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The High Road in Beeston - The Square (Part 2)

This page continues the story of the south side of the area, now known as The Square, situated at the western end of the High Road in Beeston. It explores the history of the area on which the shopping centre now stands and presently (2011) occupied by various shops including Birds, Peacocks, McCulloughs and Ashley Peakes. In the memory of many older residents the area was occupied, before the shopping centre was built, by the much-loved Boots the Chemist building, by the long-established Doars grocery store and the National Provincial Bank on the corner of Station Road. As always, we will explore the detail behind the buildings, the personalities who built, lived and traded here and something about the earlier history of the site.

By the latter part of the 19th century the area that we are looking at was the site for a somewhat eclectic mixture of homes and business premises - as can be seen in the photograph shown below. It was towards the end of the 19th century when house numbers were allocated and gradually began to be used. The group of properties shown here, the subject of this current study, were even-numbered, 2-10 High Road, right to left in the photograph, beginning with the property occupied by C P Hull. The properties further to the right are the Church Street properties we examined on the previous page. The cabs in the foreground are those operated by William & George Oldham, whose office can also be seen.

South side of the Square

We can date this photograph reasonably precisely as 1904-1906, based on the names of the tenants that can clearly be seen over two of the shops - and which will be looked at in more detail below. This date is important to our story as it shows the properties on the eve of a redevelopment in 1907, that would last, essentially in the same form, for a further sixty years (A era which we will examine later on this page) until its demolition and the building of the shopping centre that exists today. It is appropriate, therefore, to look at the site before and after this watershed point in its history.

Pre-1907 History of the Site - The persons responsible for developing the site to the stage that we see in the photograph, were William Roberts (1793-1867 and his sons, notably his eldest son, William (1826-1917). As we will see, both men made very significant contributions to the development of Beeston and, indeed, even in the wider local area.

Enclosure map The senior William Roberts was born in 1793 in Aston on Trent, the village in the south-east corner of Derbyshire. Like a significant number of others in this era, he had moved to Beeston, probably with his parents while he was young 1. In 1822 William married Elizabeth Foster, from Radcliffe on Trent, Notts, the brother of Robert Foster 2. By 1841, both William and Robert's families had established themselves in the centre of Beeston, in the Roundhill area of Beeston, on the opposite (northern) side of what is now The Square to our present focus on the southern side, but then, of course, on the other side of the Sawley/Nottingham Turnpike running along the northern side of the village core. From that base, William operated as a tailor while Robert's son - also Robert - went on to play a leading part, based on his trade as a joiner, in the local firm Foster & Pearsons - something that will be explored further when we look at the northern side of The Square.

The map on the right shows the area around what is now known as The Square at the time of the Enclosure of Beeston in 1809 3. The Sawley/Nottingham Turnpike, now Chilwell Road and the High Road, can be seen clearly running left to right, widening slightly where The Square is now, Church Street running from there towards the bottom left had corner, Brown Lane (now Station Road) running down from the eastern end of The Square with Butchers Lane - then, as now, slightly out of line relative to Brown Lane - continuing as Cowgate Road (now Wollaton Road), heading north. The areas coloured in green are those parts of the village - mainly in the village core - that were already in private hands at the time of enclosure of the open fields. To the south of the turnpike, the old village core included many ancient crofts where small-time farmers and cottagers still worked the land. Essentially, this would have been the position when William Roberts senior arrived in Beeston and settled, alongside Robert Foster's family on the North side of the Turnpike.

The land opposite, on the corner of what was then Brown Lane consisted of two ancient crofts (roll your mouse over the map to highlight the area) the northern parts of which Willian Roberts was able to acquire between 1832 and 1849 and on which he - and more particularly, his son - made most of the developments which may be seen in our main picture above. His individual acquisitions may be seen in more detail in the plan shown here on the left 4.

William Roberts Land The piece marked 'A' (coloured green) was acquired at auction on 18th July 1832, part of the estate of William Barker who had died in March 1820, followed by his widow Mary in May 1831. The property had been the property of one William Drury who died in 1773, leaving his Beeston property to his children who, in 1785, sold it to William Lowe of Nottingham. In 1788, William Lowe left his Beeston property to Mary Read for life, then to her daughter Mary for life and then to her children. The younger Mary had married William Barker in 1792, when the latter took possession of the propery in right of his wife, soon afterwards took down an existing cottage and erected ten small houses. The couple had at least eleven children, nine of whom inherited after their parents died. The legal aspects of all this were not without their complications and it was not until January 1833 5. that William Roberts was able to acquire a clear title to the portion he had purchased at auction over six months earlier. This consisted of 460 square yards and included three of the ten houses.

The other pieces (coloured yellow, blue and pink respectively) were part of the left-most strip highlighted on the above enclosure map, and known as 'Brown Lane Croft' (or sometimes 'Maltbys Croft'). In 1736, the land had been in the possession of Sarah Constable, the latest in this family who had held this and probably other lands in Beeston. In that year she married William Dunsmore, a butcher from Scalford, Leicestershire after agreeing a marriage settlement in which they exchanged joint tenencies in their respective lands in Beeston and Harby, Leicestershire. Several generation later, the Beeston land was in the possession of another William Dunsmore, the latest descendant of the earlier William & Sarah 6. In 1839 he sold Piece 'C' (coloured blue) to Roberts having, apparently sold him Piece 'B' (coloured yellow) some time earlier 7. In 1849, Dunsmore sold Piece 'D', some 958 square yards, to Roberts. Overall,the land aquired by Roberts, including all four pieces, totalled about 2038 square yards.

No evidence has been found that William senior personally occupied this land or its buildings although it does appear that he built a butchers shop on the High Road frontage (possible the building occupied by Wharton in the 1903/4 photograph above) and that it was occupied by Joseph Meads, a butcher, by 1871 and as late as 1888 8. We also know that an adjacent building - possibly the building partially occupied by Oldham in the 1903/4 photograph, was built 'by John Lee on the site of a dwellinghouse previously occupied by Ann Lilley, deceased', although this is difficult to reconcile with Roberts' known ownership and matching individuals have not been found 9. Overall, though, it appears that the property was used in Roberts' lifetime as an investment.

By 1861, then aged about 68, William and Elizabeth had moved to Roberts Yard - presumably one of his developments - off of the eastern end of the north side of the High Road, Beeston, nearly opposite the top of Regent Street. Curiously, he is recorded on the census in that year 10 as a brickmaker while his son Edward operates the tailor's business from an adjacent property on the High Road itself. William died in Beeston in 1867 followed, in 1870, by his wife 11. Both were buried in the churchyard at Beeston where a memorial survives.

William and Elizabeth Roberts had two sons, William (1826-1917) and Edward (1829-1909) and there was also two daughters, born in 1823 and 1825 respectively, who appear to have died in infancy. Edward followed his father's trade as a tailor and draper. He married Ann Elliott, the daughter of a Nottingham lace maker. At first, he traded in Beeston, possibly with his father but moved to Chesterfield, Derbyshire by the time of his father's death before returning to Nottingham, where he spent his retirement years, after his wife's death in 1889 12.

William Roberts (junior) was born in Beeston on the 25th August 1826 and was baptised at the Parish Church there on 15th October in the same year. Although it is not clear where or with whom he was apprenticed, once he was trained he lost no time in establishing himself as a grocer on the High Road in Beeston 13. In 1852, he married Sarah Cullen, 14, one of the daughters of Thomas Cullen, a Nottingham builder and part of a remarkably successful Congregationalist family. William and Sarah were to have no children, indeed Sarah appears to have continued to live in the family home in Nottingham for much of the time. William, of course, needed to live in Beeston where his business was, but he was clearly trusted within the Cullen family, acting as an executor of the estate of each of Sarah's siblings. This would have been far more than a formality as all of their valuations were considerable - some several million pounds in today's value - and, in 1883, the family entrusted him with £5,000 - nearly £400,000 in today's values - to build and endow the Miss Cullen Memorial Homes in Sherwood 15.

By 1871, probably following his father's death - when he appears to have inherited the property acquired by his father, described above - that he moved his business to that location, specifically on the corner of High Road and Brown Lane (The northern part of Piece 'A') and the eastern part of Piece 'B' together comprising his grocer's shop. By then, he was being assisted in the shop by John Frederick Doar who, from the age of 15 until his twentieth birthday in 1866, had served as one of Roberts' several apprentices 16. By 1873, it seems that Roberts had sufficient confidence in Doar's, ability and energy to leave the business in his care as it was in that year that he retired to live out the rest of his life at Acacia House on Acacia Walk, Beeston 17.

William RobertsFreed from day-to-day responsibility for the grocery business, Roberts turned his attention to other interests. In 1877 he was a one of the promotors and was appointed a Trustee of the St John's Grove Estate, the area of Beeston that includes Devonshire Avenue, Cavendish Place, Elm Avenue, Glebe Street, Vicarage Street and Newcastle Avenue, a prestigious development which set high standards for housing in the fast-developing town. He also took on many civic responsibilities - including membership of the Local Board, the School Board (from 1880), Trusteeship of the Wesleyan School (from 1891) and as an Overseer, later (from 1884) Guardian, of the Poor 18. In 1882, he and fellow Local Board member, Ben Collington, negotiated the purchase of the land for the cemetery on Wollaton Road and oversaw its layout and construction of the chapel. In 1901 he presented the organ, at a cost of almost £1,000, to the then new Wesleyan Church on Chilwell Road.

