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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Derbyshire => Topic started by: Jules Holland on Sunday 08 February 09 16:10 GMT (UK)
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I'm trying to find out information about the owners of Blounts Hosiery Factory in Belper. It was taken over in the 19?? by Courtaulds and was on Spencer Road in Belper. I know it's recently being turned into a nursing home but I'm trying to find out if it actually was one of my reletives who started it.
Please let me if you've got any tips on how I can do this - I've been through the usual internet searches and come up with nothing.
Many thanks
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Hi,
I haven't had time to go through this, but it might help.
I did a google seach "blounts hosiery - spencer road belper" and came up with this - hope it works:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=026-d3772&cid=-1#-1
It mentions hosiery, blount and spencer road belper.
Also, my rootschat friend Mark, Framesmith1816, has been searching through lots of things re hosiery/silk mills looking for a connection with his family and Courtaulds. Can't think of a better person to give you advice.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=40e68742caf563be1b9a28803379c5ea&topic=334554.0
Good luck.
Paulene :)
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Hi
The owner you are seeking was Frederick (Fred) Blount,
The land reference posted by Pauline, on national archives relates to
Reference: D3772/T32/15/23
Creation dates: 1936
Scope and Content
Land in Penn Street, Belper, to Fred Blount
This document is held at County Record Office Matlock and is in the Strutt Collection.
During 2nd World War Rolls Royce moved a number of their offices from Derby to Belper,
Blounts on Spencer Road & Penn street housed some of these workers.
A word of caution Blount is a very common name in this area and not all were/are related
to each other.
Regards
Spendlove
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Thanks, Spendlove :)
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Thanks to you both.
I've seen the reference that Pauline sent and I've been trying to work out the dates.
My Grandmother has always said that her Grandmother started Blounts. Her Grandmother was Ellen Blount whose brother-in-law was Frederick Blount. However, Ellen Blount (nee Booth) was born in 1871 and Fred Blount was born in 1877 which puts them almost out of the picture if I just go by the date on that document (1936). I don't know when either of them died.
I thought if I found out when Blounts started business it would point me in the right direction, but there is absolutely no reference to Blounts company registration on the internet. The only references are the ones you've already mentioned.
Any more pointers would be gratefully recieved.
Also, thanks for the note on Blount families I've managed to trace our family tree to John Blount born abt. 1795 in Belper - that's where the trail ends for now.
Thanks
Julie
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Hi Julie,
You cannot judge by the creation date on the document, that will possibly be the date that
a piece of land was sold by Strutts to Fred Blount, but it could be Fred Blount son of Fred Blount.
Factory could have been in operation prior to this date, just buying extra land.
I do not have access to Census at present, but from memory there should be a Fred Blount born 1875/6 Belper, he was a Mechanical Engineer. He may have children by 1901 or 1911.
I do not know that this was the Blount who started the Hosiery business but worth a look.
I can remember my G.Father talking about Fred Blount (hosiery Manufacturer) I know he had at least
one fire at the factory, so perhaps a visit to Derby Local Studies Library to search Local Newspapers
would assist.
Link to Kelly' Directory 1912 may help:-
http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/
Regards
Spendlove.
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Spot on, Spendlove!
Just looked at the 1901 census and found, living at Penn Street, Belper:
Fred Blount b 1876 Mechanical Engineer born Belper, Derbyshire
Ellen b 1876 wife born Belper, Derbyshire
No children on this census.
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1911 census:
Fred b 1876
Ellen b 1878
Agnes b 1880
Violet b 1899
Ida b 1902
Albert b 1903
Arthur b 1907
Florry b 1909
All born Belper, Derbyshire
* not sure who Agnes is - just looked at people living at the same address as Fred Blount.
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Hi,
Re names on 1911 Census.
Think you will find that Agnes is the wife of Albert Blount B 1882 the brother
to Fred Blount. Violet B 1899 is the daughter of Albert & Agnes who married
Dec Q 1896 Belper.
