Beneath the Lyde sign of the Royal Crest and three tongues, Lyde lists a wide range of exotic groceries and other useful items for sale, many of them clearly imported: Mangoes, Indian Birds Nests, Brick Dust, Sperma Oyle, Seal Oyle, Neat’s Feet Oyl, Soy Indian Ketchup, Lamp Black, and Cord.

The founder of the family firm, the equivalent of the modern delicatessen, was Edward Lyde (1706-1755), a well-known and successful “oilman” in the Strand from 1744-1754. He was joined by his “son” from 1760-1765, and in 1768, a Lyndeman Lyde (1751-1775) is listed as an oilman, also in the Strand. One of Edward’s daughters, Ann (1755-1824), married Captain Benjamin Raffles, and was the mother of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore. From 1770-1777 John & Willm. Lyde, were oilmen, in the Strand; and 1779-1793 John Lyde & Benjamin Page, were oilmen, at various addresses in the Strand, with the company still trading at 459 Strand until 1823.