In 1887, William's wife Sarah died and, reflecting her lifetime loyalty to her family, was buried with other members of the Cullen family in Nottingham General Cemetery. In the following year, Roberts married his first wife's cousin, Lucy Emily Cullen 19,+ then aged 35 - 27 years younger than Roberts; nevertheless, there were to be no children of the marriage. Lucy was the daughter of Sarah's brother, John Cullen, who had been a succesful grocer in Dronfield, Derbyshire 20. Now a widower, following his wife's death two years earlier. John moved to live with William and Lucy at Acacia House and died there ten years later in 1898 21. William Roberts, shown in his later years in the photograph here on the left, died in 1917 and was buried in the cemetery in Beeston which he helped to design and where is memorial survives 22. His widow later moved to Nottingham and died in Skegness in 1928 but is buried in Beeston Cemetery with her husband 23.

John Frederick Doar In June of 1888, Roberts had made a significant move in connection with his property in The Square. It was than that he sold the whole of the property shown in the above plan 24 to his favoured successor for the business, John Frederick Doar. The purchase price was £2,375 which was part financed by a mortgage of £1,600 to Roberts himself. This left Doar free to begin to develop the property a phase which appears to have included the construction of the pair of properties immediately adjacent to those on Church Street 25. From about this time, these two properties were numbered 2 & 4 High Road, along with the existing properties which became numbers 6, 8 and 10. This makes them more easily tracked on the census returns and in other records.

At the time of this transfer in 1888 Doar's grocery business incorporated property on the corner of Brown Lane (now Station Road) - the north-west end of Piece A on the plan, described in the 1888 deed as a "messuage or tenement used as a stable, occupied by Doar" - and the adjoining property (at the eastern end of Piece B). It appears that this latter property - which became 10 High Road - included the Doars' living accommodation. These properties were remodelled over time, as we will see, but first we will take a look at the other properties, rented to others, on Piece B, up to 1907, using the High Road address numbers. :

2 High Road - this was the property immediately adjacent to 1 Church Street. As such, it was the one on the right of the pair of shops, apparently built about 1890, after Doar had acquired the property from William Roberts. Like its neighbour at number 4, the shop premises had living accommodation above the shop and, it seems that this was not always occupied by the person who traded in the shop; we, however, will concentrate on the shopkeepers. By 1891 and up to about 1900, it was occupied by another William Roberts - also a tailor but not, as far as we can tell, obviously related to the previous owner of this property. Originally from Darley Dale, the son of the village blacksmith, he had moved with his family as a child to Lichfield, He arrived in Beeston before 1888, with his wife Mary Ann, where he took the tenancy of 2 High Road and opened in business as a tailor and outfitter. It was here too that their seven children were born 26. After just over ten years as a tailor's shop, the property was occupied by a series of confectioners as a sweet shop, a use that was to continue until the redevelopment of the whole site at the end of the 1960s.

The first of the confectioners at number 2 was Emma Daykin who was living and trading there by 1901 with her husband Alec, who worked as a self-employed lace curtain draughtsman. Assisting in the business, and lodging there, was Emma's younger sister, Annie Raynor 27. They are known to have been there in 1902 28 but, by 1904, they had left and the business was in the hands of Miss Charlotte Penelope Hull 29, who had been born in Stamford, Lincolnshire in 1861, the daughter of William Hull, a broker, and Valentine, his wife. After her father died in 1864 and her mother in 1888, she supported herself as a dressmaker before moving to Nottingham where, in 1901, she was described as a manageress 30. If the move to Beeston to run a sweet shop had been a daring step, her next move was perhaps even more so. In 1906, at the age of 45, she left to marry Samuel Crawford, a 66 year-old widower, an electrical engineer living in Surrey 31. No explanation of how and why that came about has come to light so far !

The next tenant was James Monk, born in Market Harborough, Leicestershire in about 1845. He and his wife Mary had previously operated as grocers in Sturton, Lincolnshire and later in Harby. Nottinghamshire 32. James remained the tenant until after the 1907 watershed, when the properties entered the next phase of their history, which is described below 33.

4 High Road - this was the leftmost property of the pair, apparently built by Doar around 1890. In 1891, it was occupied as a fishmonger's shop by Robert Smith, assisted by his wife, Caroline 34. They appear to have been new to the trade as ten years earlier, in 1881, Robert had been working as an engine driver in a Nottingham gas works. In the event, he had soon moved on and, by 1901 he was with his family in Sheffield, trading as a grocer 35.

Bernal Stevenson advert After the Smiths' departure, the property continued as a fishmonger's shop, but was now operated by Bernal Stevenson, born in Nottingham in 1866, the son of William and Phoebe (née Kirk) Stevenson 36. William had traded in Nottingham as a fishmonger before his relatively early death in 1881, aged 50, when Bernal was then only 15 37. Less than two years later, he had also had to face the death of his mother and was then left to continue in his father's trade 38. In 1887, he married Sarah Ann Ford 39 and, by 1891, they can be found, already with two children, operating a fishmongery at Stratford Terrace, in the Shakespeare Street area of Nottingham 40. Before 1901, the family had taken over Robert Smith's fishmonger's business at 4 High Road, Beeston 41. The family was to trade there for well over 30 years.

Bernal Stevenson As we have seen, the couple had two children. Their eldest, Beatrice Mabel Stevenson (1888-1939) married Joseph Smedley (1881-1946), the son of a Beeston silk throwster, who worked as a clerk for a motor garage, apparently close to where they set up home at 11 Beeston Road, Old Lenton, were they raised three children 42. Bernal & Sarah Ann's second child was Bernal Hooton Stevenson (born 1891) who married Louie Bowley in 1912. They had three children : Madge (b. 1915), Frederick (b. 1919 and Donald (b. 1925) 43. By 1911, Bernal junior was assisting his father in the Beeston shop and was also pursuing an interest in boxing 44. However, in May 1915, all this had to be suspended when he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery 45. Thankfully, he survived the War and returned to continue working with his father, probably taking more day-to-day responsibility over time.

Towards the end of 1917, Bernal senior's wife, Sarah Ann, died; she was only 49 46. In June of the following year, Bernal, aged 52. married again, at Beeston - to Annie Selina Derry (1881-1925) who was then aged 37. Annie had grown up in Herefordshire, but as a young woman - certainly by 1901 when she was 20 47 - she became a servant in the household of William Goodacre Player (the son of John Player, the founder of the famous cigarette firm) at his grand home, Lenton Hurst, Nottingham, which now forms part of the campus of Nottingham University 48. Annie Selina was the cook to the large Player household for perhaps twenty years. The couple had one child, Nancy Stevenson, who was born in 1919 and is believed to be the child pictured here with her father in about 1923. The couple's life together was to be a short one as Annie Selina died, aged only 44, at Nottingham General Hospital, just before Christmas 1925. She is buried in Beeston Cemetery, with her mother who had died early in the previous year 49.

Despite all these setbacks, the business continued until 1934 when as we will see, a major change of use of this property took place.

6 High Road - when Doar acquired the property from William Roberts, the tenant of this property was Joseph Meads, a butcher and member of a well established farming family from Chilwell 50. No 6 High Road was part of a section of the overall property that was somewhat older than numbers 2 and 4 and it seems that he may well have occupied it at around the time of his second marriage in 1865. Then, he married Hannah, the widow of George Arthur Finlay who had also traded as a butcher on the High Road at Beeston but had died, aged only 29, in 1863 51. Both George and Hannah had originated from Shardlow, where George's father was a canal agent and Hannah's father kept the Navigation Inn 52. With a ready supply of meat from the family farm in Chilwell, the shop at 6 High Road, Beeston must have seen excellent business and Joseph and Hannah were to trade there for almost 25 years, until shortly before his death in 1890 53.

Around 1891, the property was occupied briefly by Charles Hollingsworth with his wife Annie and their daughter. Charles was the second son, from a family of at least ten, of Edward, a Beeston tailor and his wife Elizabeth. He had started out as a butchers' boy and then worked for others as a butcher before starting on his own - although his time there appears to have been short as no trace of him or his family has been found in later records 54. What we do know is that, by 1901, the property was occupied by Ralph Robert Wharton and his wife 55 who opened there as a stationer, printer and newsagent. Ralph was born Ralph Robert Walker in Beeston in 1869, the son of Mary Ann Walker (née Nutt). Mary Ann boarded with Samuel Wharton, an engine fitter, whom she eventually married in 1871 56. Ralph started his working live as a cycle fitter, presumably at the Humber factory in Beeston and was still working there when he first moved to 6 High Road 57. In 1897, he had married Gertrude Belton 58 and it may be that the business was, at first, developed by her until it was mature enough to support the family. As can be seen in the photograph dated about 1905/6 at the top of this page, the business seems to have developed well by that time, and apparently included a lending library alongside the usual business of a stationer and newsagent 59. However, in 1907 Ralph died, aged 38, and the business closed at this location 60.

8 High Road - this is the property that is shown prominently in the photograph at the top of this page and is part of the older buildings on site. At that time - about 1904 - it was occupied by W & G Oldham whose cabs may be seen in the foreground. The earliest probable tenant who we can place in the property appears to be on Ellen Fox who appear to have been trading there as a milliner in 1871 61. Miss Fox can be identified then as born in Ireland in about 1841 although further identification, before or after that date, has not been possible. What is known is that, by the time of the transfer of the property from Roberts to Doar in 1888, the tenants were the Misses Anne and Sarah Lowe, two of the daughters of John & Ann (née Shilcock) Lowe, who developed their early dressmaking talents into a successful millinery business 62. This enterprise was conducted from 8 High Road up to about 1901 when it moved across the Square to a prominent position alongside what was than the London City & Midland Bank (now part of the site of HSBC). It will be recalled that the Lowe sisters were previously mentioned as the sisters of Jane Lowe who married William Heard, the long-term occupant of 5 Church Street. 63.

