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Author Topic: Berry Family  (Read 601 times)
littlej
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Berry Family
« on: Friday 11 April 08 16:09 BST (UK) »

Does anyone have any info on the Berry Family of Altrincham in Cheshire? William Berry was the Manufacturer of Cherry Blossom Boot Polish, in Manchester. My Grandmother was in service in their house, I have only just found this out, so I have little or no knowledge so far. The company was said to be named after his daughter. (Cherry Berry, the mind boggles!!)

Jac
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PEAKE & DAVENPORT (Devonport), Altrincham, Cheshire
MURRAY, Aston, Staffs & North Meols, Lancs
LITTLE,  Kirkpatrick Juxta, Dumfriesshire & Gloucestershire
WILSON,  Malton, N. Yorks
HENDERSON, somewhere in Scotland (early days yet)
LizzieW
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #1 on: Friday 11 April 08 17:12 BST (UK) »

Hi Jac

I could be wrong but I thought they lived in Hale. Cheshire. 

My mum used to have a ladies underwear shop in Hale in the late 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s and she used to have customers who were part of the Cherry Blossom Boot Polish Company.  She also had Mrs Timpson (from Timpson shoes) and other such people. This was in the days, when people used to have a monthly account and mum used to have to send out a statement at the end of each month, listing the invoices and items bought.  All the book-keeping done by hand.  I know the rich people were the ones who used this system.  The more normal people paid cash as they bought things.  I often added up the amounts on the till roll at the end of the day.

Unfortunately, mum died last May, so I can't ask her about the family.  I'm sure she would have known any of the staff of these families as they all came into her shop.

Lizzie

ps.  Modified - just had a thought, they could have lived on The Downs, Altrincham there were lots of large houses there too.
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BENSON- Dalton in Furness (Ulverston) and Hull
BETTISON - Derbys
BOULTON - Dalton-in-Furness and surrounding areas
BRAND - Lincs
COCKETT - Lincs, Yorks, Lancs
DA COSTA (or variants) -  Spain or Portugal, London (Middx), ?Hull
GILCHRIST - Scotland, Lincs
HINGLEY - Derbys/Yorks
MANN - Sussex, Kent, Herts
MUMBY - Lincolnshire and Hull
PEMBERTON - Ches, Lancashire
ROBINSON - Lincs
WHITTAKER/WHITAKER - Ches/Lancs
WRIGHT- London(?Middx),Hull
littlej
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #2 on: Friday 11 April 08 20:27 BST (UK) »

Hi Lizzie,

Funny you should say that, one of my family contacts originally told me exactly the same, but at that time I didn't know the surname, so wouldn't have known if I had found them. I know roughly whereabouts on the Downs. I'll check the local directories.

Thanks ever so

Jac
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PEAKE & DAVENPORT (Devonport), Altrincham, Cheshire
MURRAY, Aston, Staffs & North Meols, Lancs
LITTLE,  Kirkpatrick Juxta, Dumfriesshire & Gloucestershire
WILSON,  Malton, N. Yorks
HENDERSON, somewhere in Scotland (early days yet)
mshrmh
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 12 April 08 12:54 BST (UK) »

There's a history of Cherry Blossom polish on their website at
http://www.shoe-polish.com/
which states it was developed by the Mason Brothers of the Chiswick Soap Company; which later acquired William Berry Limited.
http://chiswickpolish.homestead.com/
for similar article.
There are some biographies of Altrincham notables on the local history society's site at
http://althistsoc.users.btopenworld.com/biogs.html
but there's no Berry listed.
You've already mentioned directories - if those online don't help you may want ot contact Trafford Local Studies Library at Sale - they have some there as well as other "local" items.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0376/
There's also an online photo collection Trafford Lifetimes at
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/content/tca/
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Reiver
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 12 April 08 13:37 BST (UK) »

From the Historical Directories website:

Cheshire (Kelly's 1902)
William H Berry lived at Wilton Villa, The Firs.

