Norman, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Norman
Active 1724-1730
London, St Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the Bass Viol

Barak Norman was dead or at least retired from business in 1724 when his wife Elizabeth was one of the retailers subscribing to A Pocket Book for Gentlemen and Ladies. In 1724-25 labels of Barak Norman and Nathaniel Cross at the Bass Viol in St Paul's Church-Yard are known, but the labels are surmounted by St Crispin's cross, which Cross used as his mark, suggesting that these instruments are labelled posthumously for Norman at a time that Cross was trying to take over the business. However, better business prospects in Piccadilly meant that he left the business by 1725 and it remains in Elizabeth's hands until 1730. An advert of 29 March reads: 

This evening the sale of Musical Instruments will be continu'd at the Church Coffee House in St Paul's Churchyard beginning at five o'clock and every evening until all are sold, among which are A very curious Harpsichord several instruments of Wind, Musick, and a Collection of Musick books songs and sonnets Operas &c not expressed in the Catalogue which may be viewed at the place of sale, where Catalogues may be had, also at Will's Coffee House near Temple-Bar Rudd's Coffee House in the Haymarket, the British Coffee House in Finch Lane and at the Widow Norman's in St Paul's Churchyard. 

The shop passed briefly into the hands of Daniel Wright, a music publisher from elsewhere in St Paul's Churchyard, before being taken over by Robert Thompson, presumably a pupil of Norman's. It remained a violin shop through Charles & Samuel Thompson, then Whittaker & Button, until being demolished in the Regency period to make way for a new North Piazza to St Paul's.