1890

John Banks my great grandfather established his business at an exiting time in world travel, His grandfather had given his father and uncle a shilling each in his will .
Johns Father and Uncle became ' Coopers'  (Wooden Barrel makers) in Liverpool, John advanced his skills to ships masts and ships blocks and established his own Co. in 1890.
     Researching this business has been very difficult, mainly because of the distance I have to travel to any archive source. I do still have a lot to add to this Blog.

     Tracing John Banks through the census records has John at 24 as a Mast and Blockmaker , his father John at 70 a Cooper.

 the next census John Snr at 80 is an unemployed Cooper but John jnr was now at 34 a Foreman Mast and Blockmaker. His Next door neighbor was Mary Georgina Whelden a teacher of Music.

    John and Mary Georgina were married 10th January 1883.

   I found this Business Directory entry dated 1895.

     By the 1901 Census Mary Georgina was now his wife. John now 44 was a Mast and Blockmaker 'his own business' and young Frank my grandfather was a 7 year old scholar.

     I have yet to find the cause but John died 5 years later and Mary Georgina carried on the business. By the1911 Census she had moved to the Wirral.

This 1911 Census was filled in by Mary Georgina now a widow and continuing to run the business.

She must have provided ships items and developed the business through the first war years, with young Frank assisting. Mary retired to her youngest sons farm in Wrexham while Frank kept the business running.
When Mary Georgina died, My grandfather Frank Weldhen became proprietor.
The Office was at Coopers Buildings 12 Church St
Works at 14,18 and 18 Duke St
Also
John Banks and Sons Boat Builders 5-6 Strand St

The London Gazzette June 1924.


Frank must have really worked hard developing this business
over the next two decades.

Frank had married my grandmother Hilda Gilmore in 1912 and by the time he became the proprietor they had 4 children.
John, Irene, Thelma and my father Geoff.



Map showing locations for the different business premises

Please go to next page.

Headed 'After the 2nd World War'



If there is anything you can add, Please do.