Plymouth, Business Houses | Messrs S Stephens Ltd (also Messrs S Stephens & Risdon Ltd)

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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

Messrs S STEPHENS Ltd

The Plymouth business house of Messrs S Stephens Ltd, bakers and confectioners, had their headquarters at 55 Ebrington Street.

Solomon Stephens was born at 34 Embankment Road, Cattedown, Plymouth, in 1864. His father, Mr James Stephens, was a master baker, and his mother was formerly Miss Elizabeth Velvin, of Ermington, Devon. [1] + [2].

Mr Solomon Stephens married 22-years-old Miss Louisa Scanes at Ide, near Exeter, on April 27th 1886. [3]

He opened his first shop at number 4 Drake's Buildings, Drake's Terrace, in Hill Street, some time before 1890. [4]

At the beginning of the Second World War in 1939 the business was known as Messrs S Stephens & Risdon Ltd and they had branches at:

55 Ebrington Street;

57 Cobourg Street;

66 Old Town Street (Mikado Cafe);

7 Mutley Plain;

27 Frankfort Street;

55b Salisbury Road;

96 James Street, Devonport;

66 George Street, Devonport;

43 Tavistock Road, Stoke;

13 Station Road, Keyham Barton;

34 Marlborough Street, Devonport (Sunshine Cafe);

38/39 Edgcumbe Street, Stonehouse;

246 Peverell Park Road;

2 St Mary Bridge, Plympton.

Mr Solomon Stephens died on Friday October 20th 1950. [5]

The business was taken over by Messrs Rank Ltd in 1951. It comprised three bakeries and 17 shops.

A branch at 30 Hornchurch Road, Ernesettle, was opened at 9am on Thursday August 20th 1953. [6]

On Monday June 15th 1981 it was announced that the Stephens' cafe in New George Street was to close on June 27th 1981 because of a huge rise in the rent charged by Plymouth City Council. Five of the staff were redeployed elsewhere but 18 people lost their jobs. The manager, Mr John Diprose, disclosed that their seven-year lease was about to end and that the annual rent was to rise from £3,100 to a staggering £41,000. [7]

Describing her father in 1983, one of his daughters, Mrs Gwendoline Churchill, said that: 'he was a very proud man in the sense that he wanted the business well run. Second best would not do. I think that was achieved. With family as with business - strict but very generous. He was something of a disciplinarian.'

For more information about his service to Plymouth see the Prominent Citizens section.

Principal Source:

"A slice of Plymouth's history: Business household name over 100 years", Western Evening Herald, Plymouth, September 16th 1983.

Other Sources:

[1] 1881 Census, RG11/2200/105/3.

[2] "Kelly's Post Office Directory of Plymouth and District 1935", Kelly's Directories Ltd, London, 1935.

[3] Mr T Jewell, on behalf of the Devon Family History Society.

[4] 1891 Census, RG12/1728/45/84.

[5] "Solomon Stephens dies after long illness: Served Plymouth for 46 years on Council", Western Morning News, Plymouth, October 21st 1950. See Prominent Citizens - Stephens, Solomon.

[6] Newspaper advert.

[7] "18 lose jobs as rent rise closes cafe", Western Evening Herald, Plymouth, June 15th 1981.