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BUSINESS
HOUSES
Messrs FERNLEY
WALLIS (CHEMISTS) Ltd
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15 February 2011
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The Plymouth business
house of Messrs Fernley Walis (Chemists) Ltd was located at number 1 Market
Buildings, East Street, Plymouth until the
Second World War and thereafter at
1/3 New George Street. Thomas George Fernley
Chapman Wallis born in Plymouth in November 14th 1892 [1] and
baptised at Charles Church with his older sister, Emma Chapman Wallis, on
February 5th 1893 [2]. He was the second son of Mr George
Wallis, a police sergeant, and his wife Rachel Mary, formerly Chapman.
They had married at Plymouth's
Saint Andrew's Church on March 1st 1882
[3] and in addition to Emma already mentioned they had a son, William George
Henry Chapman Wallis. [4]
Although both his parents
came from Cornwall, his later claim to be of Cornish birth was incorrect.
[St Ives and Broad Oak or St Bradoc] [4]
He was educated
Cattedown Road
School and later became President of the Old Cattedonians. [5]
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Messrs Fernley Wallis, chemists, at
1 Market Buildings, East Street, Plymouth.
©
Not known. |
This was presumably
followed by science classes at the
Plymouth Technical School as
Fernley later became President of their old boys
association. [5]
Within
six months of becoming qualified as a chemist, Mr Wallis purchased the
bankrupt business of Messrs Martin and Palmer at numbers 1 and 2 Market
Buildings, East Street. The year was 1914. The partners were
(possibly Mr John Martin, chemist of Cattedown Road) and (certainly) Mr John
M Palmer. [5a]
As Fernley Wallis he
married Miss Olive Edna Louisa Ross at the
Greenbank United Methodist
Chapel, in Plymouth, on Wednesday September 4th 1918 [5b]. She
was a daughter of Mr William Charles Ross, master butcher, and his wife
Alice Maud Ross [6].
As a chemist, he would
have sold Aspro, "In times of Stress, ARPRO Soothes Nerve Strain and brings
Sweet Sleep", which in November 1941 was available in packets at 3½d, 6½d,
1s 3½d, and 2s 6½d [6a]and Germolene Antiseptic Ointment, which in February 1947 was
retailing at 1s 4d and 3s 3d per jar including purchase tax. [6b]
Although some of the
Plymouth Market buildings were severely damaged as
a result of the wartime destruction
of nearby Bedford Street
and Old Town Street,
Fernley Wallis's managed to carry on until just before Market Buildings were
demolished in January 1952. The business had been there for 38 years,
except for a very short period after the Blitz. [7]
.jpg) |
The business reopened
at numbers 1 and 3 New George Street, on the corner with
Old Town Street, right
opposite Boot's the Chemists. President of the Rotary
Cub of Plymouth 1953-54.
Sold his business early
in 1980 and retired to Plympton with his wife, Olive. [5]
Thomas George Fernley
Chapman Walllis died at his home, 6 Morley View Road, Plympton, on Saturday
September 12th 1981. Service at
Embankment Road Methodist Church.
[5]
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The original interior of Fernley
Wallis's shop
in New George Street, Plymouth.
©
Robert Chapman Photography. |
His two sons, Peter
Wallis and Raymond Wallis, had both predeceased him and his widow, Mrs Olive
Edna Louisa Wallis, passed away only 17 months later, in 1983. [8]
Sources:
[1] Births,
Marriages and Deaths records.
[2]
"Plymouth Baptism Index, volume 1", Devon Family History Society,
Exeter, 2007.
[3]
"Plymouth Marriage Index, volume 1", Devon Family History Society
and Plymouth & West Devon Record Office, Exeter and Plymouth,
2003.
[4] 1901
census, RG13/2091/53/47.
[5] "Death
of Veteran Chemist", Western Evening Herald, Plymouth,
September 12th 1981.
[5a]
Power, W J J, "Business
Houses of Plymouth", 2 volumes, February 1982. Only available in
Plymouth Local Studies Library.; plus Eyre's 1897 Plymouth directory.
[5b]
Marriages announcement in local newspaper.
[6] 1911
census.
[6a]
Advertisement, Western Evening Herald, Plymouth, November
14th 1941.
[6b]
Advertisement, Western Evening Herald, Plymouth, February
10th 1947.
[7]
"Another of Old Plymouth Links Broken", Western Evening Herald, Plymouth, January 5th 1952.
[8] See [5]
and [1] above.
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