WHITTLE, KEAR

I've got a bit bogged down with the BEVANs and the BARNARDs..... so I thought I would pick your brains on the WHITTLE side :-)

does anyone know when William George WHITTLE (known as George) took over the KEAR shop in Market Street, Cinderford (at the Triangle)

we know that James KEAR had the shop in 1911...... and we know that George WHITTLE had the shop around 1935 ..... but when did he take it over?

any help would be greatly appreciated

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Three items from the BNA,

Gloucester Journal, Saturday 30 November 1935
CINDERFORD DISPLAY WEEK
Prizewinner, Things to eat:- 1. Mr W.G.Whittle, Market Street

Gloucester Journal, Saturday 22 November 1924
Littledean Petty Sessions

The following were fined the amounts stated for keeping a dog without a license:-…………… W.G.Whittle, Market Street, Cinderford, 7s 6d…………

If this really is him it might take you to before 1924.

Is this his death in 1942?

Gloucester Journal Saturday 28 February 1942,

FOREST TRADESMAN’S DEATH

One of the best-known tradesmen in Cinderford, Mr William George Whittle of Belle Vue Road, died in Gloucestershire Royal Infirmary after being seriously ill for several months. He was 51 years of age and served in the last war and was wounded. He was a member of the Cinderford branch of the British Legion, the Soldiers and Sailors Club and a Freemason.

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thank you for the fabulous information about W G WHITTLE

we think that he was living at that shop in Market St in 1911 census.... but was an assistant rather than the owner.

just 2 living at the shop on census night 1911

Hubert Sidney BALDWIN Married 26 Grocer's Manager born Cinderford(wife sleeping elsewhere)
William George WHITTLE Single 20 Grocer's Assistant born Cinderford

(8 rooms..... rather large for a normal dwelling so we believe this must be the upstairs of the two shops that KEAR had which at that time were probably only used as living space)

also in 1911 census
William James KEAR 43 Grocer and Baker
Lillian Leonard KEAR 41
Margaret KEAR 14
Woodville Road, High View Rd, Cinderford, Glos

W G WHITTLE grew up in Belle View Road, Cinderford..... and then in 1922 got married to Gertrude Agnes LAWSON who was a domestic science teacher from Fifeshire, Scotland. not sure when they bought a house, also on Belle View Road

so.... 1891 census living at Belle View Road (1 month old... with parents)
1901 census living at Belle View Road (with parents)
1911 census living at Market Street

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Digging deeper, a few more which look as though they could be relevant:-

Gloucester Journal Saturday 24 September 1910

At a meeting of the Westbury Board of Guardians on Tues 20th a tender was accepted for cake 2¼d., flour 28s., bread 4¾d. from J. KEAR and Son Cinderford.

Gloucester Journal Saturday 12 October 1915

Coleford

At a special court at Coleford on Saturday a well-known tradesman of Cinderford, named Frederick GARDNER, of the firm of GARDNER and WHITTLE, Grocers, was brought up in custody charged with assaulting Emily Mabel MAYNARD, a married woman of The Pludds, Lydbrook…………….. (magistrates could not agree and prisoner was released).

Gloucester Journal Saturday 20 September 1919

ALLEGED PROFITEERING
-Nearly 150 charges at Littledean

......Against a defendant named WHITTLE, carrying on business as general grocer in Market Street, Cinderford, there were four charges – two of selling salmon at 2s 4d tin and two of selling cocoa at 10½ per ¼lb……….

……WHITTLE, who pleaded not guilty, said he had only just returned from the army and he had not had time to ascertain the facts as to prices. The Court registered a conviction, but under the circumstances no fine was imposed.