William Oldham, born in Beeston about 1828, the son of Joseph Oldham, a framework knitter and his wife Sarah (née Hall), had been able to develop a carting business from simple beginnings 64 , despite considerable personal setbacks. He married twice, his first wife, Harriet (née Walker), having died in 1858, while the two sons, George and John were still infants 65. Sadly, it seems, his second wife, Mary (née Smith), also died during or following the death of her third child Joseph in 1867. 66. The two sons from his first marriage - George and John - and the one son from his second marriage - Joseph - all involved themselves in the carting business. At first, this operated from their family home on the north side of the Square - probably Roundhill Cottage 67. - but, by about 1904, as we have seen, they had opened an office at 8 High Road, trading as haulage contractors, coal merchants and cab proprietors. Although, it seems that William, the father, had died in 1901 68 and that all three sons were involved in the firm - indeed, Joseph Oldham is believed to be the one pictured as driving the leading cab 69. - the trading name continued as "W & G Oldham". In the event though, the life of the partnership was short and it was destined not to survive the changes that occurred with 8 High Road in 1907 which we shall describe below. While what remained of the cab business was continued by John Oldham from a base on Chilwell Road, George found work as a furniture remover and Joseph set up as a grocer 70.

Doar's Property at 10 High Road - as we have seen, in 1888, John Frederick Doar had acquired the whole of the property under discussion, from his previous employer, William Roberts. The part that became number 10 High Road was to become the base where three generations of the Doar family were to trade as grocers, right up to the time of development of the present-day shopping centre on the site; for much of the time, it was also their home.

John Frederick Doar (1846-1902) established the basis of this long-standing, successful family enterprise, building on the business in which he had first worked as an apprentice and as William Robert's assistant and then, by the early 1870s, as manager before finally taking over ownership in 1888. He had married in 1874, to Sophia Yeomans (1854-1902) and they had six children between 1875 and 1886 71 : F W Doar

  • Frederick William Doar (1875-1941 - shown right) became the next member of the family to operate the grocery business in The Square, taking over from his father before 1901. More about him and his family appears below 72.
  • Annie Sophia Doar (1876-1923) worked as a bookkeeper for her father before marrying Arthur Freeman, a clerk, and moving to Coventry. Arthur was the son of George Freeman who was the caretaker and attendance officer at Church Street School, Beeston and later became the Registrar of Births & Deaths in Beeston. They had three children 73.
  • Mary Isabel Doar (1878- ) married William Taylor, an iron founder, in 1902. The couple lived in Sandiacre where they raised at least two children 74.
  • Harry Cyril Doar (1880-1959) worked in banking, eventually becoming the manager of the Westminster Bank in Alfreton, Derbyshire. In 1905, he married Hilda Hammond and they had one child before her death in 1907. In 1912, he married Mary Carlin with whom he had three children 75.
  • Alice Mabel Doar (1881-1953) married Alfred Towlson who became the Head Clerk in a Building Society. They had one child, a son 76.
  • Lilian Yeomans Doar (1886-) married Herbert Baker in 1916 77.
By 1901, John Frederick felt able to hand over the day-to-day running of the business to his oldest son, Frederick William, then aged about 26. It was clearly well-established and financially stable. As we have also seen, the purchase of the property from Roberts had been financed, in part, by a mortgage of £1,600 to Roberts himself. In 1890, Doar had been able to repay £600 and a further £500 in 1895 with the balance settled 'in his lifetime' 78. With the business on a firm footing, John Frederick and the remainder of his family were able to retire to Sandiacre, Derbyshire where generations of the Doar family had lived. It was to be a short retirement; on 10 February 1902 he died, after suffering a stroke 79.

Doars Shop Frederick William Doar (1875-1941), as we have seen, had taken over the management of the business in about 1890. In 1907, apparently as part of a series of transactions to settle his father's estate (see below - 'The 1907 Sales), he acquired the property known as 10 High Street together with that on the corner of Station Road, together being the grocery shop and associate living accommodation, as well as the property on Station Road itself (Parcel A on our plan), from this father's estate, for £1500. This was partly financed by a mortgage of £1000 from his youngest sister, Lilian Yeomans Doar. 80. The photograph (left) shows the premises at about this time. The entrance on the corner of Station Road can be seen clearly with the part that was 10 High Road on the extreme right beyond the shop front. The upstairs living accommodation can also be seen clearly.

The grocers shop was run on traditional lines with sugar, currents, rice, etc all weighed out from bulk and bagged for sale, Butter, cheese and the like were bought in large pieces and cut to the customer's requirement, Tea was displayed in large containers and there were large bins of cereals, beans and fried peas ready to be scooped and weighed as required. Biscuits were arranged in 7lb tins and coffee was ground to taste and requirement - and the aroma permeated the premises as only coffee can. Sides of bacon hung from the ceiling and treacle and vinegar were available from bulk. There was soap of all kinds, home made baking powder, food for poultry and a range of dog biscuits meant that customers' faithful friends were not forgotten ! Shopping in that era was a serious business, not to be hurried and customer service was handled with great care - with chairs provided for ladies to sit while they discussed their order.

In the yard, out at the back, accessed from Station Road, was a large stable, open sheds for two horse-drawn delivery vans and a hay loft. Two horses were kept during the early days when a bread round was a feature of the business but this was later dropped and one of the horses was retired. This was an era when customers expected prompt delivery of their orders and a delivery boy filled in when requirements did not fit into the regular rounds. Weekly orders were collected on regular visits from customers from as far away as Chilwell and Attenborough as well, of course, from the Beeston area.

In 1900, Frederick William Doar had married Annie Elizabeth Kirkby, the daughter of Samuel Kirkby and Annie (née Thornhill) and granddaughter of William Riley Thornhill, part of the long-standing family firm of tailors that traded on Beeston High Road throughout much of the 19th century.

  • Hilda Ann Doar (1901-1999) married Arthur John Pollard, the lace manufacturer and owner of Swiss Mills. The couple had six children 81.
  • Mabel Doar (1903-1992) married Frederick Joseph Beresford and emigrated to Melbourne, Australia shortly after. The couple had two children 82.
  • Constance Doar (1904-1997) married Alfred Campbell and emigrated to Canada. They had three children 83.
  • Phyllis Doar (1906-1996) married Conway Wilfred Wingfield and moved to Essex. They had two children 84.
  • Frederick Doar (1907-1998) married Rowena Aileen Brough, a daughter of George Brough, the local housebuilder, and his wife Emily. They had one daughter. Frederick took over the running of the family business in around 1930, continuing up to the time it closed in the early 1960s 85.

Square c1910 The 1907 Sales - after the death of John Frederick Doar on 10 February 1902, probate of his estate was granted, in the following May, to Abraham Charles Doar of Sandiacre, the brother of the deceased and to William Dix Yeomans, his widow's brother. Although his household effects were left to Sophia, his wife, in the event she died shortly after, on 25 May 1902. The residue of the estate was left, apparently in trust for the heirs, to Abraham Charles Doar. As we have seen, the grocery shop and associated property was purchased by Frederick William Doar, John Frederick's oldest son. The remainder of the property was sold to others, outside the family. It was a watershed moment in the evolution of the south side of the Square, the beginning of changes which were to shape that part of Beeston over the next 60 years.

At the centre of this was 6-8 High Road which was sold on 30 September 1907 to Boots Cash Chemist (Eastern) Ltd and it was here that they built what was for many years, for many Beeston people, their favourite shop. It was built in a mock-Elizabethan style that had become a design favoured strongly by Jesse Boot, the founder of the iconic business that is still one of the best known brands on the High Street, up and down the land and, indeed, around the world.

Boots Shop The story of how Jesse Boot built up his parents' herbalist business to a huge commercial empire is well known and well documented 86. In his early years he was successful in using innovative marketing to transform the selling of medicines and related products, driving down prices and breaking existing monopoly practices to make them more widely available to a mass-market. He was 27 when he took control of the family business in 1877, and already the company had taken off - but now, the growth was phenomenal. Within just eight years he had set up a manufacturing facility at the famous Island Street site in Nottingham and set about developing a chain of shops, first throughout the East Midlands and then throughout Britain. He worked at a tremendous pace, always 'hands-on' and this eventually overwhelmed him, such that in 1896 he was forced to take time out in the Channel Islands. It was here that he met Florence Rowe, the daughter of a bookseller. whom he married and, together, they returned to continue the development of the Boots empire. It was a perfect match - with Florence bringing her own ideas to the business - notably the introduction of improved employee benefits and in 1898, a masterstroke, the development of the Boots Booklovers Library within the stores. By 1890 the network was limited to 10 stores in the east Midlands. By 1914, this had been built to more than 500, spread throughout the land. This was growth on a phenomenal scale - another shop opened every 10 days - and it was in the middle of this period, in 1907, that the Beeston shop was opened.

The shop's design, typical as it was of Jesse Boot's architectural taste, was almost certainly by Michael Vyne Treleavan, a Cornish-born architect who had been hired by Boot in 1900 to head up the company's Building & Shopfitting Department. This was of particular significance for Beeston as it was here that the Treleaven family lived from the time of his taking up the appointment until at least 1912 - at first at 11 Linden Grove and later at 228 Station Road 87.

