| Robert Harrild | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1780 Bermondsey, Surrey, England. |
| Died | 28 July 1853 (aged 73) Sydenham, Kent, England, |
| Years active | 1803-1853 |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Billing (1780–1845) (his death) |
Robert Harrild (1 January 1780 – 28 July 1853) was an English printing pioneer. Harrild was the founder of the business 'Harrild & Sons', his history is recorded in 'The House of Harrild' by Edward Living written in 1949, which gives the complete history of the Company, and also many names and dates of Harrilds.
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Robert Harrild, born in Bermondsey, Surrey, England, was the second son of Robert Harrild of Surrey and his wife Sarah Johnson.
In 1801, at the age of 21, Harrild set up in partnership with Edward Billing at the Bluecoat-Boy Printing Office, Russell Street, Bermondsey. In the same year, Harrild married Edward Billing's sister, Elizabeth. Joseph Billing, nephew of Edward, later married Sarah Harrild, daughter of Robert. Seven of Robert and Elizabeth's ten children survived into adulthood, their daughter Mary married the colour-printing innovator George Baxter (printer), Baxter's sister Mary married Robert's eldest son and heir Robert Harrild.
In 1807, Harrild branched off on his own to premises at 127 Bermondsey Street. During this period he published and printed a number of books, some copies of which are in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.
Around 1819, Harrild moved the business to 20 Great Eastcheap, London. He specialised at this time in printing books for children.
During the years 1818-1825, the business branched into considerable amounts of commercial printing and Harrild was instrumental in manufacturing rollers for printing machines and for installing and maintaining these rollers in many of the Fleet Street newspaper offices. In 1824, Harrild moved the business again, this time to 25 Friday Street and 3 years later took over 10 and 11 Distaff Lane.
By 1832 the printing side of the business had been discontinued and he concentrated on the engineering side, manufacturing his own printing presses and supplying rollers and materials. [1]
Robert snr. had been instrumental in developing much of the new housing on Sydenham Common and he had built 'Round Hill' as the family home. His sons Horton and Thomas also had houses built there. His son Henry does not appear to have played a part in the family business, or to have lived at Sydenham, but in Islington. Harrild’s will excluded all but a minor provision for Henry.
His son Thomas became uncle, by mariage, to the author Richard Jefferies.