OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

CHARLES ARTHUR GOODBODY (1859-1938)

Mr Charles Arthur Goodbody. a Quaker, originally from Tullamore, in Ireland, founded the Plymouth bakery and confectioners' business that in due course became Messrs C A and W Goodbody Limited.

Charles was educated at Bootham School, York.  At the age of 21 he and a younger brother, Mr Walter Cecil Goodbody, then aged 17, were boarding with Mr William Goodbody, a tobacco manufacturer, at 9 Beach Lawn, Great Crosby, Lancashire.  They were both clerks but they may not have been employed in the tobacco business.  There was no further trace of them until 1901, when they appear in the census as tea and coffee dealer and café proprietor respectively.

In fact, in 1893, 41-years-old Mr Charles Arthur Goodbody had taken over the premises at number 5 George Street, Plymouth, that formerly belonged to Messrs T R Bond and Company, tea and coffee dealers.  There he opened Plymouth's first café as opposed to a restaurant.  He was living at 7 Southview Terrace, Hartley Avenue, Compton.  Four or five years later he moved the café to 45 George Street and was then joined in the business by his brother Walter Cecil Goodbody (1864-1950).  In 1900 they opened a café at number 20 Bedford Street. 

Messrs C A and W Goodbody Limited was registered as a new company on November 24th 1924.  Both brothers were "life directors" and also directors of Messrs H Matthews and Sons Limited, which they had clearly taken over from Mr Henry John Rugg Matthews (1849-1933) and his two younger brothers.  Then on December 31st 1927 they registered Messrs Goodbody-Matthews Limited, again with both brothers as directors but with three others: Messrs J K Absolom, W Atkinson and C Brossy.  This business was entirely responsible for the bakery in Mill Street, which had previously been the property of Messrs H Matthews and Sons Limited.

Having acquired number numbers 11 and 12 Bedford Street, the Goodbody brothers set about using part of their new premises.  An arcade was opened linking number 3 George Street and number 20 Bedford Street and within it was opened the Matthews' Extension Rooms.  These could accommodate 200 people for meals or events such as whist drives.  The rooms had wood-block floors and subtle hidden lighting.  There were two serving rooms and the lounge could be directly accessed from George Street.  Following the official opening by the Deputy Mayor of Plymouth, Mr J E Pillar on Tuesday March 19th the public were admitted from Wednesday March 20th 1929.  

Before the Second World War Messrs Goodbody-Matthews Limited ran the bakery in Mill Street, and Messrs C A and W Goodbody Limited ran the retail and restaurant premises at 19/20 Bedford Street, as well as cafés at 45 George Street a 49 Mutley Plain.  They also rented the Hoe Tea Pavilion.

Mr Charles Arthur Goodbody died on Tuesday December 20th 1938 at the age of 79.  He was survived by his widow, and three daughters, Mrs E Bonville Fox, Doctor N C Goodbody and Mrs R C Brown.  He was buried at Efford Cemetery on December 23rd 1938.  His widow, Mrs Ruth C Goodbody, died Saturday April 15th 1944 at the age of 76.

Mr Walter Cecil Goodbody, of "Woodhaye", Ivybridge, Devon, remained as managing director of the firm until shortly before his death on Tuesday May 2nd 1950.  His wife died in 1948.  They had no family.  He was buried at Efford Cemetery on Saturday May 6th 1950.

In 1954 Messrs C A and W Goodbody Limited was acquired by Messrs Wales and South-Western Bakeries Limited, a subsidiary of Messrs Allied Bakeries Limited.