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what a star you are finding all that info!!!!

thank you thank you thank you.

great stuff for the family history for our generation and the younger ones.... and those to come later :-)

totally amazing!!!

all we knew was that William George WHITTLE had the shop in Market St .... (we have a photograph of him outside the shop). we knew nothing else..... although we got the 1911 census info and after digging we found out that KEAR had the shop before WHITTLE

thank you again. you have been so helpful with the BARNARD/BEVAN/WHITTLE lines

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just found this......

from The London Gazette
Publication date: 8 October 1915
Issue: 29320
Page: 9931

NOTICE is hereby given that the Partnership
heretofore subsisting between us, (the undersigned,
Frederick Gardner and William George
Whittle, of Market-street, Cinderford, in the county
of Gloucester, carrying on, business as Grocers and
Provision Merchants, at Market-street, Cinderford
aforesaid, under the style or firm of GARDNER AND
WHITTLE, has been dissolved by mutual consent as
and from the eleventh day of September. 1915 All
debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be
received and paid by the said William George Whittle.
—Dated 28th day of September, 1915
FREDERICK GARDNER
WILLIAM GEORGE WHITTLE.

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Well done. Persistence pays off. The notice following his death is also there if you haven’t found it already.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35594/page/2629

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yes spotted..... thanks :-))

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Hi,
I doubt I have anything new to offer you, but heregoes just in case.

Presumably this is the photo you're referring to, from Humphrey Phelp's book ?
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zU-IAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT117&lpg=PT117&dq=kear+...

I didn't realise this great book was now "readable" online, thanks for prompting me into searching so finding it :-)

I also see Kear's bakers is covered in Volume 20 of the New Regard journal, have you seen it ?.
http://www.forestofdeanhistory.org.uk/publications/new-regards/index-to-new-regard-vol-...

Another nice early photo here of J.Kear's shop, from the early 1900s I think.
http://way-mark.co.uk/foresthaven/livnhist/photo054.htm#

You also probably know that a few Kear shops, including James & sons (Baker), are listed in the 1902 Kelly's Directory.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/cinderford1902.htm

I must admit this thread has confused me a little, not hard it must be said !
As a kid in Cinderford in the 1970s I'm sure my mum used to talk about Kears the Bakers, altho it seems the Kears had long since stopped working there, I presume the name stuck ?.
I recall a small baker's shop on the Lower High Street just opposite Jones' Garage, was that Kear's ??.

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Pleased to see you back Jefff.

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Thanks Carole, you're very kind, I'm pleased to be back too !

I was thinking that this "village" needed it's idiot back ;-)

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thanks Jefff

not that photograph of the Whittle shop I was referring to..... we have one with William George Whittle himself stood in the doorway (although we have recently found the one you mention and the very old one with the Victorian-looking children

we knew that W.G. (George) Whittle had the shop during WWII but we weren't sure when he took over running it. it now appears that was the eleventh day of September 1915 (as above)

unfortunately George died in 1942

we have a huge pile of family papers and documents to go through so we might find out when his wife finally gave up the shop

if anyone knows who had the shop after the Whittles and at what time.... that would be great :-)

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Ancestry: British Phone Books - 1880 - 1984

1925
W G Whittle : Provsn Mrchant, Market Street, Cinderford
telephone: 79

1928
W G Whittle : Provsn Mrchant, Market Street, Cinderford
telephone: 79

1935
W G Whittle: Grocer, Market Street, Cinderford
telephone: 79

1937
W G Whittle: Grocer, Market Street, Cinderford
telephone: 3179

----

Not mentioned after that. Unfortunately, can't search without a surname to see when and who took over.

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thanks..... I never thought to look in the phone books :-)

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Unsure as to what you do or don't know, but I think I'm right in believing you're following the Whittle family rather than just "Kear's shop" itself ?
Again I doubt there's anything new here, but;

Thinking about Mrs Whittle who you say ran the shop after George's passing,

I see this site carries the photo of Cinderford Girl Guides in 1945, I presume you've seen it, a young Ann Whittle is at bottom right.
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/cinderford/pages/page_19.html
http://www.sungreen.co.uk/Cinderford/_t_Cinderford-Girl-Guides.htm

As I'd hoped it seems Ann is indeed from your family;

Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page

Births Mar 1923 (>99%)
Whittle Margaret L Lawson Westbury S. 6a 480

Births Dec 1932 (>99%)
Whittle Anne E Lawson Westbury S. 6a 381a
Whittle Annie E Lawson Westbury S. 6a 381

I cannot find an obvious marriage within the area for Ann, but do find younger sister Margaret;

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/Age District Vol Page
Marriages Mar 1948 (>99%)
Barnard Reginald S Whittle F.of Dean 7b 801
Whittle Margaret Barnard F.of Dean 7b 801

So still in the area c1948.

