George Tutill (1817-1887) was born in the Yorkshire village of Howden in 1817. In 1837 the twenty year-old Tutill established the company which was to manufacture more trade union banners than any other in the world- more than three-quarters ever commercially manufactured.
Details of his life before 1837 are obscure, but the company he established in that year still survives and is now based in Chesham, By 1857 he was living in Islington and soon after he established his business at 83 City Road, in a purpose built workshop. By 1860 he moved house to Canonbury, a more up-market part of Islington, a sign of his increased success and prosperity. A key to his success was moving banner-making on from a simple artisan workshop activity to an almost production-line process.
Tutill's activities at City Road were not confined to trade union banners. Regalia for Oddfellows, Masons, church Sunday schools, Bands of Hope, temperance societies, Rechabites, Orange orders and every kind of friendly society were made, to order.
George Tutill died on 17 February 1887 at home, in the Red House. The business passed to his daughter and son-in-law. Thus business continued and prospered in the boom decade on the 1890's. In the twentieth century demand for banners declined until after the First World War, when there was an upsurge in trade union banner making. Following the General Strike of 1926, demand dropped off again, until 1947, when it prospered with post war confidence (and major nationalisations).
George Tutill, posing in the regalia of Grand Templars - produced by his firm.Details of his life before 1837 are obscure, but the company he established in that year still survives and is now based in Chesham, By 1857 he was living in Islington and soon after he established his business at 83 City Road, in a purpose built workshop. By 1860 he moved house to Canonbury, a more up-market part of Islington, a sign of his increased success and prosperity. A key to his success was moving banner-making on from a simple artisan workshop activity to an almost production-line process.
Tutill's activities at City Road were not confined to trade union banners. Regalia for Oddfellows, Masons, church Sunday schools, Bands of Hope, temperance societies, Rechabites, Orange orders and every kind of friendly society were made, to order.
George Tutill died on 17 February 1887 at home, in the Red House. The business passed to his daughter and son-in-law. Thus business continued and prospered in the boom decade on the 1890's. In the twentieth century demand for banners declined until after the First World War, when there was an upsurge in trade union banner making. Following the General Strike of 1926, demand dropped off again, until 1947, when it prospered with post war confidence (and major nationalisations).
The demand dwindled again until 1967, a year in which the firm of Tutill's did not make a single trade union banner for the first time for 130 years.
Excerpts from the John Walker's article "George Tutill: Forest Gate resident and Trade Union banner manufacturer".
Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 80.4×80.5 mm.
Weight 62.05 g.
Size 80.4×80.5 mm.
Weight 62.05 g.
Instead of order motto "Польза, честь и слава/Benefit, honor and glory" we observe "Pоlьzа, чеsть islаvа".
Instead of "С. Р. К. В." /= Святой Равноапостольный Князь Владимир/Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir/ we observe "S.R.K.V.".
“All The Requisites for Friendly Societies Supplied by G. Tutill’s Regalia Depot 83, City Road London”.
Unfortunately, we cannot rely on the attribution of the star to the George Tutill workshop, since it was originally discovered without any label.