Complex sentence: Mathews' was born in Gravesend and learned his trade in London and Bath, before in 1884 opening his own shop in Exeter where he published his first books, in collaboration with other local booksellers.
Split into simpler sentences: Mathews' was born in Gravesend and learned his trade in London and Bath, before opening his own shop in Exeter in 1884. He published his first books here, in collaboration with other local booksellers.