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55 
expedition, and here the party was received by Mr. Isaac Wells, 
at whose invitation the visit was made, and who took upon his 
shoulders the arduous duties of conductor. Mr. Wells extended 
a very hearty welcome to the visitors on behalf of Mr. Hannington, 
and also conveyed to them the latter’s regret that he was unable 
to be present. He went on to mention the interesting fact that 
this is the centenary year of the foundation of the firm. The 
actual business, he said, was established in 1806 by two brothers 
named Constable, who walked all the way from Horley to 
Brighton to do so. In 1808 the grandfather of Mr. S. Hanning- 
ton, the present managing director, purchased it, and the 
Constables went back to Horley in the same way that they came, 
namely, by walking. «Such was the beginning of the undertaking 
whose name is now a household word throughout such a wide 
district, The brojhers Constable subsequently crossed to America 
and established what is now one of the largest drapery businesses 
in New York City, Arnold, Constable and Co. 
“ An ALPINE EXPEDITION.” 
The party then set out upon their tour which, considering 
the amount of climbing that had to be accomplished, was not 
inaptly compared with an Alpine expedition. After a glance at 
the complete and up-to-date stock of ironmongery, some tinie 
was spent in inspecting the rooms in which the furniture is 
housed. The show-room on the first floor was found to be 
occupied by arm-chairs and couches of every imaginable shape, 
and upholstered in the latest and most artistic designs. The 
ladies of the party were unable to resist the temptation to test 
personally some of the more inviting looking specimens. In 
other rooms, drawing and dining room furniture of many periods 
and styles were passed in review, and in the upper regions the 
visitors were shown how carpets are planned to ft the rooms of 
the purchaser and the sections then sewn together by means of a 
special sewing machine. When the rear of the North-street 
premises was reached Mr. Wells reminded the party that they 
were standing upon the site of the old Brighton Athenzeum, where 
the Rev. F. W. Robertson, Sir John Cordy Burrows, and other 
by-gone worthies delivered addresses in the early half of the last 
century. Passing through the carpet department, what are known 
as the Pavilion dormitories were reached. These were the 
sleeping apartments of the Royal servants in the days when 
George IV. held his Court at the Royal Pavilion, and they still 
remain very much as they were then, At the present moment 
their use is not very far removed from their original purpose, for 
they are occupied by ranks upon ranks of brass bedsteads, 
dressing tables, wardrobes, and other examples of bedroom 
furniture. 