The ONLY Barnard/Whittle births listed in FreeBMD are;
Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page
Births Jun 1949 (>99%)
Barnard Michael A Whittle F.of Dean 7b 615
Births Sep 1954 (>99%)
Barnard Keith J Whittle Thornbury 7b 769

Does this suggest this couple, and perhaps mother Gertrude, had moved away from the Forest by 1954 ?. I cannot find her death within this site's PRs, or on FreeBMD !

Foolishly I'd forgotten I'm now subscribed to Ancestry !
However thats equally frustrating wrt Gertrude's burial (not as rare a name as one might think within the County). However following MPG's lead they do have Phone Book entries from 1954 until 1976 for "Mrs G.A.Whittle, 54 belle Vue, Cinderford. Cinderford 2123."
I suggest perhaps a little unusual, in the 50s, to have a phone unless in business ?

As per earlier newspaper notice, George's burial is within this site's PRs,

Record_ID: 9124
Entry_Number: 2092
Year: 1942
Month: Feb
Day: 24
Surname: WHITTLE
Forenames: William George
Residence: Belle Vue R[oa]d Cinderford
Age_at_death: 51
Officiating_Minister: Frank W Wilkes Vicar St Stephens
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/15
Page_No: 262
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John
Soundex: W340

As is;
Record_ID: 8508
Entry_Number: 1476
Year: 1935
Month: May
Day: 2
Surname: WHITTLE
Forenames: Eliza Harriett
Residence: 40 Belle Vue Road
Age_at_death: 70
Officiating_Minister: C Paul Gliddon
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/15
Page_No: 185
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John
Soundex: W340

Not sure if that's the same address for both ?. Does the Register reference infer same grave plot ?.

Also in the PRs, as mentioned earlier;
Record_ID: 1058398
Entry_Number: 361
Year: 1923
Month: Mar
Day: 25
Parents_Surname: WHITTLE
Child_Forenames: Margaret Lawson
Fathers_Forenames: George
Mothers_Forenames: Gertrude
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Bell Vue R[oa]d
Occupation: Grocer
Officiating_Minister: H M Biddell Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes: Surname not clear best reading given
Register_Reference: P85/2 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 46
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Stephen
Soundex: W340

I cannot easily find any other PRs in Cinderford for this immediate family, such as Baptism of girl guide Anne b1921, or Margaret's marriage.
However I did find a PR for an earlier Annie Whittle born 1893, to Tom & Eliza Harriet of Woodside aka Cinderford St Stephens area. Her marriage PR of 1919 shows a witness is William George Whittle, presumably her Uncle ?.

I think searching the local newspapers is the next best bet, namely the D.F.Mercury c/o Cinderford Library.

---------------------------------------------------

Ref that Girl Guides picture, a few family friends there such as Beryl Evans (nee Lees, Cornish miner immigrants) who I chatted to only last week. Beryl's still living in the family house in Parragate built by her father, my best man's mum and a good neighbour to my mum.

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thank you for all this. thanks for taking the trouble to look.

Gertrude didn't die until 1989 (it is unclear as yet as to what date she left Belle View Road)

she had 2 daughters.... Margaret and Anne (the girl guide in the photo you mention)

Margaret married Reg Barnard and they had two boys Michael and Keith. Anne married abroad. all family members left the Cinderford area.... and scattered far and wide.

thanks again :-)

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sorry.... forgot to reply to this bit....

However I did find a PR for an earlier Annie Whittle born 1893, to Tom & Eliza Harriet of Woodside aka Cinderford St Stephens area. Her marriage PR of 1919 shows a witness is William George Whittle, presumably her Uncle ?.