A few days after the sale to Boots, on 9th October 1907, the properties at 2-4 High Road (then occupied, as we have seen, by James Monk and Bernal Stevenson respectively) were sold to John Blatherwick of Chilwell for £1525. Blatherwick was then the landlord of the Chequers Inn in Chilwell and had previously kept, in turn, the Malt Shovel and the Crown Inn in Beeston 88. The properties were clearly bought by Blatherwick as an investment as they continued to be occupied by tenants.

2-4 High Road After 1907 - as mentioned above, these properties had been purchased as an investment by John Blatherwick as part of the 1907 sales from the Doar estate. Blatherwick died a few years later, on Christmas Day, 1912 and the properties were sold again, in June 1913, to Joseph Woodhouse, a Chilwell farmer, for £1390, who continued to rent them to tenants 89. Number 4 remained in the tenancy of Bernal Stevenson while, at some point, the tenancy of number 2 was taken by Annie Louise King who continued to run it as a sweet shop and tobacconist, Just before he died, in 1921, Woodhouse sold both properties to Annie King in October 1920, for £1500 90.

Boots Shop In 1933, Boots Pure Drug had been brought back into British control after a period of American ownership, following the sale to United Drug Company in 1920. This, it seems, resulted in the Company to seeking expansion of its retail outlets and, in Beeston, it was able to acquire from Annie King, in September 1934, a 50-year lease on the adjacent property - 4 High Road 91. This enabled the company to enlarge the existing building by adding an additional matching section onto the 1907 building (this can be seen on the photograph on the left - albeit taken in the mid 1960s when Boots had moved out and the building was occupied by temporary tenants pending redevelopment. The new section is on the right hand side of the building, clearly additional to the symmetrical 3-bay original building. This is the building as it will be remembered by most older Beestonians with a ground floor devoted to traditional medical and toiletry products and ornate stairs leading to a floor devoted to fancy goods, a photographic section and - that favourite of Florence Boot - a subscription lending library.

Various photographs, shown on this page, illustrate the development of the Boots store and the buildings either side. The one shown above right is dated about 1910, just after the Boots store had opened in 1907. To the left is the Doars living accomodation and shop on the corner of Station Road (then Brown Lane). On the left there is a glipse of Bernal Stevenson's fish and poultry shop (part of his name is visible on the blind). The photograph shown above left is later, about 1933, with Boots still in its original form but the National Provincial Bank now on the corner of Station Road with the rebuilt Doars shop next door (see details below). The photograph here left, shows the Boots building and the other shops, mostly vacated by the original occupants, about 1964, just prior to demolition.

The redevelopment of number 4 still left number 2 in its original form - and, as may be seen in the photograph, this continued to be the case right up to the comprehensive redevelopment of the whole area in the 1960s. It seems that Alice King continued in the shop until, aged 64, she retired in November 1950, having leased the premises and sold the business to Alice May Bond who, it will be remembered by many, continued operating there until redevelopment 92. In May 1951, Annie Louise King married, for the first time, to Thomas Stone Hall who, it will be remembered from our study of nearby Church Street properties, was then the owner of the Bowley & Hall property at 7 Church Street. In October 1954,Mrs Hall sold the freehold of what had previously been number 4 to Boots Pure Drug for £3250; this, of course, had previously been leased to Boots and was the site of the 1934 extension of the store. In November 1955, Annie died, leaving her husband as beneficial owner of the remaining of the two properties - number 2. Thomas Hall died in June 1960 following which ownership of the property became vested in Margaret Ethel Birks, a niece of Annie (King) Hall 93.

NP BankThe Next Doar Takes Over - by 1932, Frederick William Doar was 57 and looking to retire. His only son, also Frederick William Doar was aged 25 and about to marry Rowena Brough, the daughter of the local housebuilder. It was the right time to handover so plans were made for change, although, just as when he took over from his father, this transfer did not involve all of his property. This time, in September 1932, a month after the marriage, just the shop at 10 High Road was transferred to his son. The part of the property on the corner of Station Road had been sold in October 1931 to the National Provincial Bank. The bank building on the corner (see right, and compare the scene from about 1907, shown above) became a local landmark for over 30 years, before it was acquired by the Council and demolished as part of the 1960s redevelopment. At the same time, the opportunity was taken to remodel 10 High Road as a new shop with a shop-front that was more appropriate in style to the adjacent premises. Now it was a single-storey structure with a facade complete with an ornate sign 'Nottingham House' - the long-standing name that the family had given the premises. Despite the extent of this rebuild, there was no change in the personal service offered and, as the writer can testify, the distinctive aroma in the shop remained and can be easily recalled even today, However, the sale of the corner property and rebuilding of the shop area brought a particularly significant change for members of the Doar family who were now able to spend their home lives elsewhere in Beeston, away from the shop.

Square 1932

This photograph of the south side of The Square is an excellent illustration of the street scene at the beginning of the 1930s. Although continuing to be overshadowed by what had been the silk mill. It had ceased to trade as such some thirty or more years earlier, allowing the High Road to develop as a shopping street with The Square as a centrepiece. The precise date is almost certainly 1932, evidenced by signs that the building of the National Provincial Bank, on the corner of Station Road, is clearly in its final stages. Despite the general financial difficulties of the time, there are also several indications that the area was standing up well. As we have seen, Doars had remodeled its shop front and was trading confidently in the hands of the latest generation of the family. Just a few years earlier, on the corner of Station Road, in the building that had once housed the silk mill management, Victor Oade had taken over the business there, previously operated by West & Co, and was now well established and, as we will see, was to go on to trade there for about forty years. In the centre of the picture, stands the original 3-gabled Boots store, by then already 15 years old which was soon to be extended, adding another bay that was to take in the adjoining property, the fishmonger\'s shop operated by Bernal Stevenson at the time of this photograph. And, a further response to a busier street-scene, the Boer War memorial was soon to be moved to a then more appropriate location at the entrance to Broadgate Recreation Ground.

Station Rd Shops Also around this time, the Doar family developed a row of shops with accommodation over on the strip of land (Parcel 'A' on the plan of the 1888 acquisition) on the west side of Station Road, immediately behind the new bank building. These shops will be remembered by many older Beestonians for their later tenants which included Mr Graham the men's hairdresser, Smedleys the butchers, a traditional open-fronted wet fish shop with a large tiled counter and Fords the household linen shop(see left). These too survived until the overall demolition of the site.

1960s Redevelopment - by the early 1960s, the local council - then Beeston & Stapleford Urban District Council - had begun to examine options for the redevelopment of the area of central Beeston, south of The Square, bounded on the east by Station Road, on the south by Middle Street and on the West by Styring Street. The proposals involved the total demolition of that whole area and the building of a new comprehensive retail development. It would result in the total destruction of Chapel Street, a narrow lane running between what was then the top of Church Street and Middle Street, the closing of the top of Church Street so that it no longer opened into The Square and the demolition of the old Town Hall building. All of the buildings which are discussed on this page - including the popular and attractive Boots building would vanish under the proposals. These were big changes to an area familiar to all Beestonians, changes that were at least as extensive as the recent Tesco redevelopment and were, not surprisingly, controversial at the time but they eventually got the go-ahead. The Council used its statutory powers to acquire all the land required and entered into partnership with a development company, Second Covent Garden Property Co Ltd - to build the shopping centre - 'The Square' - that survives today - albeit subject, once again, to proposals for another round of redevelopment.

Boots empty shop The Council acquired most of the property in 1963 and 1964 and immediately set about clearing the most of the land, essentially the whole of Chapel Street and much of the west side of Station Road, to the rear of the property on the south side of the Square, For the time being the properties in The Square - those that we have been exploring on this page and those at the top of Church Street, although acquired at much the same time, were left standing although the long-standing owners and tenants moved out as they sold-up, some re-locating elsewhere in Beeston. During that time, the Council let these properties to temporary tenants before final demolition and rebuilding got underway around 1969. Photographs taken during that time may be seen here

The Boots building was sold to the Council in August 1963 and the company opened a new store at the location it still occupies on the High Road nearly opposite the top of Acacia Walk. This new location was part of the retail development which had then recently taken place on the site of the Palace Cinema and the Conservative Club. At that time, the cinema closed and the Conservative Club relocated to new premises on Acacia Walk 94. The stylish Boots building in the Square, stripped of its corporate identity (see right) was let temporarily as Alex Owen's domestic appliance outlet (see above left). In the picture it was offering 'factory re-conditioned washing machines' for £7.

Frederick Doar sold his premises to the Council in June 1963 and, for a time, the business re-opened on the opposite side of the Square at 13 High Road. The vacated property was let by the Council to Trevor Nelson, a well-known local second-hand furniture dealer, for one year from December 1963. This was the situation at the time of the photograph which appears on the previous page.

By the end of l964, all of the other owners of the properties on the south side of the Square - including 1-7 Church Street and the Bank on the corner of Station Road - had also sold to the Council although, it appears from the photographs taken at that time, that many of the occupants were permitted to stay up to the time that demolition took place. No doubt, the Council was keen to keep up the appearances of that side of The Square while clearance and rebuilding proceeded to the rear.