I could not find William Berry on the The Firs in the 191x Directory.

I may pop along afterwards and see if I can spot Wilton Villa Smiley

Reiver
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LizzieW
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 12 April 08 15:57 BST (UK) »

mshrmh

Thank you for the link to the biographies of Altrincham notables.  Although I'd heard of most of them, the one that stands out for me is Bill Speakman VC.  I remember when he came back from the Korean War with his VC, we all lined Hale Road, I stood on the railway bridge, and we were given Union Jack flags to wave for him.

Lizzie
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BENSON- Dalton in Furness (Ulverston) and Hull
BETTISON - Derbys
BOULTON - Dalton-in-Furness and surrounding areas
BRAND - Lincs
COCKETT - Lincs, Yorks, Lancs
DA COSTA (or variants) -  Spain or Portugal, London (Middx), ?Hull
GILCHRIST - Scotland, Lincs
HINGLEY - Derbys/Yorks
MANN - Sussex, Kent, Herts
MUMBY - Lincolnshire and Hull
PEMBERTON - Ches, Lancashire
ROBINSON - Lincs
WHITTAKER/WHITAKER - Ches/Lancs
WRIGHT- London(?Middx),Hull
mshrmh
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 12 April 08 18:53 BST (UK) »

Lizzie - re Bill Speakman - the have re-named the bridge over the railway at Woodlands Road  A 560 between Barrington Road & Stockport Road, Speakman's  Bridge in the last few years in his honour (I think that's a relatively new bridge - maybe replacing the one you were on waving your flag). At the time the local papers reproduced the reports from the time of his VC - perhaps you were in one of the pictures! They have a framed copy of his VC citation together with that of an earlier Altrincham VC in Altrincham Library.
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LizzieW
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 12 April 08 19:27 BST (UK) »

The bridge we stood on was on Hale Road, which on a Google map is the A538.  It runs through Altrincham (Stamford New Road, Railway Street, Ashley Road)  and then takes a left hand turn and becomes Hale Road. 

Lizzie
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BENSON- Dalton in Furness (Ulverston) and Hull
BETTISON - Derbys
BOULTON - Dalton-in-Furness and surrounding areas
BRAND - Lincs
COCKETT - Lincs, Yorks, Lancs
DA COSTA (or variants) -  Spain or Portugal, London (Middx), ?Hull
GILCHRIST - Scotland, Lincs
HINGLEY - Derbys/Yorks
MANN - Sussex, Kent, Herts
MUMBY - Lincolnshire and Hull
PEMBERTON - Ches, Lancashire
ROBINSON - Lincs
WHITTAKER/WHITAKER - Ches/Lancs
WRIGHT- London(?Middx),Hull
mshrmh
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 12 April 08 19:30 BST (UK) »

Lizzie - I know the one you mean - used to be a Quick's garage near there (modern offices now) - still generally called Hale Road Bridge (creative?).
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Reiver
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #9 on: Saturday 12 April 08 19:35 BST (UK) »

When Bill Speakman came to Altrincham with his VC and Lizzie waved her flag alongside her classmates on Hale Road Bridge, the new Woodlands Road Bridge and the associated roads were probably a gleam in someone's eye.  Hale Road I think is the A580.

At that time the only way into Altrincham from the Stockport direction (A560) was across the level crossings.  With a twenty minute train service between Altrincham and Manchester the crossings were often closed to road traffic for a long time.  Once across the crossings thru' traffic would go up Kingsway, passed the Axe and Cleaver on to Chester Road.

I was able to pop along to The Firs this afternoon to look for Wilton Villa on the gateposts but with no success I'm afraid.   Could not find William Berry in the 1911 Slater's directory which is on'line.   They probably have different years on open shelves at Trafford Local Studies, Jac as I think has already been suggested.

Best wishes
Reiver
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LizzieW
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #10 on: Saturday 12 April 08 23:43 BST (UK) »

I remember it took forever to get to Stockport or Wythenshawe, from Altrincham, going across the level crossings, now it's a stone's throw.

