OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

BENJAMIN POOLEY (1867-1938)

Benjamin Pooley was born in Callington, Cornwall, in 1867, the son of Mr William and Mrs Elizabeth Pooley.  His father died not long after he was born and his mother re-married in 1869 to Mr Daniel Parsons, a farmer and cattle dealer.  In 1871 the four Pooley children, Henry, Mary, Alice and Benjamin, were living at Tavistock Row, Callington, along with their new step-sister Bessie.

By 1891 24-years-old Benjamin was living in Plymouth, at number 31 Oxford Place, and was a confectioner.

Mr Benjamin Pooley married Miss Kate Ellen Greenslade, from Williton, Somerset, in Plymouth in 1892.

Following his marriage in 1892 he set up in business at number 31 Regent Street, where in addition to being a baker he was also the sub-postmaster.

At the time of the census in 1901 he was a baker and sub-postmaster living at numbers 2 and 4 Sea View Avenue.  It would appear that his business address was still in Regent Street.  By this time they had four children: Wilfred, Nelson, Kathleen and Gordon Greenslade Pooley.

During 1904 Mr Pooley, along with a Mr J Rowland, built the Anson Place Bread Factory at the rear of Egerton Road, Saint Jude's.  The architect was Mr James Henry Keats.

When the 1911 census was taken, the family, minus Gordon, who was attending the Shebbear United Methodist College, was living at number 7 Whitefield Terrace, Greenbank Road.

During the 1920s and 1930s the business was formed into a Limited Liability Company, Messrs B Pooley and Sons Limited, and by 1935 they had retail shops at 31 and 75 Regent Street; 3 Reservoir View, Tavistock Road (between Armada Street and Bedford Terrace); 19 Ebrington Street; 2 Sea View Avenue; 119 Beaumont Road; 11 Union Street, Plymouth; 30 Exeter Street; 76 Treville Street; 36 Frankfort Street; 139 King Street; 17 Saltash Street; 32 Cattedown Road; 4 Hyde Park Road; 23 York Street; 76 and 120 Union Street, East Stonehouse; as well as the central bakery in Egerton Road.

Mrs Kate Ellen Pooley died in 1935.

Mr Benjamin Pooley died in Plymouth on Saturday May 21st 1938 at the age of 71 years.  The funeral was held at Ebrington Street Primitive Methodist Chapel on Wednesday May 25th 1938, where Mr Pooley had been a member.  The interment was at Plymouth Old Cemetery.

In addition to having been chairman  of the Plymouth Master Baker's Association for many years, he was a prominent member of the Ebrington Street Primitive Methodist Chapel and the old Plymouth Board of Guardians.  He also served for many years as Liberal Councillor of Charles Ward.  Only two out of his three sons took any part ion the running of the business.

The following were listed as being in the employment of the Company at the time of Mr Pooley's funeral: Mr T H Bishop; Mr C Conday; Mr L Carlile; Mr D Cobbledick; Mr W Badcock; Mr P Thomas; Mr T Selleck; Mr W A Yeo; Mr R Lovell; Mr S Symons; Mr J H Williams; Mr T Miller; Mr L Talbot; Mrs Curgenvin;  Miss D Aldeston; Miss D Dure; Miss V Buckland; Miss B Brooks; Miss M HIll; Miss D Mills; Miss K Butler; Miss E Jillard; Miss W Lane; Miss R Parken; Miss E Tucker; Miss Z Grey; Miss V Luscombe; Miss A Carpenter; Miss L Wonnacott; Miss L Howatt; Miss D Whitcombe; Miss O Painter; Miss K Moran; Miss F Sleep; Miss E Stanbury; Miss B Westacott; Miss M Sleep; Miss E P Gardiner; Miss J Cameron; Miss M Rolston; Miss D Lake; Miss Goodman; Miss C Newberry; Miss V Withell; Miss H Newton; Miss W Cocking; and Miss S Pridham.

His two oldest sons, Mr Gordon Greenslade Pooley and Mr Nelson Pooley, continued the business.