Annie Whittle was William George Whittle's sister :-)

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Hi
Not sure if you already have this:-

http://www.way-mark.co.uk/forestofdean/livnhist/photo054.htm

Also look at the next photo in the series (Right)

Dave

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thanks Dave..... yes we found both of these photos online :-))

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There is on ebay at the moment :

Cinderford, Wesley Chapel by F R Bower, Chemist & Stationer, Cinderford + Cinderford 1910 inside St John's Church - + others

British Telephone Directory

1927

F R Bower, Cinderford : La Mara St White Road

Telephone: 97 -

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Well spotted M, that's a lovely card, so much ornate detail. Odd as I've only been to St John's a couple of times and recall it as a rather dark, dreary place. Sadly so many older Churches don't look their best in winter time, especially at funerals....

It's also on this site's gallery,
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/cinderford/pages/page_25.html

I suspect F.R.Bower has been covered in the past on this forum ?. Our family still call that chemist shop "Bowers" even tho it became Boots Pharmacy some years ago, I think it MAY have been Jacksons before that, or was that another chemist along the road a bit ?.
The shop is immediately below the War memorial next to what was Woolies in the days when it was the prosperous shopping town I enjoyed growing-up in.

Bower's shop is in the 1902 Kelly's Directory,
"BOWER Frederick Riseley, chemist & druggist & news agent"
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/cinderford1902.htm

(Continued next page).

-------

UPDATE JULY 2019;

I've learnt that Jackson's chemist was indeed also in Market Street Cinderford as well as Bower's, which became Boots. See this post for info abt Jackson family who were very highly regarded by the townfolk, it's clear they took great care of their patients especially out of hours, and are sadly missed.
https://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=51172

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Bower's shop is in the 1902 Kelly's Directory,
"BOWER Frederick Riseley, chemist & druggist & news agent"

From FamilySearch;

1911 East Dean, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Frederick Risely Bower Head M 45 CHEMIST AND STATIONER DEALER. Maccksfield, Cheshire
Martha Anne Bower Wife F 45 Bursham, Staffordshire
John Bower Son M 21 CHEMIST ASSISTANT DEALER. Macclesfield, Cheshire
Martha Bower Daughter F 20 CHEMIST ASS'T DEALER. Northleach, Gloucestershire
Frederick Bower Son M 18 STATIONER ASS'T DEALER. Northleach, Gloucestershire
Charles Eardley Bower Son M 11 SCHOOL. Northleach, Gloucestershire

1901 East Dean, Woodside St Stephens, Gloucestershire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Frederick R Bower Head M 35 CHEMIST. Macclesfield, Cheshire
Martha A Bower Wife F 35 Burslem, Staffordshire
John Bower Son M 12 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Martha Bower Daughter F 10 Northleagh, Gloucestershire
Frederick Bower Son M 8 Northleagh, Gloucestershire
Charles E Bower Son M 2 Northleagh, Gloucestershire

1891 Northleach, Gloucestershire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Frederick R Bower Head M 25 Chemist. Cheshire, England
Martha A Bower Wife F 25 Staffordshire, England
John Bower Son M 2 Cheshire, England
Martha Bower Daughter F 0 Gloucestershire, England

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages April/May/June 1888
Bower Frederic Riseley Macclesfield 8a 216
Eardley Martha Ann Macclesfield 8a 216

1881 Bridge Street, Sutton, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Bower Head M 43 Chemist & Druggist. Wilmslow, Cheshire, England
Sarah Bower Wife F 41 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Emily Bower Daughter F 19 Scholar. Macclesfield, Cheshire
Elener Ann Bower Daughter F 16 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Sarah Alice Bower Daughter F 15 Scholar. Macclesfield, Cheshire
Fred R Bower Son M 15 Scholar. Macclesfield, Cheshire
Ada Jane Bower Daughter F 8 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Joshua Bower Son M 4 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Arthur Bower Son M 3 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Eliza Bower Daughter F 2 Macclesfield, Cheshire

1871 Sutton, Cheshire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Bower Head M 33 Chemist And Druggist. Wilmslow, Cheshire
Sarah Bower Wife F 31 Maxford, Cheshire
George Bower Son M 11 Maxford, Cheshire
Emily Bower Daughter F 9 Maxford, Cheshire
Esther Ann Bower Daughter F 7 Sutton, Cheshire
Sarah Alice Bower Daughter F 5 Sutton, Cheshire
Frederick R Bower Son M 5 Sutton, Cheshire
William Lomas Servant M 19 Apprentice. Langley, Cheshire

