PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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HARRY STEPHENS Ltd
The Plymouth business house of Messrs Harry Stephens Ltd was situated in the Ridgeway at Plympton. Mr Henry Stephens, to give him his correct name, was born at Plympton in 1874. His parents were Mr William Stephens, a farmer of 40 acres employing two men and a boy, and Mrs Hannah Stephens. At the time of the census in 1881 the family were living in Fore Street, Plympton Saint Maurice and young Henry, then 6 years of age, already had four brothers and three sisters. The eldest, 18-years-old Mr William Stephens, was a butcher. [1] On Wednesday April 4th 1888 Henry's eldest sister, Miss Jane Stephens, married Mr Charles Beddoes Shuker at Plympton Saint Maurice Church. This turned out to be an important event for young Henry. [2] Mr Shuker had arrived in Plympton from Gloucestershire in about 1886 and opened a chemist and grocer's shop in George Place, Plympton Saint Mary [3]. However, once he had got married he quickly moved away to Launceston, in Cornwall, where he once again opened a chemist and grocers shop also selling wine, spirits and seeds. With Charles and Jane, living over the shop in Church Street in 1891, were 16-years-old Henry Stephens, who was apprenticed to Mr Shuker, and 9-years-old Miss Annie Stephens. [4] By 1901 Henry had returned to the Ridgeway at Plympton, where Mr Shuker's shop had been renamed Messrs Shuker and Stephens. Also living on the premises were Mr Ernest J Yeo, 18, and Mr Frank Johnson, 17, both grocer's assistants; Mr Charles King, 15, clerk and secretary; plus widow, Mrs Maggie Wilts, 40, as housekeeper and Miss Kate Balkwill, 17, from nearby Cornwood, as domestic servant. [5] On June 29th 1908 Mr William Stephens, by then not only a farmer but also a dairyman, cattle dealer and contractor, died at Plympton Saint Maurice. [6] In 1911 (although one source says it was 1908) Mr Stephens, by now more widely known as 'Harry', acquired the bakery previously run by Mr John Edwin Perraton and which produced the famous Ridgeway Bun every Easter. He altered the living accommodation on the first floor into a tea room. It was decorated in white and blue and lit by 'artistically shaded electric lamps'. A broad staircase with solid oak balustrades and lit by green glass embellished with palms led to the first floor. The press declared that visitors to Plympton 'will now be able to obtain refreshments under ideal conditions'. [7] Mr Charles Beddoes Shuker passed away on January 17th 1921 at the young age of 58 years. [3] It would appear that after Mr Shuker had passed away he took the opportunity to change the name of the business to Messrs Harry Stephens Ltd. An advert of his published in January 1924 shows three premises, "The Original Ridgeway Bun House", a chemists shop and the original Shuker & Stephens grocery all under his own name. [8] The "Original Ridgeway Bun House" was sold to a Mr John Griffin and the grocery business to the International Stores Ltd. Mr Henry 'Harry' Stephens died suddenly at "Pixeycombe", Meavy, on Tuesday October 9th 1934. He was only 59 years of age. He had been educated at Plympton Grammar School and was well-known for his business acumen, especially his methods of advertising. He built up an extremely successful business empire in Plympton, starting with just six staff and finishing at his retirement with about fifty. His move to Meavy enabled him to indulge more in one of his favourite sports, shooting. He was a keen enthusiast for village life, supporting both the Church, the day school and local fairs. Mr Stephens made two important improvements at "Pixeycombe" - his own water supply and electric lighting. [9] The Rector of Meavy, the Reverend H T Green, officiated at the funeral on Thursday October 11th 1934. The family members who attended the funeral were his brothers, Messrs Edward, John and Thomas Stephens, and his sisters, Mrs Jane Shuker and Miss Florence Stephens. He had never married. Mr Griffin, who had bought his bakery, and Mr James Stanmore, his baker, attended the service along with Mr E Jackson, representing International Stores. [10] Sources:
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