Fred Blount = Mary Ellen Walker March Q 1900 Belper, this also proves
that Violet could not be their child, if born prior to their marriage she would
have been registered as Violet Walker. Plus she is with her parents in 1901.
Taking you further back, I have been unable to find the marriage of
George Blount B 1831 = Hannah.
But John Blount B 1795 Father to the above George was married to
Charlotte Smedley 22.11.1814 Eckington Derbyshire their children:-
Samuel 1816
John 1822
James 1828
George 1831 = Hannah?
Mary 1834
Martha 1838
On some of the census, you will notice that the females are employed as
"Embroiders" - This locally was know as Chevening and is the hand
embroidery of hose (stockings) on the outside of each leg.
Some of the Blount men were Nailers, and some listed as Horse Nail Makers
the makers of Horse Nails were regarded as the best.
Hope this helps a little.
Regards
Spendlove.
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Hi Spendlove,
Just goes to show that without the transcript, or census page, we don't know for certain that they are the same family!
Something to bear in mind.
Well done!
Paulene :)
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Thanks to you both for the info.
I couldn't find the marriage of George Blount either but I did find them on the 1881 as Head and wife with James Blount (b. 1873), my Gr,Gr, Gr Grandfather as one of their middle sons. He's the one who married Ellen Booth in 1890 - that marriage I could find. Does that mean that George and Hannah didn't get married or get it registered?
James Blount also lived on Paradise Row, Penn St, Belper which is the same street as Fred Blount who may be, according to your Grandfather, the owner of Blounts Factory. Did you Grandfather say anything else about him?
I didn’t have Albert Blount on our family tree as he was born after the 1881 census – thanks for that.
Also, do you know where Eckington is? - I've looked it up on current maps and it's inbetween Sheffield and Chesterfield.
Thanks
Julie
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Heres' a little bit, about Eckington, for you, Julie:
www.rootschat.com/links/05o1
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Some historical photos on this site:
www.inside-eckington.co.uk
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Thanks for this.
Do you know how I find out the parents of John Blount (b. abt 1795) in Belper. Do I have to go to Matlock to the records office?
Thanks
Julie
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Hello Jules,
I too am reseaching the Blount family as I was born a Blount and was told that the family owned the Hosiery Factory Spencer Road Belper.
My Aunt Laura Blount late of Spencer Road worked in the factory as a Chevening.
Her parents names were
George William Blount and Lillian Bridges married 2nd July 1900 at St Peter's Church Belper, George's father's name was Henry.
Eagerly awaiting your post.
Regards 141
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Hi Julie,
Please accept my apologies for not replying earlier - life has been a bit complicated recently, and for some reason I didn't pick up your post until today! :-[
In case you're still stuck here are some sites which might help you:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0i62/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0i63/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/05x6/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0i64/
Hope these work, and help, of course.
So pleased you have a new contact in 141- good luck and Happy Christmas.
Paulene :)
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Hello Julie & 141
Have been doing some more research and you are related:-
John Blount B abt 1795 Belper = 22.11.1814 Eckington Charlotte Smedley they had:-
Samuel Bpt 28.1.1816 Bishops Transcripts for St. John's Belper
John born 7.3.1822 Bpt 29.3.1822 Wesleyan Methodist Belper
James born 24.8.1828 Bpt 21.9.1828 Primative Methodist, Belper
GEORGE born abt 1831 Belper
Mary born abt 1834 Belper
Martha born abt 1838 Belper
GEORGE BLOUNT (1831) = Hannah (still cannot find this marriage) they had:-
HENRY 1858 - This is your line 141
George 1860
Herbert 1864
Arthur 1869
James 1873
Walter W 1875
FREDERICK 1877 This is your line JULIE
Frederick and Ellen had Ida Blount born 1902. Ida married Sept Q 1923 Cecil S. Dalton who with
his brother founded Dalton & Co (Silkolene) oil refiners in Belper.