England, Cheshire Parish Registers
Name Frederick Riseley Bower
Event Type Christening
Event Date 18 Feb 1866
Event Place ???, Wilmslow, Cheshire, England
Gender Male
Father's Name John Bower
Mother's Name Sarah Bower

1861 Sutton, Cheshire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
John Bower Head M 25 Druggist. Wilmslow, Cheshire
Sarah Bower Wife F 21 Macclesfield, Cheshire
George Bower Son M 1 Sutton, Cheshire

1851 Mill Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Charles Hadfield Head M 36 Druggist. Macclesfield, Cheshire
Hannah Hadfield Wife F 31 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Emma Hadfield Daughter F 3 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Hannah Hadfield Daughter F 6 Macclesfield, Cheshire
Eliza Hadfield Daughter F 4 Macclesfield, Cheshire
John Bower Apprentice M 13 Apprentice. Wilmslow, Cheshire

1841 Wilmslow, Cheshire, England,
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
William Bower M 40 Cheshire
Mary Bower F 40 Cheshire
Elizabeth Bower F 17 Cheshire
Charles Bower M 14 Cheshire
William Bower M 12 Cheshire
Joshua Bower M 10 Cheshire
Henry Bower M 8 Cheshire
George Bower M 6 Cheshire
John Bower M 4 Cheshire
Catherine Bower F 2 Cheshire
Jane Garner F 16 Cheshire
Eliza Bower F 26 Cheshire
Jane Barlow F 42 Cheshire
William Barlow M 4 Cheshire

England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts
Name John Bower
Event Type Christening
Event Date 30 July 1837
Event Place Wilmslow, Cheshire, England
Gender Male
Father's Name William Bower
Mother's Name Mary Bower

---

1881 Brook Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Charles Johnson Head M 59 Engineer At Flour Mill (Eng Dri). Burslem, Staffordshire, England
Maria Johnson Wife F 58 Tunstall, Staffordshire, England
Martha Ann Eardley Niece F 15 Silk Piecer. Burslem, Staffordshire, England

1871 Burslem, Staffordshire, England
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
William Eardley Head M 49 Potter, Presser. Tunstal, Staffordshire
Martha Eardley Wife F 47 Tunstal, Staffordshire
Lawrence Walsh Eardley Son M 15 Potter, Presser, Apprintice. Tunstal, Staffordshire
Henry A K Eardley Son M 11 Potter. Burslem, Staffordshire
Charles Eardley Son M 7 Burslem, Staffordshire
Martha Ann Eardley Daughter F 5 Burslem, Staffordshire

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Births Sep 1865
Eardley Martha Ann Wolstanton 6b 140

(Wolstanton District in Staffs includes Burslem).

-----------

So both Frederick R Bower and wife Martha nee Eardsley were born abt 1866, as per their death records;

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/Age District Vol Page
Deaths Mar 1932
Bower Frederick R 66 Westbury S. 6a 417

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/Age District Vol Page
Deaths Mar 1934
Bower Martha A 68 Westbury S. 6a 363

Record_ID: 67432
Entry_Number: 1381
Year: 1934
Month: Jan
Day: 16
Surname: BOWER
Forenames: Martha Anne
Residence: Littledean Hill
Age_at_death: 68
Officiating_Minister: Leslie R J Moon
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: A/1/71
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/15
Page_No: 173
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John
Soundex: B600

(Cont..)

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Sadly it seems that Frederick and Martha's son Frederick also died at about the same time as they did !
(Not certain as there are other BOWER families in general area, but cannot find any other Frederick Bowers of this age, and definitely not in such close proximity.)
So far I've not found a marriage record for him.

Record_ID: 67444
Entry_Number: 1393
Year: 1934
Month: Mar
Day: 12
Surname: BOWER
Forenames: Frederick
Residence: Belle Vue Road
Age_at_death: 41
Officiating_Minister: pp G H Kay C P G
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: A/1/73
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/15
Page_No: 175
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John
Soundex: B600

(So born abt 1893, as with our Frederick.)

