Swaysland.
Swaysland & Son

(1814 – 1951)

The exact date of the establishment of this company is difficult to pin down.
It would seem that the firm had its origins with Stephen Swaysland a ‘Wheelwright
& Bird Fancier’ and that he probably supplied live caged birds. His son George went from gardener to taxidermist. He became an accomplished naturalist and was acquainted with many prominent scientists of the day eg Charles Darwin,
William Borrer and William Yarrell. George is actually mentioned in Darwin’s
“The Descent of Man”. He claims to have mounted several of the exhibits in the
Bramber Museum’s “Who Killed Cock Robin?”. His three sons Henry, George and Walter remained in the family business. They occupied, separately, premises in Gloucester Road Brighton, 58 George Street Hove, 4 Queens Road Brighton and in Sydney Street Brighton. At one point a business called Kidd & Swaysland of 3 Cranbourne Street Brighton was advertising; however, which of the Swayslands were involved is uncertain. The firm Swaysland & Son gradually ceased taxidermy and went back to selling caged birds. Walter’s son Walter continued running the business
until it ceased to operate in 1951.

Our thanks to the Brighton museum service for
submitting this information to the society.

Swaysland in his studio

Swaysland advert from 1903 publication.

White Pheasant

Capercaillie