The History of Carnforth and Henry Murray & Son

It would seem Henry Murray made a wise choice when moving his young and expanding family to Carnforth. Henry and his wife Mary Jane moved to 12 Scotland Road in the 1870s.In helping us try and understand why Henry Murray chose this move we must rewind some 120+ years to a town where his business as a Saddler flourished and his subsequent change of direction in becoming a taxidermist, led him to leave behind a legacy very few can rival in the world of taxidermy.

Forming part of the main coaching road through the town for those travelling to or
from Lancaster in the south or Kendal/the lakes in the north, Scotland Road was a
busy thoroughfare. In days long before the motor car, travellers would have journeyed through Carnforth on horseback. Horse-drawn coachs, farm wagons would all have followed the same route, many no doubt often requiring the services of Mr Murray
and that of the nearby Blacksmith. With several hostelries located around the town, Carnforth was the ideal halfway house.

Situated in the north west corner of Lancashire on the Westmoreland (now Cumbria) border, Carnforth was a thriving market town, whose population was rapidly increasing due to the arrival of the railway. The recently opened station formed part of a major railway junction not only serving the London, North Western main line but also the Midland Railway branch line to Leeds and beyond. The railway was the driving factor in the towns prosperity and still is a major part of the town today. The Lancaster Canal, runs through the town and its horse drawn barges no doubt also brought a constant stream of business for Henry. The Iron works (built in the 1840s) which was just across the road from Henry Murray’s premises, would have also had a vast amount of horse and wagon serving it. The surrounding farmers bringing produce to market and to the goods yard would have also required the services of Mr Murray at some point.


Henry Murray Harness makers badge. c1880s

By 1900 the town with its flourishing market, station and industry was expanding considerably and had a population of 3200 (201 in 1800). Henry by this time had trained his second son Albert as a saddler and business was good, however changes were afoot. With the coming of the motor vehicle, attitudes were changing and we assume Henry reconised this, which prompted his diversification into taxidermy.

We can’t be sure how Henry became a taxidermist or indeed how he learnt the profession, but learn he did and by 1910 was advertising himself as a saddler, harness maker & taxidermist. Again looking at the location and the facilities Carnforth had to offer, Henry and Albert were well placed to establish and expand their taxidermy business. Not only was Carnforth surrounded by an area of great natural beauty, comprising of endless acres of rolling hills and countryside, but the river Keer also ran close to the town, and was a popular river for fisherman. These included the Murrays themselves with fine bags to be had. More importantly to the Murrays this was also an area steeped in deep hunting tradition. Many Otter and Fox hound packs were active
in the outlaying areas, which kept the Murrays busy, indeed their labels claim
“sporting trophies a speciality”.

With a move a few doors down to 6/8 Scotland Road, the business soon became known as H. Murray & Son. Naturalists & Taxidermists. Although taxidermy had by now become the primary business for the Murray’s, the shop in Scotland Road still stocked saddles and associated equestrian items including horse brasses, clear evidence that the demand still existed, most likely from the hunting and farming fraternity.

Henry Murray & Son soon gained a fine reputation for the high quality work they produced. Frequented by local huntsman, their reputation also went much further, with a clientele list including much of the landed gentry. The lack of competition at that time, without doubt helped the taxidermy business flourish. Sadly 1926 saw the premature death of Albert’s brother Edmund Gordon, aged only 39.This undoubtedly had a profound effect on the family with his mother Mary Jane, passing away the same year and father Henry sadly following the following year.

Albert continued to trade under the name H.Murray & Son fulfilling the huge demand for his work. A major part of business was birds eggs, selling them to serious collectors and local children alike, this was of course during a time when it was quite legal to do so. On his fathers death Albert inherited his father’s fine egg collection which included an egg of the extinct Great Auk. Albert was also producing many fine cases of various
types that were not only attractive and pleasing to the eye, but were all executed
with true skill and craftsmanship.

“Stuffing Murray” as he was affectionately known, had his shop adjacent to No 6 Scotland Road. This tarred weather boarded timber building with huge plate glass frontage, it contained many exotic species such as bear, lion, tiger, and ostrich. All manner of exotic colourful birds adorned the walls, elephants feet propped open the door and stags heads looked down from above. Local residents can remember as children scaring each other looking at the bear in the window on their way to school.

Albert worked right up to the age of 86. In 1961 he sold his shop and retired to Milnthorpe, a few miles north of Carnforth. Sadly his retirement was cut short by his untimely death in 1962. Some of the contents of the shop and his customer base were passed on to Thomas Salkeld of Over Kellett, another local taxidermist that had frequented the shop on many occasions. It has been said that Thomas Salkeld was at one time an apprentice to Murray, but this was in fact not the case. Thomas did however “mind” the shop on several occasions whilst Albert was indisposed. Albert’s widow
Kate Amy survived until 1978 and was buried in the family plot at Carnforth
cemetery along side Albert and other members of the family.

Henry & Albert Murray were both fine practitioners in the art of taxidermy.
The legacy they have left behind is matched only by a few. Their distinctive wall mounted cases are particularly fine and are very much sought after today.

Reproduced from “The Kendal Museum Collection of Fine Art Taxidermy by
H Murray & Son. Published by BHTS. (see publications)

The Kendal Museum Collection of Fine Art Taxidermy
by
H. Murray & Son

Available in soft back, hardback and ltd green leather edition

Printed in full colour

Murray otter head 1937

Pair of Snipe and chicks
An exquisite picture frame case in classic Murray style. The painted backdrop is particuly fine and the taxidermy of the highest standard. One of the finest Murray
cases we have recorded. This case is illustrated in A History of British Taxidermy
by Christopher Frost.

The Murray family final resting place

This is the first published image of the grave of Henry Murray & Albert Murray.
The Murrays are buried along with other family members in this grave at
Carnforth cemetry. Henry died aged 76 on 20th August 1927 and his Son Albert
died on the 19th March 1962. The legacy they left behind is some of the
most collectable taxidermy today.

Albert James Murray obituary
1879-1962

This is the first published image of Albert Murray.
Reproduced by kind permission of the Westmoreland Gazette.

Ermine Stoat - Leighton Park 1935 (Winter)

Two Peregrine Falcons
Unusual not to be a pair, the one on the left appears to be a Juvenile,
a nice case non the less.

Tragopan
Lovely picture frame case with typical Murray style backdrop.

Canary by H.Murray & Son

Merlin

Common Buzzard

Goose head on Sheild

Kittiwake in summer plumage
Unusually this case has a printed backdrop rather than the normal
watercolour painting associated with many Murray cases.

Kittiwake
Close up detail of the fine workmanship of Murray.

H. Murray & Son letterhead dated 1932.

Leach's Petrel
Featured in the new book
"The Kendal Museum Collection of Fine Art Taxidermy"

Brambling
Featured in the new Kendal Museum book

Water Rails

Juvenile Long-tailed Skua

Male Scaup

Swallow nest scene

Carved Sea Trout

Pike

Nice Murray Fox mask.

Many of latter Murray masks were done by Thomas Salkeld for H.Murray & Son
on a piece work basis. This was particually so in Albert Murray's latter years.
When the hunting season was in full swing, Murray was most likely at his
busiest and could not always cope with the demand,so the mask work was often
passed on to Tommy Salkeld, thus eleviating the workload on Murray and at the same time keeping his clientele happy.

Otter Mask 1951

Black-backed Gull's head