It has been noted that George Hepplewhite served his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker at Gillows of Lancaster prior to opening his own business in London but the facts surrounding this apprenticeship are somewhat inconclusive.
From Susan Stuarts' book on Gillows: "A thorough search through the Lancaster Apprentice Rolls failed to find any evidence of any Hebblethwaite or Hepplewhite apprenticed to Gillows or to any other Lancaster cabinetmaker, nor is there any evidence that he ever worked as a journeyman for the Lancaster firm. However it is possible that he worked in the Oxford Street shop whose records have not survived. There (may have been) a Hebblethewaite family living in Church Street about fifty yards from Gillows wareroom and workshops. There is, nevertheless, a strong similarity between Gillows' and Hepplewhite's designs. Some of Gillows designs, especially Chair Patterns predate Hepplewhite & Co. designs by several years."
Bibliography: Gillows of Lancaster and London, Susan E. Stuart
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