Barrance & Ford Shop

Hallo dear reader
My great great uncle Charles Barrance was founder of this shop on Robertson street in Hastings (erroneous caption - on the right hand emblem above the facia is written "and at Claremont Street" - also compare the upper windows to the current facia of Robertson Street on Google Street View).

I'm looking to get in contact with anyone who might have any information about the shop, the co-founder Robert White Ford, or who are relatives of any of the servants or workers employed there.
Grateful for any morsel or pointer you can give me.
Thank you in advance,
Tim Barrance

Robert White Ford was my great grandfather via his eldest daughter E. M. Mayes (nee Ford).

My husband is also a great-grand child of Robert White viahis younger son Edward Baunton Ford.
So that must mean that we have discovered a distant cousin!

Robert White FORD,11 son of William Hatcher FORD and Jane Appleby BAUNTON,
1849 March born in Blandford Dorset.
1849" 5th Dec. christened in Blandford.
1851 Census in West Street Blandford (aged 3). Father was a draper.
1861 (age 12) scholar at Elm Cottage Academy, North Street Wareham.
1871: employed as a 'Shopman Linen Drapers assistant' 151-157 Oxford Street London(age 22).
1874: 16 December, married Eleanor Jane COOPER in Fisherton Angers Wilts.
1881 24 February partnership with 'Charles Barrance' following the dissolution of partnership between Edwin Plummer, Charles Barrance and William Hayward. Gazette Issue 24949 published on the 11 March 1881. Page 28 of 64
1881 in Hastings, 31-33 Robertson Street(age 32).
1891 in Hastings 31-33 Robertson Street (age 42).
1899: 13 May A partnership dissolved between 'Robt W Ford, C Barrance and CH Crisp' (Eastern Art Depot, 2 Clarement) Gazette Issue 27085 published on the 2 June 1899
1901 in Hastings Hillbrow St Helen's Crescent(age 52). Dress costumier
1907 , 14 May His partnership 'Robert White and the late Charles Barrance' was dissolved .(for Hastings shop and also 51a,b,c, Kings Road Brighton )Gazette Issue 28021 published on the 14 May 1907. Page 54 of 108
He died "Jan to Mar 1916" in Hastings
1916 April 17th Hastings firm wound up because of liabilities and not able to continue in business. (signed Robert C Ford)

I have not been able to find a record of William Hatcher Ford's death but his mother , from 1861 onwards ,is recorded as living with her father Edward Baunton, a butcher in Melcombe Regis. Robert's 2 elder brothers worked for their grandfather as butchers, one remained as a butcher, the other went on to become the proprietor of an inn in Malborough. Edward Baunton was relatively wealthy and Robert was the executor of his will.

Dear Mrs Ford,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my request. I was under the impression that I would be notified when someone placed an answer, but apparently that doesn't happen here. Your information has added to my understanding of our common history. Are you aware that the Barrance and Ford regularly advertised in the Hastings and St.Leonards Observer? It colours in some of the facts which the official documents miss out. I'd be interested in sharing the information I have if you'd like that. Unfortunately there are no artefacts or photo's remaining in our family from that time. Great to see that the Ford family are reuniting here! Will check back regularly for your reply.
Regards,
Tim Barrance

Robert White Ford was also my great grandfather through his son Edward Baunton Ford. The following is printout from our family history program so bear with the poor english:

Robert White FORD,11 son of William Hatcher FORD and Jane Appleby BAUNTON, was born in March 1849 in Blandford Dorset.11 He was christened "5th Dec 1849" in Blandford.11,12 He appeared in the census on 30 March 1851 in West Street Blandford (aged 3).13 He experienced schooling in 1861 in Elm Cottage Academy Wareham. His employment was 'Shopman Linen Drapers assistant' in 1871. He appeared in the census "7 April1861" in Wareham North Street(age 12).14 He appeared in the census on 2 April 1871 in 151-157 Oxford Street London(age 22).14 He married Eleanor Jane COOPER on 16 December 1874 in Fisherton Angers Wilts.15 His partnership was 'Charles Barrance' on 24 February 1881. He appeared in the census on 3 April 1881 in Hastings, 31-33 Robertson Street(age 32).1 In 1881 he was a Draper.1 He appeared in the census on 5 April 1891 in Hastings 31-33 Robertson Street (age 42).3 His partnership dissolved was 'Robt W Ford, C Barrance and CH Crisp' on 13 May 1899 in Hastings, 2 Claremont.16 He appeared in the census on 31 March 1901 in Hastings Hillbrow St Helen's Crescent(age 52).17 In 1901 he was a Dresss costumier in Hastings, Hillbrow, St Helen's Crescent.17 His executor was 'Rev. Frederick Whitfield' on 14 October 1904. His partnership dissolved was 'Robert White and the late Charles Barrance' on 14 May 1907. He died "Jan to Mar 1916" in Hastings.18,19

