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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Mr Richard Chapple Cundy was a dairyman and farmer and a member of Messrs R Cundy & Sons, Trafalgar Dairies, Devonport. He was well known at all the South Devon markets and agricultural shows particularly as a judge of the cattle and horses. In his younger days he hunted with the Dartmoor Foxhounds. He was also a member of the Boards of Guardians for both Devonport and Plympton. Mr Robert Cundy, cowkeeper and dairyman of Devonport, married Miss Eliza Chapple, of North Huish, near South Brent, at St Andrew's Church, Plymouth, on October 7th 1841. At the time of the 1851 census they were living at 11 Fore Street, Devonport, and had three children, Thomas R Cundy, aged 8; Mary S Cundy, aged 2; and Robert W I Cundy, aged just 7 months. Richard Chapple Cundy was born at North Huish in 1855, although he always declared himself in the census as having been born at Stoke Damerel. It was, in fact, Mr Robert Cundy who commenced trading as Messrs R Cundy & Sons. At the age of 15 Richard was an Assistant Dairyman for his father, along with his older brother and sister, Robert and Elizabeth, and his mother's brother, Mr Robert Chapple. His younger brother, 11-years-old William, was still at school. In 1871 the family were living at 107 Fore Street, Devonport. Mr Richard Chapple Cundy married Miss Louisa Jane Richards at Stoke Damerel Church on April 3rd 1884. By 1890 he and the business had moved to 35 Portland Road, Devonport, on the corner with Trafalgar Place. Even to this day the property still carries the name Trafalgar Dairy engraved in the stonework on the side of the building. By this time the family were running their extensive dairy herd over much of the land at Pennycross, Torr, and Manadon, along with the fields that were later to become Central Park. Indeed, Richard's younger brother, Mr William John Chapple Cundy got married at St Pancras Church, Pennycross, on February 4th 1907 to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Clark. Richard and Louisa's youngest son, Mr Henry Francis Cundy, married first, to Miss Olivia Clarinda Soper on October 28th 1914. This took place at St Matthias' Chuch, Plymouth. Then on April 15th 1918 Mr Richard George Cundy married Miss Florence Eleanor Dawe at Horrabridge Parish Church. In 1921 much of the land at Pennycross was about to be sold off for housing and plans were already being discussed for a centrally placed park so the family took the whole herd of some 100 South Devon cattle up to Crownhill and down along the Forder Valley Road to Great Woodford Farm at Plympton St Mary, where it was re-established. They also owned extensive land all over the South Hams. Mr Richard Chapple Cundy died on Wednesday March 6th 1935 at his home, Monteray, Horrabridge. The funeral service took place at Pennycross Church on Saturday March 9th 1935. He left two sons, Mr Richard George and Mr Henry Francis Cundy, who both continued the business, and one daughter, Bessie Eleanor, otherwise Mrs Charles Richard Tregillus. Mr Richard George Cundy died at 7 St Margaret's Road, Woodford, Plymouth, on December 30th 1948. Mr Henry Francis Cundy died at Lower Lodge, Newnham, Plympton, on March 19th 1973. Like his brother, he was buried at the Drake Memorial Park. Henry had taken part in many National Hunt meetings and was a member of the Royal Western Yacht Club of England. He was survived by three sons, Peter, David and Paul. What happened to Trafalgar Dairies? See Can You Help?
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