People from Stoke-on-Trent
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Contribution from: Peter Bennett


My Bennett family and the Potteries.

Samuel Bennett.  (my Gt. Grandfather), was born in Bramshall near Uttoxeter. He came to Tunstall circa 1860 and took over a Druggist business at 68 High Street, Tunstall now renumbered to 100. This shop on the corner of Rathbone Street and the High Street figures on an old reproduced postcard in a book of scenes. He also obtained premises on the corner of Lascelles Street formerly Brewery Street. He conducted his business of Druggist and Supplier of chemicals to the Pottery industry until the 1890s.

 

William Harry Grindley.  (My Gt. Grandmother), Sarah Bennett nee Tavernor came from Stafford. Her father, George Tavernor, farmer died and following the death her mother remarried to a William Grindley, farmer, of Weeping Cross, Stafford. They had a son William Harry Grindley. Founder of W.H. Grindley Co., Ltd., and Grindley Hotelware in Tunstall. Alas the Pottery closed down for good only about five years ago but was no longer in the ownership of the Grindley family.

 

Henry J. Johnson.  (My Gt. Grandmother), Sarah Bennett had a sister named Maria Tavernor who married Henry J. Johnson who became another famous name in the Tunstall potteries.

There was another Tavernor, Mary from the same family who married a surgeon named Hales and settled in Burslem in the late 1800s.

 

Norman Tavernor Bennett. (my father), was a junior partner with his father in the City Garage in Lonsdale Street, Stoke. The business was sold in 1933 following the death of my father in a road accident. Norman was very involved in motor cycle sports, such as Trials, Road racing at Donnington Park etc., and in June 1933 he entered the Isle of Man TT Junior race (350cc). The motor cycle was tuned and privately owned but undeterred he raced against works teams. He was awarded a solid silver replica having completed the race and obtaining a placement. It was said that the Norton Racing team were interested in him joining them. I have many cups and trophies won by him from the then Potteries and Cheshire Motoring clubs etc.

 

Lord Christopher Frank Kearton was born in 114 Pinnox Street, Tunstall. A real story of from rags to riches. He was involved in the nuclear programme with Fuchs during and following World War II and was rewarded with an OBE, then a Knighthood and finally made a Baron. Highly thought of by Harold Wilson. He had senior positions in ICI and became chairman of Courtaulds etc. Although not directly related to me my grandfather's younger sister married a Percy Kearton from the same family.

 

Boyce Adams was a household name in the Potteries even into my living memory. In 1861 he was witness to my Gt. Grandfather's marriage to his first wife. He too was born in the Uttoxeter area. Boyce came to the Potteries and in conjunction with a man named Lamb started bought and expanded a grocery business. Boyce married one of my Buckley family but having provided two children his wife died joining the early death of her two children. One of Boyce's first shops was in the High Street Tunstall but as many will recall his empire spread across the Potteries.

 

Councillor Charles Buckley a relative of my Gt. x 2 Grandmother Ann Buckley was the Licensee of the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Stoke together with other business interests in the town for many years in the mid to late 1800s.

John Buckley was the owner of a Potters Mill in Etruria. Another of the Buckley family

 

Sir Joseph Cook(e) born in Silverdale.  Leaving school he went to work for his father at the age of 8. His father was a Buttyman in the local collieries. I have no connection to him other than it is reported that one of my ancestors went to school with him. As is known he emigrated to Australia and entered Politics and there became their Prime Minister for a while. An interesting story of his life has been produced locally. Interestingly he dropped the "e" from his name as he thought it pretentious. His love of Staffordshire must have remained for late in life he named one of his homes "Silchester". This I believe to be made from Silverdale and Chesterton. Silverdale was his home and Chesterton the home of his wife in their youth.

25/09/2001