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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: suzyf on Monday 09 April 12 20:08 BST (UK)
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Does anybody know the history of this sweet makers?
I believe my grandma went to work for them age 10 in 1892.She could eat as many sweets as she wanted. Sounded wonderful.
Sue.
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Bury Archives have some records according to their online catalogue, but only from 1925 onwards
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0l4v/
Says the firm ran from 1919, so maybe they grew out of a small family business before that?
The archives might have other material not in their catalogue though, such as directory entries
I worked part-time for a family bakery once who were similarly generous - however, there was a limit to how many 'free samples' you could cope with before feeling ill!
:) Barbara
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Thanks for your reply.I'll have to visit Bury plus check out local trade directory.
Sue
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Believe they did start as a proper company after end of WW1, and closed in v late 1980s - any help?
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Hi Sue, I used to live just behind Benson's sweet factory in Bury in the late 1960's- 1980, I think they were taken over by Barker & Dobson and closed in the eighties sometime. The factory was demolished and a branch of a supermarket is there now.
Rob
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Hi Rob
Can you tell me what street it was on. The family home was around where Asda now is.I guess where grandma worked was somewhere around the market area as it was mentioned when we went there.
Thanks Sue
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HI Sue, It was on the corner of Bell Lane and the office entrance on Huntly Mount Road , behind it are Pearson St and Brighton St both of which are still there.
Rob
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Thanks Rob
They were living 12 of them at 7 Shepherd St in 1891.I'm not sure if it''s the end existing house/shop or whether it's
knocked down.Anyway within walking distance if its predecessor business was in a similar location prior to 1919.
I'll have to look at Bell Lane on 1891 census,
Cheers Sue
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Shepherd St still exists it's off Heywood St and fairly close to Asda, I have a feeling Asda moved and is now Iceland in which case it would be even closer but not sure. Shepherd St is about a ten minute walk To Bell Lane.
Rob
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Hi,
I am researching the Bury area through my grandmother's diaries and found a reference to the family going on a tour of Meadowcroft's Sweet Factory in Bury in January 1905. Perhaps this became Benson's?
Hope that helps
Martin
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Does anybody know the history of this sweet makers?
I believe my grandma went to work for them age 10 in 1892.She could eat as many sweets as she wanted. Sounded wonderful.
Sue.
A friend and a family member worked there in 1970s/1980s. They both stopped helping themselves to sweets before the end of 1st week.
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A member of my family once had a stop-gap job at White Hudsons in Southport, a sweetie and stick of Rock factory, and said no-one ever wanted to eat the sweeties made after the first few days. Think it must have been fairly general.