By the beginning of the 1970s, The Square Shopping Centre was fully opened and continues, basically much as it was then, although over the years, it was remodeled and changed, most recently. when the tram came to Beeston. The picture shown below, taken in about 1982, reminds us of some of the more subtle changes in the earlier years. Then, there was two-way traffic through the Square - and, indeed, along the length of the High Road. With pedestrianisation, the raised flower beds were cleared away, a controversial piece of sculpture appeared and a more fitting raised feature arrived somewhat later. Since then, over the years, there have been several facelifts and alterations in response to changing needs and it has continued to serve as Beeston's natural centre, in a style more fitting to modern-day shopping habits. No doubt, it will continue to adapt as they change in future years.

Square 1982

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Footnotes - (Note: the respective footnote text may now be viewed in a pop-up window by clicking on any blue, underscored note number within the main text)
Where reference is made to the Probate Calender (Index giving brief details of grant of Probate/Administration), unless specifically stated, the full will and probate documentation has not been seen.
Scroll through the notes as required - or display them all by selecting expanded notes here
Notes 1-60
1 William's parents were William and Jane (née Wildblood) Roberts, who were married at Aston-on-Trent Derbyshire on 1 October 1792 (Phillimore - Transcript of Marriages). William was baptised there on 7 April 1793 (IGI - Patron Submissions - Batch 7331206, 445937, etc).
While no direct evidence has been found as to whether they moved to Beeston with their son, a reference in a deed of 1833, relating to Beeston property purchased by the son, mentions 'William Roberts the younger'. As the son's own son William was aged only about 7 at the time, this can only refer to the son and implies that the father lived, or at least was known, in Beeston (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Foster & Pearson Property - Bundle D)

2 The marriage took place at Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire on 7th February 1822 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages).
Sarah, the daughter of Stephen and Mary Foster, was born there and baptised there on 13 May 1787 (IGI Batch C060581).

3 The general enclosure of open fields in Beeston took place in 1809 under the terms of a private Act of Parliament of 1806 and the work of the Commissioners appointed to allocate the land according to individuals' rights of common. Less formal enclosure of parts of the Parish had taken place in earlier years and, as was usual, much of the central village core was already held by individuals, mostly as small crofts. The Enclosure Award map, part of which is shown here, shows that the land in question was already in that latter category

4 This plan is copied, approximately to scale, from the plan attached to title documentation in connection with the transfer between William Roberts and John Frederick Doar on 4th June 1888. Names of adjoining owners refer to this applicable at that date. (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Doar Property)

5 This parcel of land (Piece A) was part of lands acquired in 1785 by William Lowe of Nottingham from Mary Drury, the widow of William Drury. William Lowe died shortly after making a will dated 22 February 1788, in which he left his property for the benefit of one Mary Read senior, during her life and while she remained single. Following this the property was to pass to her daughter, Mary Read jnr for her life and then to her children, The will also had provision for failure of issue but, in the event, Mary Read snr married Robert Nutt in 1792, whereupon Mary Read jnr (then the wife of William Barker), took posssession and erected houses, including the three eventually sold to William Roberts. William Barker died in March 1829 followed by Mary, his widow, in May 1831, whereupon their nine surviving children inherited the property under the terms of William Lowe's will. The sale by auction, held on 18th July 1832, appears to have been held to settle the estate between these children. There appears to have been some legal uncertainties in this succession but, eventually, in January 1833, they were determined to be tenants in common in tail under the will of William Lowe and made the necessary transfers to the purchasers, including William Roberts. (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Abstact of William Barker property by Clarke & Wells, Nottingham, 1832)
The older Mary Read, apparently known as 'Moll' Read, appears to have had at least two other children, William Lowe Read, born 26th June 1779 at Beeston, Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Baptisms Transcription) and Elizabeth Read, born 18th October 1782 at Beeston, Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Baptisms Transcription). Given the generous terms of Lowe's will and the choice of middle name for one of the children, it seems likely that William Lowe was the father of some if not all of the three children. Oldrini records, in Gleanings - or Something About Beeston in the Olden Times, that Mary Read was required to do open penance in the Church following the birth of her illegimate child Elizabeth in 1782, wrapped in a sheet and possibly bare-footed, and that she was the last person to do so there. He also tells us that Elizabeth subsequently married a Nottinghamshire clegyman (but doesn't name him). Subsequent research has shown that he was Samuel Charlton, whom she married on 2 December 1845, naming William Lowe as her father in the register (St Mary's Nottingham Marriage Register).

6 Generations of the Dunsmore family had been butchers and graziers in Scalford and Harby in Leicestershire and Sedgbrook in Lincolnshire, In 1736, William Dunsmore, a Scalford butcher, had married Sarah Constable of Beeston, Nottinghamshire, when they had entered into a marriage settlement in which each gave the other a joint tenancy in their respective property with provision for it passing to their children. Following their death, and the subsequent death of two of their three sons, the survivor, Richard Dunsmore, a grazier of Harby, inherited the property, including that at Beeston, Nottinghamshire previously owned by his mother Sarah née Constable). Richard Dunsmore died on 4th May 1834; after several specific bequests, he left his residual estate (which would include the property in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, to his son William Dunsmore. (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - abstract of Dunsmore property, Brown Lane Croft, by Buttery & Son, Nottingham, 1850).

7 It seems that William Dunsmore had already sold Piece C (as shown on the plan) to William Roberts prior to the date of a mortgage, in 1839 with Smith Fowler, a Nottingham grocer, securing a loan to Dunsmore of £400, as the piece was specifically excluded. In 1842 and again in 1844 there were further advances to Dunsmore by Fowler such that there was a total of £1200 owing when, in 1847 Dusmore was able to sell some other land to reduce the mortgage by half. At the same time, the balance of the mortgage, plus an extra £100, was taken over by Robert Barlow, a Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire farmer. In 1849, more land was sold by Dunsmore which enabled the mortgage to be repaid in full. In the reconveyance to Dunsmore, mention is made to "948 sq yards then recently sold and conveyed by the said Robert Barlow and William Dunsmore to William Roberts". This would be Piece D on the Plan. (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - abstract of Dunsmore property, Brown Lane Croft, by Buttery & Son, Nottingham, 1850).

8 Joseph and his wife Hannah appear to be in occupation in 1871 (1871 Census: Piece 3488 Folio 31) and in 1881 (1881 Census: Piece 3331 Folio 113). At the time of the sale by Roberts to Doar in June 1888, this property, part of Piece B on the plan, was described as "..built by William Roberts, the elder, and used as a butchers shop" (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Doar Property).

9 Part of the description associated with Piece B in the transfer to John Frederick Doar by William Roberts in June 1888 (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Doar Property).

10 (1861 Census: Piece 440 Folio 94 - Roberts Yard, Beeston, Nottinghamshire).

11 William Roberts snr died 3 March 1867 at Beeston, Nottinghamshire. Probate of his estate (valued at under £600) was granted to his sons on 22nd May 1867 at Nottingham District Probate Registry (Probate Calender)
His wife Sarah died on 20 March 1870, probably at Beeston, Nottinghamshire (Memorial Inscription St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire).

12 Edward Roberts was born on 10th December 1829 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire and was baptised at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 14 February 1830 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Baptisms Transcription)
His marriage to Ann Elliott took place on 20 May 1851 at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages), By 1871 he was living with his wife and trading as a woollen draper at New Square, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. They employed a domestic servant (1871 Census: Piece 3611 Folio 87). It appears that their marriage was childless
By 1881 the couple were at 148 Robin Hoods Chase, Nottingham (1881 Census: Piece 3356 Folio 13).
Ann died in Q2 1889 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 134) after which Edward boarded at various Nottingham addresses until his death in Q3/1909 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 109. No record of grant of probate or administration of an estate has been found.

13 Roberts junior was operating as a grocer in Beeston, at least by 1851 when he was still living with his parents on the Turnpike (probably on the north side of what is now The Square) (1851 Census: Piece 2127 Folio 93). It is not clear, however, where his grocery shop was located, then and in 1861, when he is recorded as living on High Road, Beeston. Although married, his wife was with her parents in Nottingham. He was by then employing an apprentice and domestic assistance (1861 Census: Piece 2440 Folio 92)

14 The marriage took place at St Marys Parish Church, Nottingham on 4th May 1852 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages). Sarah was baptised at Castle Gate Meeting House, Nottingham on 24th July 1814

15 William Roberts was appointed as an executor for each of his wife's brothers' and sisters' estates. Each was substantial : Thomas £42k, Elizabeth £1.7k, James £35k John £12k, Charles £7k and Marianne £24k (Probate Calender). The Miss Cullen Memorial Homes on Bingham Road, Sherwood appear to have been paid for by Elizabeth Cullen who died in February 1883 (See Beeston Then & Now by Robert Mellors, page 52).

16 Roberts was clearly established at the property on the south side of The Square by 1871, where he is then living with his wife, his assistant (Doar), two appentices and a domestic servant (1871 Census: Piece 3488 Folio 31)
John Frederick Doar's apprenticeship indendure, dated 11 June 1862 can be seen on Rob Beresford's site.

