OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: March 17, 2021
Webpage updated: March 17, 2021

        

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

SYDNEY CHARLES FREDERICK CLARKE (1870-1960)

Sydney Charles Frederick Clarke was born on August 20th 1870 to Mr Charles William Clarke, a cashier, and his wife, the former Miss Louisa Ann Doming, who had married on May 16th 1869 at Stoke Damerel Parish Church, Devonport.  He was baptized at the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Saviour, Plymouth, on October 18th 1871.  In 1876 the family were joined by a daughter, Miss Ada Louisa Clarrke, who was born in Cornwall.

At the time of the census on April 3rd 1881 the family were living at number 4 Clarence Place, East Stonehouse, where Mr Clarke was a shipping clerk, and the two children were scholars.  By the 1891 census, taken on April 5th 1891, the family had moved to number 5 Hobart Street, East Stonehouse, where Mr Clarke was now the foreman of mills and 21-years-old Sydney Charles Frederick Clark was an accountant.  Sadly the family had lost their 14-years-old daughter, Miss Ada Louisa Clarke earlier that year.

Mr Sydney Charles Frederick Clarke married Miss Beatrice Mary Doble at the Anglican Church of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Ford, Devonport, on October 1st 1893.  She was the daughter of Mr Edward Doble, an engineer or engine fitter.

In a Crown Court case at the Devon Assizes in Exeter on Wednesday February 11th 1926 the history of Mr Clarke's businesses was given as follows: he commenced in some sort of business on his own account until 1907 when and his wife formed Messrs Clarke, Doble and Company Limited to take over the previous business.  Clearly the Doble in the title was his wife, formerly Miss Doble.  He held 1,932 £1 shares in the Company and his wife held around 280 shares.  In 1923 they formed another Company, as a subsidiary, called the Eagle Paper and Bag Company Limited to take over the machinery previously owned by Mr Clarke.  He held the controlling interest with 748 shares while his wife held around 30 shares.  A Mr John Wesley Hunkin was secretary of each of the Companies.  The Court case was about non-payment of wages to the female employees and went on for several days.  When Mr Clarke retired in 1946 he stated that the business was founded in 1903, which was presumably the original one-man business he started.  Mr Clarke was well versed in the Devon Assizes as he first appeared there on June 22nd 1908 when he accused the Plymouth herbalist, Mr William Henry Box, of a breach of contract.

The business was located in Penrose Street, Plymouth, in 1914.

During the Great War Mr Clarke was evidently horrified by the number of disabled sailors and soldiers being discharged back home without employment and he set up a scheme at Bridgwater, Somerset, known as the Wicker, Cane and Willow Industries of Great Britain, making furniture and other goods.  He became chairman of the Ex-Service Men's Training Department and vice-chairman of the Employers' Federation of Cane and Willow Workers of Great Britain and Ireland.

It has been claimed that Mr Clarke was also responsible for starting a "Penny-a-Week" Hospital Scheme for Plymouth's poorer citizens but no evidence has yet been found to support that claim.

Messrs Clarke, Doble and Company Limited moved from Penrose Street to Sutton Road at Coxside sometime during the summer or autumn of 1927.

At just before 6am on the morning of Tuesday April 23rd 1929 ta Mr Hellyer, on his way along Sutton Road, discovered that the factory was well on fire.  Mr W J Solomon, at the Plymouth and Oreston Timber Company's works telephone for the fire brigade, who arrived promptly under the command of Fire-Superintendent Algate. He immediately judged that nothing could be saved and concentrated his  efforts on trying to endure the blaze did not spread.  His firemen were assisted by the men from the Devonport Fire Station.  For some thirteen hours about forty firemen were involved in trying to control the flames, which at times rose to some 40 feet high and could be seen at Plympton.  Representatives of the Company managed to save some paperwork and  the safes were OK but the machinery was all bent and charred and the stocks of paper and cardboard all destroyed.  Eventually the roof fell in so only the blackened walls and beams were left.  Policed Sergeant Mead suffered a fractured leg and broken ankle and was taken to the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital by the Saint John Ambulance Brigade, who were present the whole time under their Commissioner Hedley Miller.  Mr Sydney Charles Frederick Clarke, the managing director, was away in London at the time and as informed of the fire by telephone.  The saddest sight, so the local press reported, was the girls employed at the factory arriving for work with their lunches in baskets not realising that they were now out of a job.

The day after the fire the Company announced they had re-started in premises two doors away from Messrs Huxham's Limited in Sutton Road and by March 1930 they  had re-established themselves in a brand new factory at Oakfield, Cattedown, which in time became Oakfield Terrace Road and gave its name to their new trade mark, The Oakfield Press.

In 1936 Mr Clarke purchased Messrs Hiorns and Miller Limited, Devonport, although it is not clear if it was part of Clarke, Doble and Company or a separate concern.

Mr and Mrs Clark, were living at 7 Seymour Park Villas, on the north side of Seymour Park, Mannamead (opposite the Seymour Park Lawn Tennis Club), in September 1939.  Mrs Clarke, who was incapacitated, had a nurse and housekeeper, widowed Mrs Amanda A Parker, while there was also a general domestic servant by the name of Mrs Dorothy A Wells who lived-in.

On July 30th 1940 Mrs Beatrice Mary Clarke died.

On Friday October 18th 1946 Mr Sydney Charles Frederick Clarke retired.  He was presented with a standard lamp by the works manager, Mr Benorthan, and Miss J Peard, manageress of Messrs Hiorns and Miller Limited presented Mrs Clarke with a basket of fruit.

Mr Sydney Charles Frederick Clarke passed away in Greenbank Hospital on February 21st 1960.  His estate was worth £42,499 19s 1d.