So pleased to read your entry, H & Edward Ford. Bon is referred to many times in my grandmother's diary - which I have. It might be of interest to you so do make contact. My paternal grandmother Ella Muriel Mayes (nee Ford) born 14/10/1879 kept her diary spasmodically from 1/1/1902 until her death 29/6/1964 (entered by my cousin). I am delighted to have a cousin from Uncle Bon. I thought his wing of the family might all be in Africa.

Thank you for your comments & those of your husband. Delighted to receive info. from one of Great Uncle Bon's family, filling in gaps in mine. I have a diary which RWF started on his wedding day 16/12/1874 & later continued by Eleanor Jane. Also I have a diary (perpetual) started by his eldest daughter, Ella Muriel, in Jan. 1902 & kept, spasmodically, 'til her death, 29/6/1964. I have transcribed the latter onto my computer & would love to share it with you, as I have with my far flung family. My father used to love to listen to readings from RWF's diary - I must transcribe that too. I also have family photos that would be of interest. Yours sincerely, Valerie C.

We were in Africa until 1954 when my father was posted to Larkhill as senior Chaplain. I have asked to webmaster to give you my email address so we can swap more details.

Perhaps I can throw a dim light on your last paragraph. Nothing documentary to hand but, without knowing his name, we were told, as children, that RWF's father had been brought up by the Baunton family because his father had emigrated to Australia with the intention of calling his family over once he was settled. There was news that he had arrived in Western Australia but nothing more. Regards, VC

An interesting note about William Hatcher Ford - I'm still looking for the reference but my memory recalls a will left by a William Ford with RWF as executor in which it states that he died in Australia leaving just £5.00. I'm hoping this will link up.

I have registered with "1066 online" forum so that we can exchange private messages if you too register.

Dear Tim Barrance,

I am a third-year fashion history student in Brighton currently in the middle of my dissertation research. My research involves three catalogs that once belonged to Barrance and Ford in Brighton that were recently donated to the Brighton Museum. The catalogs contain hand drawn sketches of women's dress from approx. 1910-1915 and some even include names on the back of the sketches (who I assume might have been customers). So far I haven't been able to find much information regarding the shop in Brighton and was hoping you might be able to share some information regarding the Brighton Branch and when it first opened and when it closed?

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Karen.

Great Uncle Charles Barrance set up shop in Hastins in the 1890's. Any more info on how the shop lookes would be greatly appreciated!

Hallo Karen,

Sorry to be so long getting back to you, I don't think I chose to get informed about new messages so I'm only looking now. If you still need info (I'll share what I have with pleasure) I suggest you contact me directly at tim"at"sparkgarden.com. (the "at" you need to change of course).

Hope to hear from you. I'm sure the catalogues are worth a trip to the museum soon!

Sorry again,
Tim

Jane Appleby BAUNTON, was born in March 1849 in Blandford Dorset she is my decent

Edward baunton is my great great grand father also a butcher and own a butcher shopping are we family

Dear Tim,

Having Googled ‘Barrance and Ford in Hastings,’ (https://www.1066online.co.uk/gallery/old-photos/gw-barrance-and-ford-shop-1906) , I have just stumbled across your interesting exchange of emails regarding the Barrance and Ford partnership in Hastings.

I have been sorting through my wife, Jacqueline's, family papers. She is the daughter of Christine Mary James, née Ford. Christine was the daughter of Robert Charles Ford who was the son of Robert White Ford. I think that makes my wife a great granddaughter of Robert White Ford.

I do not have much info on Robert White Ford but do have 5 photos of him – one taken during, I think, his honeymoon in Paris. Robert Charles Ford had 3 children: Robert Douglas, Christine Mary and Alfred Keith and each of them had children (and grandchildren) – so there are a lot of ‘Fords’ around!

I would be interested to know what info. you (or others) have managed to find and would be pleased to let you have copies of anything which I have.

Kind regards
David Perry
davidxperry@outlook.com