OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: November 09, 2021
Webpage updated: December 11, 2021

        

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

Miss MILLICENT JOYCE BOOLDS (1917-1970)

Millicent Joyce Boolds was the daughter of Mr James Edwin Cornelius Boolds (1873-1947) and his wife, the former Miss Amelia Davenport  They had married in at the Ancient Parish Church of Stoke Damerel on September 14th 1910.  Millicent was born on February 7th 1917.  Her father was the son of Mr Edwin Alfred Boolds (1834-1908), the brother and business partner of Miss Harriett James Boolds (1816-1896), the founder of Messrs H J and E A Boolds Limited haberdashery store in Devonport.

In 1931 Mrs Amelia Boolds and her 14-years-old daughter Miss Millicent Joyce Boolds opened a small drapery shop at number 77 Cobourg Street, Plymouth, over which the family lived.  Fortunately the shop survived the Second World War, which destroyed many premises in Cobourg Street

Mr James Edwin Cornelius Boolds (1873-1947) died on Friday February 28th 1947 at the age of 73.  Mrs Amelia Boolds died on Thursday December 11th 1947 at the age of 62.  Miss Millicent Joyce Boolds married Mr Arthur Littleton Hancock at the Anglican Church of Saint Luke the Evangelist in Tavistock Place, Plymouth, on February 21st 1948.  They were both buried at the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Cemetery, Plymouth, on Tuesday March 4th and Friday December 12th 1947 respectively.

In 1958 the shop was transformed into a milliners.  When in 1968 the premises were required to be demolished to make way for the North Cross Roundabout, the business moved to number 56 Royal Parade (currently part of the Poundland Store). 

Mrs Millicent Joyce Hancock died suddenly on November 23rd 1970.  She was cremated at Weston Mil Crematorium on November 30th 1970.  A Mrs Lilian Mercer took over running the shop on a temporary basis under Mr Hancock's continued ownership, until he died in 1979 and their son, Mr James Hancock, took over.  Mrs Mercer stayed on, making gallant efforts to give their customers a personal service in what was described as a 'hostile trading environment'.  With the rent paid to the Pearl Assurance Company Limited going up from £7,500 to £12,500 per year, it was decided to close the business on Saturday August 10th 1985.