In 1911 Frederick is described as manager of Motor Garage, so had not started the hosiery company
until after 1911.
Henry Blount (1858) commenced his working life as a Nailer, as had his Father and Grandfather,
by 1911 he is a Coal Dealer. His son George W. Blount, was a Stove Grate Moulder it is more than
likely he was working for Smedley Brothers.
Are you sure that Laura was actually working as a Cheviner in Blounts Factory, this was an occupation carried out at home. Brettles the largest hosiery manufacturer did not have a Cheveing Room in their factory until 1910 and this is the first time I have known chevening actually taking place at Blounts. Would love more information about this if you would like to share.
Spendlove
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Thanks Spendlove,
For your information regarding the Blount's family line, I can recall on my last two visits to Aunt Laura (1996/99) her telling me that she worked in the factory Cheveing, she used to embroider the then King's hosiery.
If we locate any further information we will forward it on.
Regards
Anita 141
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Hi Anita,
Thanks your bit of information:-
"Aunt Laura (1996/99) her telling me that she worked in the factory Cheveing, she used to embroider the then King's hosiery."
explains all, if she was chevening stockings for the Royal Family, then she would have been working
either at home or if after 1910 in the Chevening Room at Brettles who supplied hose to the Royal Household, Blounts did not supply hosiery to the Royal Family.
Thanks
Spendlove
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Spendlove, thanks for that information, if I remember rightly she said it was during the 30's that she was doing it.
Sadly there is no one to ask now as they have passed away but I will keep on looking.
Anita
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Hi :) i'm new to Rootschat but was fascinated tonight to find the information about Blount's Hosiery Factory in Belper. I've just come from viiting my father in law, a Blount, whose whole family (parents, brother and sister and himself) worked at Blounts in the 1940's after the war when the factory was given back by Rolls Royce. He has alwaya been under the impression that his grandfather, Jon George Blount (born about 1877) was the cousin of Fred Blount who started the factory.
However, there are so many Blounts in belper, all with the same names, that it' s very difficult to work out who was related to who ???
I'm now beginning to think I've got the wrong branch of Blounts in my records - the info I have gathered shows John george's father and mother as James and Elizabeth and it looks like James's father was a John Blount, married to a Sarah.
It may be that this John Blount (born about 1822/3) was the brother of George, who fathered Frederick in 1877, so my father-in-law could be related, but i think i need to do more research!! My father-in-law wroked with Aunty Laurain Blounts factory. Any info welcome!!
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Hi :), I am also finding it difficult to locate the right line of BLOUNTS so many twist and turns and yes there are so many BLOUNTS in Belper.
What is your father-in-laws given names and date of birth also his parents, as he is a BLOUNT you may find him beneficial to your cause.
I have a John BLOUNT married to a Charlotte SMEDLEY in 1814 who had a son James who could be in the same line as you are following, I am searching this from Queensland Australia and i find it very difficult as the family I knew in Belper have all passed on.
Look forward to your reply.
Anita.
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Hi 141 :)
Thanks for your reply. You've prompted me to spend some time checking through census information and I think I've found evidence that my father-in-laws family are related to Fred Blount who started the Blounts Factory!
The John and Charlotte that you mention, as well as having their son James, also had John and George as other sons. This John Blount is my husbands GGG Grandfather = he had a son James, who had a son, JOhn, who had Dennis, who had Peter my father in law. John and Charlottes son George Blount is the father of Fred Blount who started the factory - I think that means that James (son of John born c. 1824/25) and Fred were cousins so I can at last tell my father-in-law that they were related to the founder of the Blounts factory!! 8)
Hope that makes sense to you - I'm even confused typing it!!
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Hi Jillb54 :)
Thank you for your quick reply, once you get involved with Genealogy it becomes fascinating.
