Mountney

Joseph Mountney, whose father and grandfather practiced taxidermy in Belper, Derbyshire setup as a taxidermist in Gloucester, probably around 1880. In 1888 he purchased the business of John Cording at 42 The Royal Arcade in Cardiff. His two sons joined him in the business which became large eneough to employ four others as well. Mountney died during the first world war-by which time his eldest son Perceval had already left the firm- and his younger son did not continue the trade after the war. Mountney's eldest son Perceval J Mountney (1883-1967) left his father's business in Cardiff to set up in his own right in Park Street, Bristol. He then moved to Brighton in 1919 to become curator of the Booth Museum. There are references at the time which refer to 'Mountney of Southwick' which adjoins Brighton. From 1929-1931 he was at Brecon in South Wales where he formed a museum for the Brecknock Society then from 1931-1954 he was the curator for the Charterhouse School Museum. He continued to practice taxidermy privately in Godalming, Surrey until his death at the age of 84 in 1967.