Royal WestminsterWestminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
Volunteers. Two years later he became Captain of a company from the same regiment formed from Broadwood workers. He was also honorary Regimental Treasurer. The Volunteers were disbanded in 1802 when the threat of invasion was lifted by Britain's naval victories at the Nile
Battle of the Nile
The Battle of the Nile was a major naval battle fought between British and French fleets at Aboukir Bay on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt from 1–3 August 1798...
and Copenhagen
Battle of Copenhagen (1801)
The Battle of Copenhagen was an engagement which saw a British fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker fight and strategically defeat a Danish-Norwegian fleet anchored just off Copenhagen on 2 April 1801. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson led the main attack. He famously disobeyed Parker's...
. He was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey
High Sheriff of Surrey
-List of High Sheriffs of Surrey:The list of known High Sheriffs of Surrey extends back to 1066 At various times the High Sheriff of Surrey was also High Sheriff of Sussex -1066-1228:...
in 1835. In 1824 he obtained a Grant of Arms
Grant of Arms
A grant of arms is an action by a lawful authority, such as an officer of arms, conferring on a person and his or her descendants the right to bear a particular coat of arms or armorial bearings...
. Warnham School in West Sussex was built in 1850 with money provided by James, the local vicar and others.
Family
James married twice. He married his first wife Sophia Bridget Colville at PiccadillyPiccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
in Middlesex on 11 July 1797. They had three children, two sons and one daughter. After Sophia's death in 1801 he remarried to Margaret Schaw Stewart at Marylebone in Middlesex on 11 June 1804. They had thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters. Their fourth daughter Mary Drummond Broadwood married Alfred Lyall
Alfred Lyall (traveller)
Alfred Lyall was an English philosopher, editor, clergyman and traveller.- Early life :Alfred Lyall was the youngest son of John Lyall , of Findon, Sussex, and Jane Comyn . His eldest brother George Lyall, sometime member of parliament for the City of London, became Chairman of the East India...
. This couple's second son was Alfred Comyn Lyall
Alfred Comyn Lyall
Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall, GCIE, KCB was a British civil servant, literary historian and poet.-Early life:He was born at Coulsdon in Surrey, the second son of Alfred Lyall and Mary Drummond Broadwood, daughter of James Shudi Broadwood. He was educated at Eton...
. Their eldest son Henry Fowler Broadwood married Juliana Maria Birch. This couple's tenth daughter was Lucy Broadwood
Lucy Broadwood
Lucy Etheldred Broadwood was principally an English folksong collector and researcher during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As one of the founder members of the Folk-Song Society and Editor of the Folk Song Journal, she was one of the main influences of the English folk revival of that...
.
Country estate
James Shudi Broadwood was an extremely wealthy man by the time of his death in 1851. In 1799 he purchased Lyne Farm in Surrey with a loan of £3,000 from his father. In 1821 he purchased a 265 acres (1.1 km²) farm at WarnhamWarnham
Warnham is a village and civil parish in the Horsham district of West Sussex, England. The village is some three kilometres north west of central Horsham to the west of the A24 road...
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
. He had increased the area there to 1280 acres (5 km²) by 1841 (including the farm of Temple Elfold in the parish of Capel in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1833). By 1842 he owned various estates in the parish of Rusper
Rusper
Rusper is a village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It lies north of the town of Horsham and west of Crawley. Rusper is the centre of Rusper Parish which covers most of the northern area between Horsham and Crawley. Rusper is governed by the Horsham District...
in West Sussex with an area of nearly 700 acres (including the Crown estate of 333 acres (1.3 km²)). His estate on his death was valued at £319,180. The executors of his will controlled over 584 acres (2.4 km²) of land with a rentable value of £263 16s in 1871 at Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
in West Sussex.
External links
- John Broadwood and Sons, official website
- John Broadwood and Sons Piano Manufacturers by Sally Jenkinson, Surrey County Council
- Broadwood in the grand piano-Photoarchive