I often used to catch the electric train from Altrincham to Manchester and wander around, Piccadilly, Market Street, Deansgate etc. when I was only about 9 or 10.  My grandchildren of that age are not even allowed out of the house by themselves.  How times change.

mshrmh - Quick's that's right, Quick's for Fords if I remember was their slogan.

One of these days, I'll have to return and drive around the area to see how much it's changed.  My cousin who lives in Lymm, says we wouldn't recognise the place now.

Lizzie
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BENSON- Dalton in Furness (Ulverston) and Hull
BETTISON - Derbys
BOULTON - Dalton-in-Furness and surrounding areas
BRAND - Lincs
COCKETT - Lincs, Yorks, Lancs
DA COSTA (or variants) -  Spain or Portugal, London (Middx), ?Hull
GILCHRIST - Scotland, Lincs
HINGLEY - Derbys/Yorks
MANN - Sussex, Kent, Herts
MUMBY - Lincolnshire and Hull
PEMBERTON - Ches, Lancashire
ROBINSON - Lincs
WHITTAKER/WHITAKER - Ches/Lancs
WRIGHT- London(?Middx),Hull
mshrmh
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #11 on: Sunday 13 April 08 15:10 BST (UK) »

Lizzie - your friend is probably right (I remember taking my dad around the area that he worked about 15 years after he'd retired - it took a while to convince him we were in the right place as there'd been so many changes). There's still a level crossing in Hale, by the Cheshire Midland (trains) and another at Navigation Road (trains & trams), though as Reiver says the others have gone.
Apologies jac - for veering off-subject on your thread, hope you manage to find something of use in your search.
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littlej
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #12 on: Sunday 13 April 08 19:38 BST (UK) »

Don't worry about going off subject, it's nice to be on familiar ground and be able to help people with info about my home town. The remarks about Speakman bring back memories.

The Berry question is a little confused, Basil Morrisons book 'Looking Back at Altrincham' says that his daughter lived at Parklands on Charcoal Road. I've found a William Berry in Knutsford Road Dunham. There's also the Firs Road address, and one on the Downs which Lizzie suggests and my family seems to favour. Still, it all adds to the fun!!

By the way, I entirley agree about the changes in Alty, more's the pity. The place used to have  character, now it's fast becoming just another clone town.

Jac
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PEAKE & DAVENPORT (Devonport), Altrincham, Cheshire
MURRAY, Aston, Staffs & North Meols, Lancs
LITTLE,  Kirkpatrick Juxta, Dumfriesshire & Gloucestershire
WILSON,  Malton, N. Yorks
HENDERSON, somewhere in Scotland (early days yet)
Reiver
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #13 on: Sunday 13 April 08 20:28 BST (UK) »

How superb Smiley Smiley

A lovely puzzle to solve  Smiley Smiley Smiley

Best wishes
Reiver
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inprincegeorge
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Re: Berry Family
« Reply #14 on: Tuesday 15 April 08 02:58 BST (UK) »

Off topic but couldn't resist when I saw the mention of the level crossing at Altrincham, one of my most exciting memories as a child, was being asked into the crossing operaters hut and helping him change all the levers and turn the wheel to open and close the crossing gate.   Of course being a child in the 50s, we didn't get the chance of going to Disneyland or other exotic places, so level crossing boxes were exciting. 

Another thrill  for me was to ride in the milkmans float and help deliver the milk and how about buying a goldfish from the rag and bone man, they barely lasted a day, usually.
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Gresty/Cheshire/Lancashire
Pedlar/lancashire/Devon
Cottrill/Lancashire
McCreesh/Lancashire/Ireland
Sharkey/Ireland
Rothwell/Lancashire,Oldham
Taylor/Middleton/Lancashire
Daxon/Cheshire/Lancashire
Platt/Cheshire/Lancashire
Hoult/Cheshire/Lancashire
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