OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

GEORGE SPRIGGINS DILLEIGH (formerly DILLEY) (1855-1921)

George Spriggins Dilley was born at the Red Lion, Walkern, Herfordshire, in 1855, the eldest son of grocer and victualler, Mr Philip Dilley, and his wife, the former Miss Mary Ann Spriggins.

After first assisting his father in his shop, he went off to London, where he became an apprentice at Messrs E Bonser and Son, tea dealers, of 87 Tower Hill.  At the time of the census on Sunday April 3rd 1881 he was lodging with solicitor's clerk, Mr C J Childs, at 26 Baker Street, Clerkenwell, Middlesex.  In 1885 he transferred to Plymouth as manager of their store at 9 Bedford Street.  In 1890 the business moved to 17 Old Town Street.

The census taken on Sunday April 5th 1891 shows Mr Dilleigh - note change of spelling from that in 1881 - lodging at the home of widow, Mrs Celia Craig, 1 Endsleigh Place, Plymouth.

On Tuesday July 7th 1891 Mr George Spriggins Dilleigh married Miss Lilian Elizabeth Craig at Charles' Church.  On April 21st 1892 came their only son and heir, Mr Leslie George Dilleigh.

By 1895, as Messrs G S Dilleigh and Company, he had taken over 17 Old Town Street, and soon after had added 4 Connaught Terrace, Mutley Plain, which he renamed the Connaught Tea Warehouse, and 5 Grenville Terrace, Grenville Road, Saint Jude's.  By 1914 the empire had grown to 17 Old Town Street; 93 Mutley Plain; 140 Beaumont Road; and 21 Edgcumbe Place, Stoke, next to the Mill Bridge Inn.

On August 22nd 1917 Mr Leslie George Dilleigh married Miss Dorothy Caroline Wilson and on September 30th 1918 a little John Leslie Dilleigh was born.

Mr George Spriggins Dilleigh passed away at his home, Collismoer, Buckland Monachorum, on Thursday November 3rd 1921.  He was interred at Buckland Monachorum Parish Church on Saturday November 5th 1921.  The business passed to Mr Leslie George Dilleigh, who converted it into a limited liability company circa 1925.

The chain had shrunk by 1926, when there were only three shops at 17 Old Town Street; 93 and 95 Mutley Plain and 21 Edgcumbe Place, Stoke.

Messrs F W Woolworth and Company Limited bought out the Dilleigh's shop in Old Town Street in 1930 to extend their business premises.  The branch at Edgcumbe Place also disappeared leaving only the one on Mutley Plain, which by 1935 had been extended into the double-fronted shop that became so familiar both before and after the Second World War.  Mr John Leslie Dilleigh was evidently not interested in becoming a grocer or tea merchant as in 1939 he attending the Wireless College at Calshot, Hampshire.

Dilleigh's store on Mutley Plain, Plymouth, 1950.
© City of Plymouth Museum & Art Gallery.

Luckily the shop at 93/95 Mutley Plain survived the Second World War as did the smaller branch at the Market Gate in Drake Street, where in the 1950s broken biscuits could be purchased quite cheaply.

In December 1941 Dilleigh's would have undoubtedly sold Devon Pride Self-raising Flour manufactured by Messrs PT Products Limited, of The Quay, Kingsbridge.  A 3lbs bag cost 10d.  And a good start on a cold morning  required a bowl of Allinson Oats. 'the finest that Scotland grows', which was available in a 1¾ lbs packet for 8½d.. The packet contained 35 portions at one farthing per serving.  A quarter pound packet of Brooke Bond Dividend Cocoa cost 5½d. 

Even as late as the 1950s a salesman would call at a home to take an order.

The business on Mutley Plain was still operating in 1955.  It is not known when it finally closed.

Dilleigh's were advertising Easter Eggs in April 1960: Rowntree's Dairy Box, filled, at two shillings; Nestle's filled eggs at four shillings; and Fuller's Sheerpack milk chocolate filled eggs at a whopping 7s 6d.  Red Salmon was available in cans at three shillings and 4s 6d and KY Pears were 2s 9½d a can.  Green Middle Bacon cost 2s 10d per pound while Smoked Middle Bacon was 3s 4d a pound.  Also on offer was Crosbies' Thick-cut and Sweet Nell Jelly Marmalade, only one shilling a pound jar.

Mr Leslie George Dilleigh died at Bovey Tracey, Devon, on January 22nd 1983 and Mr John Leslie Dilleigh died at Yeovil in 2001.