17 Roberts appears to have had Acacia House built for his retirement. Situated in substantial grounds between Acacia Walk and Union Street, the site is now part of the Tesco development but will be remembered as the site of the Conservative Club after the house was demolished in the 1960s. Before that, the house served as an Adult School

18 The inscription on his memorial in Beeston Churchyard reads '33 years Member Basford Board of Guardians (17 years Vice Chairman)'

19 Sarah died on August 6th, 1887 in Nottingham (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 211).
For some unexplained reason, Robert's marriage to Lucy Cullen took place in the Bridlington area, in Q3 1888 (GRO : Bridlington Registration District: Ref 9d 490)

20 After first establishing a grocery business in Timber Hill, Nottingham (1841 Census: Piece 871 Folio 6-7), John Cullen moved to Dronfield, Derbyshire, probably around 1847, the year he married Ann Wilkinson Smith (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 15 851). There, he traded as a grocer on the High Street for upwards of 30 years (1851 Census: Piece 2148 Folio 507), (1861 Census: Piece 2537 Folio 54), (1871 Census: Piece 3623 Folio 62).
By 1881, he and his wife had retired and were living at 16 Forest Road East, Nottingham (1881 Census: Piece 3349 Folio 113). His wife died on 23 June 1883 (Memorial Inscription General Cemetery, Nottingham>,

21 John Cullen, was a widower at the time of Lucy's marriage to William Roberts. Lucy was his only daughter and he moved to Acacia House, where he lived out his life in retirement.
He died at Acacia House on 4 June 1898 (Probate Calender). His estate, valued at £12,784, was proved at Nottingham District Probate Registry on 22 August 1898 by William Roberts and John Warren Briggs (solicitor) (Probate Calender).

22 William Roberts died on 4 June 1917, probably at Acacia House (Probate Calender). His estate, eventually valued at £14,985, was proved at Nottingham District Probate Registry on 4 September 1917 by William Joseph Furze (electrical engineer) and George William Hawley (surveyor).
The Local Board had been required to provide a cemetery after 1882 when the churchyard had been declared as full. Negotiations for the purchase of the land on what is now Wollaton Road (from the Trustees of the late Thomas Bayley) were entrusted to William Roberts and Benjamin Collington who also oversaw the layout and building works. The cemetery then extended to four acres (purchased for £500 per acre) and the chapel and other works cost £4,480 (See Beeston Then & Now by Robert Mellors, pages 36 & 52). The cemetery was extended in the 1930s and again since

23 Just prior to her death she was resident at Acacia House, 41 Thorncliffe Road, Nottingham. However, she died at Skegness, Lincolnshire on July 28th 1928 (Probate Calender)
Her estate was valued at £29,747 when probate was granted to John Warren Briggs (solicitor), Frank Briggs Cullen (surgeon dentist) and William Henry Heppenstall Shaw (company director) on September 25 1928 at Nottingham District Probate Registry (Probate Calender).

24 The transfer was dated June 4th 1888. In addition to the four parcels (A-D - totalling 2039 square yards) shown on the plan, it included a house and 50 square yards of land at Attenborough, Nottinghamshire (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Doar Property)

25 Our conclusion that the pair of shops (numbers 2 & 4 High Road) at the west end of Piece B were build by Doar after 1888 is based on the description of that piece in the 1888 deed. This mentions three buildings only, then occupied respectively by Doar (No 10), the Misses Lowe (No 8) and Joseph Meads (No 6) (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Doar Property).

26 This William Roberts was born in Darley Dale, Derbyshire about February 1861 (1861 Census: Piece 2542 Folio 67). Mary Ann, his first wife, was born in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire in about 1859. In 1891 they are at the High Road premises with their first two childen and a domestic servant (1891 Census: Piece 2671 Folio 97).
In 1901 they were living at 71 Coppice Road, Nottingham now with six of their seven known children, the latest of whom had been born in Beeston only a year earlier. William was then working at home as a self-employed tailor. (1901 Census: Piece 3175 Folio 135).
It seems likely that this move had been necessary because of his wife's health as she died shortly after, aged 42, in Q3/1901 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 191).
William remarried in Q3/1903, to Mary Ann Cox (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 491).

27 Alic Daykin (a lace curtain draughtsman) had married Emma Raynor in Q2/1898 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 745) and, in 1901, Alic continued this occupation on a self-employed basis while his wife operated the confectionery business at 2 High Road with the help of her sister Annie, who boarded with them (1901 Census: Piece 3153 Folio 99). Emma appears to have given up the business just before her first (and apparently only) child, Alic Bernal Smith Raynor, was born in October 1905 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 406 with precise dates in UK Inward Passenger records from later in his life).
After leaving Beeston, the family settled at Victoria Road, Skegness (1911 Census: Piece 19884 RD421 SD1 ED2 Sched 193).

28 When Alec Daykin was listed as a Confectioner at High Road,Beeston, Nottinghamshire (Wright's Directory, 1902)

29 The 1902 Edition of Wright's Directory of Nottingham and Neighbourhood lists 'Alec Daykin, Confectioner' at High Road, Beeston
The 1904 Kelly's Directory lists 'Miss Charlotte P Hull, Confectioner' at 1 High Road, Beeston. This address is apparently recorded in error instead of 2 High Road

30 She was then aged 38, living at 24 Montfort Street, New Radford, Nottingham, (1901 Census: Piece 3181 Folio 84).

31 They married in Q3/1906 (GRO : Guildford (Surrey) Registration District: Ref 2a 164) and appear to have settled in that area. Samuel died in Q3/1921, aged 81(GRO : Hambledon (Surrey) Registration District: Ref 2a 178) and Charlotte died in Q3/1939 aged 78 (GRO : Surrey Mid Eastern Registration District: Ref 2a 265), leaving £1.277 (Probate Calender)

32 In 1891 James & Mary were at 3a Town Street, Sturton, Lincolnshire with two nieces (1891 Census: Piece 2636 Folio 6). They had no children of their own. James was then described as a 'Grocer, Draper & Insurance Agent'.
In 1901, James & Mary were at Bottom Street, Harby, Nottinghamshire (1901 Census: Piece 3195 Folio 73) with James described as a 'Grocer & Provision Dealer'.

33 James Monk is shown as the tenant when the property was sold to John Blatherwick on October 1907 (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Deed, Doar to Blatherwick 9 October 1907)
He was still trading there in 1911 (1911 Census: Piece 20431 RD429 SD3 ED6 Sched 67) although, by then, he was a widower. He remains there in 1913 (Wright's Directory, 1913). It is not clear when he or his wife died

34 Robert Smith was born about 1842 in Greenwich, Kent. Caroline was born in Boston, Lincolnshire in about 1843. In 1891, there were five children at home with Robert and Caroline. A nurse was employed, presumably for the children (1891 Census: Piece 2671 Folio 97).

35 In 1881, Robert and Caroline were living at 15 Bloomfield Street, Nottingham with three children (1881 Census: Piece 3356 Folio 42)
In 1901, they were at 175 Douglas Road, Sheffield with three of their children (1901 Census: Piece 4375 Folio 48)

36 Bernal Stevenson was born in Q2/1866 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 260). He was the sixth of at least seven children born to William & Phoebe who originated from Arnold, Nottinghamshire and were married there on 4 November 1854 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages) He died in July 1944, having retired to live in Trent Road Beeston, Nottinghamshire

37 William Stevenson died in Q2/1881 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 151).

38 Phoebe Stevenson died in Q1/1883 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 183).

39 Bernal Stevenson married Sarah Ann Ford in Q3 1887 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 457).
Sarah Ann was the daughter of Henry John Ford (who died when she was an infant) and his wife Harriett Mayfield Ford (née Hooton). Harriett had survived as a lace mender after being widowed with seven children (1871 Census: Piece 3521 Folio 60 - 28 Pantagenate Street, Nottingham).

40 They are then at 15 Stratford Terrace, Nottingham. (1891 Census: Piece 2692 Folio 23)

41 They are then at 4 High Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire. (1901 Census: Piece 3153 Folio 99)

42 Joseph Smedley and Beatrice Mabel Stevenson were married at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 4 July 1919 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages)
By 1911 they had moved to 11 Beeston Road, Old Lenton, Nottingham (1911 Census: Piece 20490 RD430 SD1 ED1 Sched 2860)
Their three children were Benal Joseph (1911-1978), Jack (b. 1915) and Vera D (b. 1920) (GRO Indexes of Births & Deaths)

43 Bernal Hooton Stevenson and Louie Bowley were married in Q4 1912 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 536). This Louie Bowley has not been definately identified and she does not appear to be connected with the Bowley family living nearby at 7 Church Street. She may have been the Louisa Bowley, born Gotham, Nottinghamshire in Q1/1852 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 245), who, in 1911, was working a servant at 1 Hartford St, Nottingham (1911 Census: Piece 20531 RD430 SD2 ED18 Sched 175).

44 See www.nipperpatdaly.co.uk which lists Bernal Stevenson has taking part in 3 professional fights in the 1910s.

45 Bernal Stevenson (jnr) enlisting in the Royal Field Artililary on 19 May 1915. He served in France and was awarded the 15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal (WW1 Army Service Records)

46 Sarah Ann Bowley died in Q4/117, probably in Beeston, Nottinghamshire (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 200)

47 Bernal Stevenson and Annie Selina Derry were married at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 4 July 1919 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages)Annie was serving the Player household in by 1901 (1901 Census: Piece 3164 Folio 63), then aged 20 and in 1911 (1911 Census: Piece 20490 RD430 SD1 ED1 Sched 15) and probably up the time of her marriage in 1919. Although no absolute evidence has been found, but given that Lenton Hurst, where Annie was the cook, was not far from Beeston it is possible that Bernal had supplied fish to the Player household and they had met in this way.

48 Lenton Hurst was built between 1896 and 1898 for William Goodacre Player, the youngest son of the famous tobacco industrialist, John Player. He and his older brother, John Dane Player, had taken over the reigns of the family business in 1893. This grand house, was designed with arts and crafts influence, by the Nottingham architects, Marshall & Turner. Its garden, of later date, is attributed to the legendary Gertrude Jekyll.