--------------

Searching for the other children born/living in Cinderford, to try to find who kept the Chemist shop business going into the 1980s or thereabouts;

eg Martha born Northleach c1890 ?

Record_ID: 35351
Entry_Number: 102
Year: 1917
Month: Jan
Day: 22
Grooms_Surname: JOINER
Grooms_Forenames: Stanley Harold
Grooms_Age: 25
Groom_Condition: Batchelor
Grooms_Occupation: Soldier
Grooms_Residence: Belle Vue Road
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Joiner
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: James
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Contractor
Brides_Surname: BOWER
Brides_Forenames: Martha
Brides_Age: 26
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Bell Vue Road
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Bower
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Frederick Riseley
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Chemist
Licence_or_Banns: Licence
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: Charles Eardley Bower
Witness_2: Frederick Riseley Bower
Other_Witnesses: Louise A Ward & Lilian Jones
Officiating_Minister: HM Biddell Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/2 IN 1/7
Page_Number: 51
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Stephen
Soundex_Groom: J560
Soundex_Bride: B600

Record_ID: 405995
Entry_Number: 441
Year: 1920
Month: Feb
Day: 1
Parents_Surname: JOINER
Child_Forenames: Stanley James Bower
Fathers_Forenames: Stanley Harold
Mothers_Forenames: Martha
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Wilcox House Newnham
Occupation: Mechanic Engineer
Officiating_Minister: F.H.V.Paton Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: December 15 1919
Notes:
Register_Reference: P228 IN 1/12
Page_Number: 56
Parish_Chapel: Newnham
Soundex: J560

Struggling to find any later records for this family ???

-----------

Maybe it was Martha's brother Charles E Bower born Northleach 1899, who kept the business going after their father Frederick retired ?

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/DoB District Vol Page
Deaths 1984
BOWER CHARLES EARDLEY 23APRIL1899 F OF DEAN 22 1764

His WW1 service records c/o FamilySearch suggests he was above-average technical ability, altho apparently not using any Chemist skills;

Name Charles Eardley Bower
Event Type Military Service
Event Year 1917
Residence Place Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Age 17
Military Company/Regiment Gloucestershire Regiment
Military Regiment 3900
Birth Year (Estimated) 1899
Birthplace Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England

United Kingdom, World War I Service Records
Name Charles Eardley Bower
Event Type Military Service
Event Year 1917
Residence Place Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Age 17
Military Company/Regiment Royal Engineers
Military Regiment 237560
Military Battalion 2A Wireless Section Operator
Birth Year (Estimated) 1899
Birthplace Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England

Back to FreeBMD, and then GlosBMD;

Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1921
Bower Charles E Dykins Westbury S. 6a 625
Dykins Kathleen I Bower Westbury S. 6a 625

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
BOWER Charles Eardley DYKINS Kathleen Ida Forest of Dean Cinderford Baptist Chapel 1921 3 49

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/DoB District Vol Page
Deaths Jun 1980
BOWER KATHLEEN IDA 12AUG1899 F OF DEAN 22 1735

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/DoB District Vol Page
Deaths 1984
BOWER CHARLES EARDLEY 23AP1899 F OF DEAN 22 1764

So they were both in the area when the Chemist shop was still open, as were their family too, perhaps ?

Surname First name(s) Mother District Vol Page
Births Dec 1922
Bower Joyce E Dykins Westbury S. 6a 431

Births Jun 1928
Bower David C Dykins Westbury S. 6a 423

This Baptism suggests it was indeed Charles who kept the shop going, and I've just been told that "their son David worked with Mr & Mrs Bower." Q.E.D.

