Bendall's Stores

Grocers, Wine & Spirit Merchants.

Bendall's Stores; Agent for W. & A. Gilbey Wine & Spirit Merchants of London, and bottlers of the Anglo-Bavarian Brewery of Shepton Mallett (1, 2¼ & 4½ gallon Jars).

The records of the business from 1911-1960 are held at Bristol Archives Reference: 44267

Thomas Sidney Smith Silley was born in Cheltenham in 1833, baptised 25 Dec. son of Cheltenham policeman Thomas Silley and wife Ann. He married Harriet Frances Smith in Exeter in 1856. Harriet died at North Street on 24 June 1873, aged 44. From at least 1871 Charles Bendall was assistant grocer at Thomas's shop in North Street, Bristol, eventually becoming a partner, until Thomas married again. Thomas married again to Kate Rendall Way on 18 Oct. 1875 at Abbott's Leigh Holy Trinity, but Thomas had left the partnership the previous August. The couple moved to 11 Bindon Place, Redland by 1878 but Thomas later moved to 4 Ridgeway Road, Stapleton. Thomas died at Barton Regis Union, Eastville, on 30 June 1883. 

Charles Minifie Bendall was born in Bath on 14 Jan. 1848, baptised 3 May at Bath Abbey, son of Charles Bendall and Ann Lush, bakers of Westgate Street, Bath (Charles senior took over the baker's business from his Brother William on 21 Oct. 1836 and married Ann the following year). Charles the younger married Fanny Berryman of Milverton on 7 Nov. 1882 at Milverton parish church, Somerset.

From the Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser - Wednesday 15 November 1882, page 6: "MILVERTON. This little town was much enlivened on Tuesday, by the marriage Mr Charles M. Bendall, of Bristol, to Fanny, second daughter of Mr Berryman, which took place at the parish church. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. W. H. Fowle. The bride and bridegroom were accompanied to church by Mrs Berryman, Mr and Mrs Wm. Berryman, Mr and Mrs Evans, Miss Bessie Berryman, Mrs Bragg, and other intimate friends of the bride. The happy pair left for London, at about one o'clock, en route for their bridal tour, amidst a shower of rice and old shoes. The presents were very numerous and costly, among them being handsome tea service, the gift of Mr and Mrs Berryman, a workbox hy Mr S. Lucas, silver teapot by Mr and Mrs Evans, splendid china vase by Mrs Legge, gold watch and chain the gift of the bridegroom, and other very useful and ornamental articles."

From the Bristol Mercury - Saturday 28 August 1875, page 7: "NOTICE is hereby that the PARTNERSHIP heretofore subsisting between as, the undersigned THOMAS SIDNEY SMITH SILLEY and CHARLES MINIFIE BENDALL, as Grocers, No. 10, NORTH-STREET, in the city and county of Bristol, under style or firm of "SILLEY and BENDALL" has this day been DISSOLVED by mutual consent, and that all Debts owing to and by the said Partnership will be received and paid by the said Charles Minifie Bendall, by whom the Business will in future be carried on at the above address. As witness our hands this 23rd day of August, 1875.

T. S. S. SILLEY. CHARLES M. BENDALL
Witness to both Signature*. JOHN HUTCHINS, Solicitor. Bristol."

After 1885 the business expanded with other shops opening up in different parts of Bristol, and this is the time that the name "Bendall's Stores" came about. The original North Street address still remained central to the business.

From the Western Daily Press - Monday 1 October 1923 page 4: "DEATH OF MR C. M. BENDALL. The death took place Friday at his residence, 4, Redland Park, of Mr Charles Minifie Bendall, the well-known Bristol grocer. Mr Bendall, who was in his 76th year and had been in failing health for some time, and was the founder of the firm Messrs Bendall's Stores, Limited, grocers and provision merchants, and was one of the most highly respected men in the trade being one of the foundation members of the Bristol and District Grocers' and Provision Dealers' Association, of which he was President in the year 1899, and hon. Vice-President up to the time of his death. Mr. Bendall showed keen grasp of trade problems, and his views were always regarded as particularly sound. In 1897 he was largely responsible for initiating the Bristol Grocers' Benevolent Society, which he was hon. treasurer from its inception down to three years ago. This was a branch of work which claimed his sympathetic attention from first to last."  The business continued in Stokes Croft as a limited company until around 1960.

1 Gallon Stoneware Tap Jar. Bendall1.jpgBendall2.jpg
Printed:  409 / BENDALL'S / STORES / BRISTOL

Internal screw stopper.
Likely once had metal carry handle.
Potter:  Powell / Bristol

1 Gallon Stoneware Tap Jar. Bendall3.jpgBendall4.jpg
Impressed: 763 / BENDALL'S / GROCERY STORES / BRISTOL

Stone Internal screw stopper.
Manufactured without a handle.
Potter:  Price / Cx / Bristol

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