49 Nancy Stevenson was born in Q3/1919, probably in Beeston, Nottinghamshire (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 438).
Annie Selina Stevenson died on 21 December 1925 and her estate, valued at £160 4s 5d, was probated on 30 April in the following year by her husbandNaN (Probate Calender)
Her mother, Jane Davies, appears to have moved to the area as a widow, possibly with Richard Derry, her son; at the time of her death on 25 January 1924, she was living at 49 Derby Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire. Her estate, valued at £426 13s, was proved by Richard Derry (a confectioner) at Derby District Probate Registry (Probate Calender)
The photograph of Bernal Stevenson and his daughter has been kindly supplied by his gt-grandson, Tim Stephenson.

50 Joseph Meads (b. c1819 at Redhill, Nottinghamshire), was the eldest child of Joseph (b. c1792) & Elizabeth Meads who, in 1851, were farming 14 acres in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire (1851 Census: Piece 2141 Folio 103). This land was probably opposite the site of Chilwell Hall, possibly incorporating the 17th Century house now occupied by a nursing home, known as 'Landermeads'. Joseph & Elizabeth's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Joseph Lander at Attenborough, Nottinghamshire on 23 March 1858 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages).

51 No details of Joseph Mead's first marriage have been found. His second wife, Hannah Finlay (née Moore) had been previously married to George Arthur Finlay (b. c1834 London) who, by 1861, was trading as a butcher on the High Road in Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1861 Census: Piece 2440 Folio 94), before his early death, probably at Beeston, Nottinghamshire, in Q3 1863 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 65). Hannah's marriage to Joseph Meads followed, just over a year later, on 16 January 1865 at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages)

52 George Arthur Finlay's parents were James Finlay (b. c1798, Limehouse, London) and his wife Eliza. In 1841 living at the Wharf in Shardlow, Derbyshire with their family of four (1841 Census: Piece 188 Book 7 Folio 12).
Hannah Moore's parents George Moore (b. Shardlow 27 Aug 1789) and his wife Ann and their family of seven (with four servants) were living in Shardlow, Derbyshire in 1841 (1841 Census: Piece 188 Book 7 ED2 Folio 30), apparently keeping the Navigation Inn.

53 Joseph Meads died on 2 January 1890, apparently at the family home in Chilwell. Probate was granted at Nottingham District Probate Registry, to his widow on 19th Jul 1890 to his widow. His estate was first valued at £256 2s 8d, later revised to £490 2s 8d (Probate Calender).
Hannah, his widow, appears to have retired to Shardlow where she died on 16 December 1911. Probate of her estate, valued at £440 14s 8d. was granted to her brother, Rev George Moore, then the vicar of Cowley, Oxfordshire, at Derby District Probate Registry on 2nd April 1912 (Probate Calender)

54 Charles Hollingsworth was born on 9th May 1860 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire and was baptised at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 19 March 1862 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Baptisms Transcription)
In 1871 he was living with his parents and working as a butcher's boy (1871 Census: Piece 3489 Folio 18) and as a butcher by 1881 (1881 Census: Piece 3331 Piece 41). He married Ann Whicks, originally from Scotland, on 13 November 1881 atSt Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (Parish Register)
The family are recorded at 2 High 'Street', Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1891 Census: Piece 2671 Folio 87). No trace of the family has been found after 1891.

55 Ralph Robert Wharton (aka Walker) and his wife Gertrude were then living at 6 High Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire with their son Ralph Wharton Walker, aged 1 (1901 Census: Piece 3153 Folio 99)

56 Ralph Robert Wharton was the youngest of four children apparently born to Samuel Wharton (c1828-1894) and Mary Ann Walker (née Nutt, 1827-1901) between 1862 and 1871 when they eventually married (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 204, Q3/1871)
All four children, including Ralph Robert, were baptised at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 12 November 1873 with Mary Ann Walker recorded as their mother and no recorded father and with the surname 'Walker' (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Baptisms Transcription) Another of the couple's sons, who was born in 1872, after their marriage, was baptised on the same occasion as 'Ernest Augustus Wharton.
Ralph Robert used both the surnames 'Walker' and 'Wharton' during his lifetime.

57 1901 CensusBeeston, Nottinghamshire (1901 Census: Piece 3153 Folio 99 - 6 High Road)

58 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 406 in Q2 1897). Gertrude was born in Lenton, Nottinghamshire in about 1870, the daughter of George and Gertude Belton. Ralph Robert used the surname 'Walker'

59 This coincided with the sale of the property and the adjoining property at number 8, to Boots Cash Chemist who where to continue to sell stationery and fancy goods as well as offering a lending library.
While Wharton was operating, competition would have been keen within the immediate area. Elsewhere, we have described how Albert Augustus Dobson had operated as a stationer, directly across The Square in Commercial Buildings, between about 1903 and 1910, when he and his family left for America. In addition, Samuel Hudston operated as a newsagent, stationer and printer, just around the corner, near the top of Church Street. It is interesting to note that Samuel Hudston's wife (Elizabeth, née Nutt), was Ralph Robert Walker's aunt (and, incidently, Samuel & Elizabeth are the writer's great-grandparents). One can only speculate about how much co-operation there was between the two businesses - particuarly on the printing side.

60 His death was recorded, as Ralph Robert Walker, in Q3 1907 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 101 - age 38)

The note sequence is continued in the next window

Notes 61 onwards
61 1871 Census Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1871 Census: Piece 3488 Folio 31). She was than described as age 30 and single.

62 In 1891 the property appears to be occupied by the Lowe sisters as a lock-up shop. At that time they were living with their parents at 6 Chapel Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1881 Census: Piece 2671 Folio 97)

63 See the account of the Heard family at 5 Church Street

64 In his early life, William first followed his father as a framework knitter and then spent many years as an agricultural labourer before starting as a carter, by 1881, then a widower, from his home at The City,Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1881 Census: Piece 3331 Folio 38)

65 George was born in Beeston in Q3/1855 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 119);John was there in Q2/1857 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 128); Harriet, their mother died either in Q4/1858 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 95) or in Q1/1859 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 99)

66 William Oldham married Mary Smith (b. Elvaston, Derbyshire, cir 1835) at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 19 August 1860 (Parish Register). Three children were born to the couple, all in Beeston - Mary Elizabeth (cir 1861) Charlotte (cir 1864) and Joseph in Q4/1867 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 99). Mary, their mother, died in Q4/1857, aged 32 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 83)

67 Thus, in 1891, they are living at '3 High Street', Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1891 Census: Piece 2671 Folio 35). William remained a widower and a self-employed carter and sons George and Joseph were self-employed labourers. Daughter Charlotte was keeping house

68 William Oldham died, aged 72, in Q1/1901, probably in Beeston, Nottinghamshire (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 112)

69 The other cab driver is probably George. who was Joseph's older half-brother, who remained single and was living at Roundhill Cottage, Beeston, Nottinghamshire with Joseph's family in 1901 (1901 Census: Piece 3153 Folio 40). George's brother John and his family were living at 22 Clinton Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1901 Census: Piece 3153 Folio 34). John was then described as a carter and was probably also associated with the firm.

70 By 1911, Joseph Oldham had married for a second time after his first wife died in Q1/1903 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 116) and was trading as a grocer and confectioner at 16 Middle Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1911 Census: Piece 20432 ED429 SD3 ED7 Sched 31). His unmarried half brother George was living with them and working as a furniture remover. George's brother John and his family were living at 43 Chilwell Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire from where John continued to operate a cab business (1911 Census: Piece 20428 ED429 SD3 ED3 Sched 206)

71 John Frederick Doar was born in Sandiacre, Derbyshire on 12 November 1846 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/31.htm). He married Sophia Yeomans - b.Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 8 October 1854 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/227.htm), the daughter of William & Ann (née Dix) Yeomans - at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 16 March 1874 (Parish Register). He died at Sandiacre, Derbyshire on 10 February 1902 (Probate Calender). Probate of his estate, valued at £12,269, was granted at Derby Probate Registry, on 5th May 1902, to Abraham Charles Doar, cashier and William Dix Yeomans, wholesale grocer (Probate Calender)

72 Frederick William Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 8 March 1875 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/226.htm). He married Annie Elizabeth Kirkby - b.Beeston, Nottinghamshire in Q1/1880 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 171), the daughter of Samuel & Annie (née Thornhill) Kirkby - at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 4 June 1900 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages). He died, probably at Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 12 February 1941 (Probate Calender). He is buried with his wife in Beeston Cemetary, where a memorial survives. Probate of his estate, valued at £5,935, was granted at Nottingham District Probate Registry, on 22nd April 1941, to Harry John Cyril Doar (Bank Manager) (Probate Calender)

73 Annie Sophia Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 7 May 1876 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/276.htm). She married Arthur Freeman (b.New Barnet, Hertfordshire in Q1/1874 (GRO: Barnet Registration District 3a 145), the son of George & Mary (née Utting) Freeman), probably at Sandiacre, Derbyshire on 29 March 1902 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/276.htm). She died, probably at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, on 25 September 1923 (Probate Calender). Probate of her estate, valued at £1,021, was granted at London Probate Registry, on 19th December 1923, to Arthur Freeman (her husband) (Probate Calender)

74 Mary Isabel Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 11 March 1878 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/228.htm). She married William Taylor - b.Radford Nottingham in about 1880, the son of Robert & Martha (née Smart) Taylor - probably at Sandiacre, Derbyshire in Q4/1902 (GRO: Shardlow Registration District: Ref 6d 616)

75 Harry John Cyril Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 24 January 1880 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/2571.htm). He first married Hilda Hammond - b.Scarborough, Yorkshire on 30 December 1884, the daughter of Charles Henry & Rebecca (née Thomas) Hammond - at Risley, Derbyshire on 3rd August 1905 Beeston, Nottinghamshire2571.htm). Hilda died on 17 December 1907 in Belper, Derbyshire Beeston, Nottinghamshire2376.htm)
Harry next married Mary Carlin - b. Somercoates, Derbyshire on 26 July 1888 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/2380.htm), the daughter of Alfred & Elizabeth Carlin of Alfreton, Derbyshire (1891 Census: Piece 2748 Folio 94) - on 16th November 1912 at Coventry Register Office (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/2571.htm)
Harry died on 14th March 1959 at Alfreton, Derbyshire and was cremated at Nottingham (Wilford Hill) (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/2571.htm)

76 Alice Mabel Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 12 October 1881 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/229.htm). She married Alfred Towlson - b. Lenton, Nottingham on 16 July 1881 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Baptisms Transcription), the son of Edwin John & Eliza (née Durance) Towlson - in Q4/1904 (GRO: Belper Registration District: 7b 1185). Alice died in Q1/1853 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 3c 472)

77 Lilian Yeomans Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 16 April 1886 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/230.htm). She married Herbert Baker in Q2/1916 (GRO: Shardlow Registration District: 7b 1061).

