[3] This proved to be a very busy time for the partnership and William France, as the king married Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1761[5] and apartments in St James's Palace were refurbished for the new queen and work was also required for the Coronation.
[1] Among Vile and Cobb's customers for whom they continued to work, were Princess Augusta, the King's mother for Carlton House,[8] Lord Coventry at Croome Court, Worcestershire, Sir Lawrence Dundas at 19 Arlington Street, London and Moor Park, Hertfordshire and John Chute at his London house in Charles Street, Mayfair.
An interesting series of documents were preserved amongst Lord Mansfield's papers with regard to the construction of the majestic salon at Kenwood by Robert Adam.
Thomas Chippendale was contracted to supply a sequence of looking-glass plates, the frames of which were made by William France to Adam's design.
Under the terms of this new bond Lord Mansfield agreed to advance half the sum to William France on the understanding that it would be refunded if Chippendale defaulted.
[12] The Glass was evidently delivered within the three-month term as Lord Mansfield paid the balance due in November – the receipt for payment in full being jointly signed by Thomas Chippendale Junior and William France.
This contract has been cited as evidence of Chippendale's devious business ethics, but in fact the same procedure applied to other agents who worked under Adam's personal direction.
At the time Chippendale was under great financial strain and found credit hard to secure which may explain his request for a cash advance.