With your reply that would make John & Charlotte also my GGG Grandfather his son George had a son Henry who had a son George William who had two children Laura 1901 and my father Arnold 1922 by his first wife Evelyn Iris Cook who died May 1945, George William had other children they are
May b. 1904
Stanley b 1907
Leslie b 1908
Ada b 1901
At this stage I have been unable to locate any births between Ada and Arnold.
Laura had a daughter Dorothy who married Peter Marsh and lived in Belper Lane, we were in constant touch until Xmas 2005 she was a lovely lady and it seems her and her husband have completely disappeared.
Arnold remarried in 1948 and had five more children they are
Carol b 1945
Marlene b 1946
Sonia b 1948
Keith b 1952
Gary b 1956
I have met Carol and Gary, it would be nice to try and tidy up all loose ends.
Hope you can make head or tails of this best of luck.
Until next time
Regards
Anita 141 :)
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Hi Anita 141,
Very sorry to have to tell you that both Peter & Dorothy Marsh have died, Peter in 07 and Dorothy 09.
The following are connections to their Obituary in the Derby Evening Telegraph:-
http://www.thisisannouncements.co.uk/5129726?s_source=clmi_innd
http://www.thisisannouncements.co.uk/5623770
Regards
Spendlove
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Hi Spendlove,
Thank you so much for the information regarding Peter & Dorothy Marsh,we were both saddened by their passing so thoughtful of you as I have half sisters and brothers in the area and in contact with one of them and questions have been asked about the Marsh's but answers have been avoided, once again thank you very much.
Anita 141
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Hi Anita, Jill and Spendlove
Well, after nearly a year I decided to log back onto this website, how remiss of me to forget about it.
It's great to see your replies on Blounts Hosiery in Belper and it seems we are related. My Grandmother's mother was the sister-in-law of Fred Blount who started Blounts factory.
You're right, so many Blounts in Belper but I think I've got our tree sorted out, which I'm sure you have by now as well. I keep the tree on another website starting from John and Charlotte who are my 4 x Gr Grandparents. I can PM you the website as I don't think I'm meant to advertise on here. We might already be linked on it. Would be great to here from you all anyway.
Anita - sorry to hear that your relatives have passed away.
Also, Spendlove - I wonder if you could elaborate on the note of caution you originally posted, "Blount is a very common name in this area and not all were/are related to each other." I'm trying to trace the tree back further than John and Charlotte and have come to a dead end. I wonder if you can help at all.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Julie
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Hi Jules :),
Yes it is sometime since I was here, now I think I have found the parents of John Blount (born abt. 1796) they are as follows:
George Blount born abt.1750 married Mary Withey 19 July 1773 at Kidderminster, she was born abt.1750 also.
George died abt. 1837 in Derbyshire.
I could only find 2 children Henry born abt.1793 and John born abt.1796.
I expect there were more children but that was all I could find, hope this helps.
Regards
Anita
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Hi Anita
Thanks for your reply, it's good to hear from you. And thank for the info on George and Mary Blount. May I ask though where you got this from, if it was ancestry then it's the data I originally added, however I'm not 100% convinced it's accurate. I was given our family tree by a relative of mine and they said that there were some inconsistencies but not where they were. It's the timelines for John Blount's parents that aren't quite right for me, it doesn't make logical sense that George Blount and Mary Withey were nearly 50 when John was born. It's more likely that they were born in the 1760s or 70s. I've since done some more research and found a Samuel Blount that matches the dates better, born in 1763. What do you think?
Thanks
Julie
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Hi Jules,
I think I found it on Family Search ??? for some reason I never logged where it was, but your explanation of dates make sense, I will go on and see if I can find anything else.
Regards
Anita :)
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I am interested in the Blounts of Belper. In particular James Blount (1872) brother of Fred Blount (Hosiery Manaufacturer) and his son also James 1899.
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Hi all
I am perhaps a few years late,my grandma has had her history tracked and we are all from Belper and Her grandma Emily Blount is daughter of Henry Blount son of George and Hannah. I have info perhaps which may help