78 Details of the mortgage to Roberts and repayments made by Doar are contained in the title documentation (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Doar deeds)

79 John Frederick Doar died at Sandiacre, Derbyshire on 10 February 1902, some 12 hours after suffering 'Sanginous Apoplexy' - a cerebral haemorrhage.(Descendants of the Sandiacre Doars, at http://beresford.net.au/history/images/WilliamDoarNarr.pdf)

80 Details of the 1907 transfers are contained in the title documentation (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Doar deeds)

81 Hilda Annie Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire in about February 1901 (1901 Census: Piece 3153 Folio 99 - age 1 month on 31 March). She married Arthur John Pollard - b. Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 12 December 1899 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref BS19C 251 - on death registration July 1997), the son of Arthur James & Lilian May (née Swann) Pollard - at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 19th September 1922 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages). She died in January 1999 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref BS21C 6851 66)

82 Mabel Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 17th February 1901. She married Frederick Joseph Beresford - b. on 2 January 1898, the son of Joseph Whitaker Beresford & his wife Mary (née Cox) - at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 7th June 1924 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages). They emigrated to Australia on 5th March 1927 and settled in Melbourne. Mabel died there on the 26 March 1992 (Rob Beresford's Family Tree at http://www.beresford.org.au/history/gen/tree/5.htm for all sources not otherwise stated)

83 Constance Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire in Q4/1904 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 229). She married Alfred Campbell - b. Cadishead, Lancashire in Q1 1905 (GRO: Barton Registration District: Ref 8c 710), the son of Robert William & Ada (née Harvey - at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 8th October 1931 (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages). They emigrated to Canada in 1934. Mabel died there in 1997

84 Phyllis Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 1st May 1906 (Date recorded on death registration). She married Conway Wilfred Wingfield - b. West Ham Registration District, Essex on 4th March 1906 (Date recorded on death registration Q4/1974 - GRO: Havering Registration District: Ref 13 0319) - in Q4/1931, probably in Beeston, Nottinghamshire (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref 7b 624). Phyllis died in Essex in July 1996 (GRO: Chelmsford Registration District: Ref F27 4682 85).

85 Frederick William Doar was born in Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 20th June 1907 (Date recorded on death registration). He married Rowena Aileen Brough - b. Beeston, Nottinghamshire on 27th June 1908 (Date recorded on death registration July/1991 - GRO: Basford Registration District: Ref 8 1052) - on 18th August 1931, at St Johns Parish Church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Index of Marriages). He died at Beeston, Nottinghamshire in November 1998 (GRO : Basford Registration District: Ref BS20C 6851 283).

86 More detail on the story of Jesse Boot and Boots the Chemist may be found at:
Jesse Boot of Nottingham - by Christopher Weir. Published by The Boots Company PLC, 1994. ISBN 1 873116 01 2
Jesse Boot of Boots the Chemists: a study in Business History - by Stanley Chapman. Published by Hodder and Stoughton, 1974
Much can be found on the Web, including a gallery of photographs here.

87 Jessie Boot and his wife Florence took infinite care with the design of each of the shops, with the clear intention that the design itself should be part of the shopping experience. In the persuit of this ideal, they used a number of architects, including the Nottingham architect Albert Nelson Bromley (1850-1934) and, later, Percy Richard Morley Horder (1870-1944) who was to go on to design the Trent Building (and the Lido), part of Nottingham University site, developed by Boot in the 1920s.
Although Morley Horder was responsible for many of the ornate, mock-Tudor facades much favoured by Boot, and in particular for the carved historical figures that were often incorporated, it seems that this was not always the case. Quite apart from a number of Boots facades definately attributed to Michael Vyne Treleaven (1850-1934), the facade of the one-time Boots store at Northumberland, Newcastle, once atttibuted to Morley Horder, has more recently been reassessed as Treleavan's work (Public sculpture of North-East England, by Paul Usherwood, Jeremy Beach, Catherine Morris. Liverpool University Press, 2000).
Treleaven was employed by Jesse Boot to be in charge of the Building & Shopfitting Department at Boots from 1900 to at least 1914. During that time he lived with his family at Beeston, Nottinghamshire, first at 11 Linden Grove (1901 Census: Piece 3153 Folio 131) and later at 228 Station Road (1911 Census: Piece 20429 RD429 SD3 ED4 Sched 26)
Other Boots facades known to be by Trevelean include Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk (from 1910) and Coney Street, York (from 1907)
Given the similarity of style of the Beeston shop front and the presence of Treleaven there, it seems highly likely that he was the architect.

88 John Blatherwick was born in Arnold, Nottinghamshire in 1845, the oldest son of Thomas & Rebecca (n&233;e Beardsley) Blatherwick, and was baptised there on 7th December of that year (Nottinghamshire Family History Society: Baptisms Transcription)
By 1881 he was keeping the Malt Shovel on Union Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1881 Census: Piece 3331 Folio 107) and, by 1891, he was keeping the Crown Inn, Church Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire (1891 Census: Piece 2671 Folio 35). By 1901, he had taken the Chequers Inn, In Chilwell, Nottinghamshire (1901 Census: Piece 3208 Folio 13) and, by 1911, had retired to live at Park Road, Chilwell (1911 Census: Piece Piece 20822 RD434 SD4 ED1 Sched 243) where he appears to have died on 25th December 1911 (Probate Calender)
Probate of his estate was granted to Henry Gandy (solicitor's clerk) and Henry Everard Dickins (mineral water manufacturer) on 18th March 1913 at Nottingham District Probate Registry being first valued at £3,867 8s 6d but later resworn at £4,526 8s 6d

89 Joseph Woodhouse was born in Strelley, Nottinghamshire in Q1/1856 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 134), the son of John & Hannah Woodhouse. Before 1897 he was farming in Old Chilwell, +NT+shire (1901 Census: Piece 3208 Folio 29) and continued until after 1911 (1911 Census: Piece Piece 1244 RD434 SD4 ED2 Sched 50). He appears to have retired to Ivy Cottage, Chilwell, where he died on 3 April 1921 (Probate Calender)
Probate of his estate was granted to his widow, Elizabeth Ann Woodhouse and Mary Alice Burton Day (the wife of Harry Day) on 25th November 1921 at Nottingham District Probate Registry and was valued at £16,868 17s 1d.

90 Annie Louisa King was born in Nottingham in Q4/1886 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 7b 320), the daughter of Job & Mary Ann (née Ashcroft) King. She moved with her parents, before 1911, to live at 54 Imperial Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire. from where her father continued his trade as a lace machine mechanic (1911 Census: Piece 20428 RD429 SD3 ED3 Sched 37). Annie had previously worked in relatively lowly jobs within the lace trade but somehow, by 1920, she had found the means to establish herself in business and to purchase the properties at 2 & 4 High Road.

91 The lease, dated 29 September 1934, was for a term of 50 years with a rental of £50 per annum (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - Boots property)

92 It appears that Alice May Bond was born on 8 May 1897 and died in Q1/1980 (GRO : Nottingham Registration District: Ref 8 1302 - which also records her birthdate). It has not been possible to otherwise identify her

93 On 18 May 1951, Annie May King married Thomas Stone Hall (See the account of the Bowley family at 7 Church Street). She died on 13 November 1955 and her husband was appointed executor of her estate. After his death, on 20 June 1960. the property was vested in Miss Margaret Ethel Birks, Annie Louise's niece who, in turn, sold it the Council for £5,250 on 1st November 1965 (Deeds relating to Central Beeston area purchased by Beeston & Stapleford UDC held at Nottinghamshire Archives - - 2 High Rd property)

94 The Boots property was sold to the Council for £32.000 on 2 August 1963.
Boots them moved to their present location in a then new development which had displaced both the Palace Cinema and the then Conservative Club. The Club had aquired the property, known as The Lodge and which had been home of Samuel Watson, the silk mill owner, in 1904. Following the 1963 redevelopment the Club moved to new property which it built on Acacia Walk and remained there until 2007 when the Acacia Walk property was sold as part of the Tesco development. The Club then moved to the newly renovated property on Station Road which had been, in turn, the Embassy ballroom, Bostock's bacon factory and in the occupation of Foster & Pearsons




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