OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

RICHARD GEORGE RISDON (1860-1934)

Richard George Risdon was born in 1860 in Islington, Newton Abbot, Devon, to Mr Richard Risdon (1840-1901), baker, and his wife, formerly Miss Lydia Elliott.

When the census was taken in 1861 the family were living at Beautiful House, Great Colsworthy, Ilsington, where both Mr and Mrs Risdon were bakers and confectioners.  They had a 17-years-old baker-cum-servant by the name of John Foster, who heralded from Princetown.

The family moved to Plymouth during the 1860s and the 1871 census records them living at number 3 George Street, formerly the home of the Misses Jane and Elizabeth Polkinghorne family, who had run a bakery and confectionery business there.  In addition to Richard George Risdon, there was John Tribble Risdon, born 1863; William Risdon, born 1865; and Lydia's younger sister, Ruth Elliott, born in 1853.  Samuel Palmer, baker, David Vivian, an apprentice, and two female domestic servants completed the household.

At the time of the census in 1881 the family were living at number 38 George Street, where Richard senior was a baker and miller.  Richard George Risdon was a clerk, presumably in the family business, while John Tribble Risdon, then 18-years-old, was a corn miller.

During the 1870s, certainly before 1878, Mr Risdon went into partnership with his younger brother, Mr John Tribble Risdon, as corn millers at the Great Western Steam Flour Mills in West Hoe Road, Millbay.  They were subsequently joined in the partnership by Messrs William Henry Ball and his brother, Mr John Henry Ball.

At the time of the census in 1891 Richard George Risdon, confectioner, then 30-years-old, was still single and living with his parents at "Smallack House" at Crownhill, in the ancient parish of Eggbuckland.

During the night of Tuesday July 16th 1901 Mr Richard Risdon senior, Mayor of the Borough of Plymouth, passed away. 

Mr Risdon junior was in the process of buying out the two Ball brothers when there was a serious fire in the early hours of Wednesday November 25th 1903 that destroyed the premises in West Hoe Road.  That brought about the end of the Risdon empire.  The shop at 38 George Street was sold to Mr Cipriano Togni, a confectioner, who in partnership with Mr Genoni (doubtless one of the Genoni Brothers) also ran a confectionery at number 32 George Street, while another one was being run by Mrs Grace Risdon, wife of Mr Joseph Risdon, of Stowford, Devon, at number 33 George Street.  Over in Devonport, at number 34 Marlborough Street, Mr George Thomas Risdon, younger brother of Mr Richard Risdon (1840-1901), was doing likewise.

After the fire Mr Risdon junior moved to Brighton, where in 1909 he married Miss Alice Williams, of Brighton.  He and his wife kept a restaurant there.  In the meantime he was declared bankrupt.

Mr Richard George Risdon, of 23 Cumberland Road, Preston Park, Brighton, Sussex, died on May 13th 1934.