Record_ID: 90949
Entry_Number: 354
Year: 1922
Month: Dec
Day: 17
Parents_Surname: BOWER
Child_Forenames: Joyce Eardley
Fathers_Forenames: Charles
Mothers_Forenames: Kathleen
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Belle Vue R[oa]d
Occupation: Chemist[?]
Officiating_Minister: H M Biddell Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/2 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 45
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Stephen
Soundex: B600

Surname First name(s) Mother/Spouse/Age District Vol Page
Marriages Mar 1944
BOWER Joyce E Cross F.of Dean 6a 581
CROSS James E Bower F.of Dean 6a 581

Marriage Details
Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
CROSS James Edwin BOWER Joyce Eardley Forest of Dean Cinderford Baptist Chapel 1944 6 90

Surname First name(s) Spouse District Vol Page
Marriages Jun 1951
BLYTH Eveline R BOWER Bristol 7b 34
BOWER David C BLYTH Bristol 7b 34

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Just belatedly found this online newspaper article which adds some helpful detail to this thread about Bowers chemist. It also identifies the kindly gentleman who prescribed and supplied my first pair of glasses c1980.

=====

Much loved Cinderford pharmacist dies aged 89

DAVID Bower, the well known Cinderford pharmacist has passed away peacefully aged 89.

Mr Bower, who had been living in a care home in Horsham for the last two and a half years, ran the chemist’s shop in Market Street, founded by his great grandfather FR Bower.

One of the oldest businesses in the town, the pharmacists was established in 1852 by William Cordwin and purchased in 1899 by Mr FR Bower whose father was the Mayor of Macclesfield.

The business passed through a total of four generations of the family and moved from the High Street to Market Street in 1964.

David Bower joined his father CE Bower, who ran the optician’s side of the business, shortly after qualifying as a Pharmacist in Bristol.

David was born in Cinderford on February 26, 1928, a son of the late Charles and Kathleen Bower and brother to the late Joyce Cross.

He met his lifelong love and soul mate in Eveline Blyth when he was studying in Bristol for his Pharmacy degree and they married on June 4, 1951.

As a highly regarded member of the community he dispensed prescriptions, truth and his sense of fairness and philosophy throughout his working life.

He pursued and became proficient in many hobbies: flying, painting, wood carving and jewellery making to name but a few.

He leaves loving memories for his his daughters Susan and Janet along with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Janet said: “He will be greatly missed by us all as well as his extended family who took such care of him at the nursing home for which we will be forever indebted.”

A service will be held at Worthing Crematorium this week.

The Forester newspaper, Wednesday, 18 October 2017.

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Article and photo here http://www.theforester.co.uk/article.cfm?id=105045&headline=Much+loved+Cinderford+p...

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Re William Cordwin who established the pharmacist's business in 1852, this site's PRs contain the following;

Record_ID: 15099
Entry_Number: 99
Year: 1891
Month: Mar
Day: 26
Grooms_Surname: CORDWIN
Grooms_Forenames: William Henry
Grooms_Age: 24
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Farmer
Grooms_Residence: Blakeney
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Cordwin
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: William
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Chemist
Brides_Surname: BUTLER
Brides_Forenames: Constance Madeline
Brides_Age: 21
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Blakeney
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Butler
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Alfred (Stephen)
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Draper
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: Alfred Butler
Witness_2: James Moody Butler
Other_Witnesses: Ada Butler; William Cordwin
Officiating_Minister: A.D. Pringle
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes: Groom signs W.H. Cordwin which he has amended to William Henry Cordwin.
Register_Reference: P50 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 50
Parish_Chapel: Blakeney
Soundex_Groom: C635
Soundex_Bride: B346

Record_ID: 35090
Entry_Number: 90
Year: 1897
Month: Sep
Day: 27
Grooms_Surname: CORDWIN
Grooms_Forenames: Edmund Osborne
Grooms_Age: 25
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Clerk
Grooms_Residence: Cinderford
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Cordwin
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: William
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Chemist
Brides_Surname: HUZZEY
Brides_Forenames: Helen Jane
Brides_Age: 24
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Cinderford
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Huzzey
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Milson
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Innkeeper
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: John Henry Huzzey
Witness_2: Charles Bullock
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Charles Parbutt Taylor
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/2 1N 1/6
Page_Number: 45
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Stephen
Soundex_Groom: C635
Soundex_Bride: H200

Record_ID: 94099
Entry_Number: 958
Year: 1899
Month: Jan
Day: 9
Surname: CORDWIN
Forenames: William
Residence: Cinderford
Age_at_death: 64
Officiating_Minister: E.B.R. de Jersey Curate
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/13
Page_No: 120
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook
Soundex: C635

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