RICHARD PEAT 1863 - 1903 VIOLIN MAKER OF SOME REPUTE

Looking through the newspaper archives recently I came across a reference to a Richard Peat of Alfreton, who according to local and London opinion was the maker of the finest violins in England. He was certainly unknown to me but with assistance from friends at Tibshelf

Local History and Civic Society we have managed to learn a little more about him.

Richard was born in Somercotes in 1863 the second son of William Peat and his wife Hannah nee Gascoyne. William was a miner working at Birchwood Colliery before moving to Tibshelf in 1870. Hannah was musically gifted and from an early age Richard learned to play both piano and violin. He also was able to repair and make violins. There was a respect and appreciation of music in general, this at a time when people had to make their own entertainment.

Like many young men of the time Richard found work in the local pits but as a young coal miner he suffered a horrific accident resulting in the loss of one leg. Unable to continue working in the mines Richard turned to his hobby of violin making to earn a living. As the business grew, he rented premises at Newton Green, selling sheet music, books, and all manner of musical instruments.

In 1893 Richard married Arabella Williams from Stonebroom, living first at Newton Green and then at the family home at 15 St Thomas Row, Tibshelf. By then Richard had moved to larger, purpose built, business premises on the High Street at Tibshelf. He started importing musical instruments and other accessories, advertising widely throughout the U.K. and Ireland. Such was his success that in late 1897 he purchased a shop at 3 High Street, Alfreton, where he and his family lived until his death.

Richard was not a well man suffering long periods of ill health through consumption and he died at his Tibshelf workshop on the 7th December, 1903 aged 41, being later buried in Tibshelf Churchyard. The Violins manufactured by Richard Peat were of exceptional quality and certainly command a reasonable price when appearing for auction at such places as Bonhams and Christies. Not a bad legacy for a local lad who, in the face of adversity, got stuck in and made something of his life!