OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

FRANK UNDERHILL (1867-1948)

Frank Underhill was born on July 1st 1867 to Mr William Thomas Underhill, butcher, of 71 Treville Street, Plymouth, and his wife, Harriett.  His parents had come to Plymouth from Exeter.

It has been claimed that the business was started in 1889 at number 74 Old Town Street, on the southern corner of the junction with Ebrington Street, which had previously been occupied by Mr Reginald James Bazley, bookseller.

On Tuesday October 2nd 1894 Mr Frank Underhill married Miss Harriet Gwendoline Avery at Charles' Church.  Their first child was born at number 74 Old Town Street on August 1st 1895 and baptized Frank Andrew Underhill on September 17th 1895 at Charles' Church.

In 1902 Frank was joined by his younger brother, Mr Ernest Russell Underhill, who was already a stationer, and the business became Messrs Underhill and Company.  In that same year they purchased the printing, bookselling, bookbinding and stationery business belonging to Mr Walter Frank Westcott at 14 Frankfort Street.

That was followed in 1908 by the purchase of a similar business from Mr Charles Mansfield at 87 Treville Street.  The printing and manufacturing side was then moved to a site in Kinterbury Street.

In 1913 Mr Frank Andrew Underhill joined the business.  Initially he worked in the shop but later moved to the printing works.  The business was incorporated as a limited liability company in 1919.

When the former Devnit factory in Regent Street became available in 1932 the Company acquired the premises and moved the printing and manufacturing works there from Kinterbury Street.

The retail shop at 14 Frankfort Street was rebuilt in 1939.  Unfortunately it was then destroyed in the Blitz of March 1941.  They re-opened the next day at number 101 Tavistock Road, next door to the Central Library.

Mr Ernest Russell Underhill retired from the business in 1947 and the following year, on Wednesday August 25th 1948, Mr Frank Underhill died at his home, "The Firs", Vicarage Road, Plympton Saint Mary.  During his life he had been chairman of the Plymouth Mercantile Association; president for two terms (1912 and 1913) of the National Chamber of Trade; and in 1923 was chairman of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce.  He was a Local Commissioner for Taxes and was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the County in 1920.  For ten years he was a member of Devon County Council and became chairman of the committee appointed upon the adoption of the Libraries Act in 1924.  He was once described by Sir Francis D Acland MP as 'a father and mother of the library movement in Devon'.  He was cremated at Efford Crematorium on August 28th 1948.

The business continued under the management of Mr Frank Andrew Underhill (1895-1979).