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Joseph Plumpton. Spectacle Maker & Retail shopkeeper, B'Ham - circa 1871

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yellowduckbook

Brummie babby
Looking for any information or photo's of my relative Joseph Plumpton. He was a steel spectacle Maker living in Howard Place, Birmingham in the 1860's & 1870's. The 1871 census states that he is a Steel Spectacle Maker & Retail Shopkeeper at 68 Howard place, Birmingham, so presuming he had his own shop at some point. By 1881 he is living at New Inkleys, Birmingham and is still a Steel Spectacle Maker, but no metion of a retail shopkeeper anymore!

I have google it, and around the time of the 1880's some retail shops suffered in a similar time to our known recessions of today - possible explanation of shop closing.

Any help much appreciated!

Thanks,
Yellowduckbook
 
There are two Howard Places listed in the 1872 PO directory, one in villa St , one in Balsall Heath Road and the other in Edgebaston Lane and these seem to be just small terraces, certainly not going up to no 68. . However the description of the enumeration district, although half is torn off, seems to make it clear that it is in the Suffolk St/ Smallbrook St area (which incidently is near the New Inkleys). The 1861 census is similar, but the 1862 directory does list, among minor addresses , a Howard court, New Inkleys, and I think this must be what is described as Howard Place. It is between nos 35 and 36 New Inkleys.
The 1873 whites directory lists Joseph as having his business at 35 New inkleys, and home at 68 New Inkleys. The 1876 Kellys does not list him, however. I have always found that Whites directories usually seem to be more comprehensive than Kellys , especially in listing smaller firms in less desirable areas. It may be that Kellys has a touch of a nose in the air (snobbish like Mrs Bouquet)..Can find no further mention in the directories going up to 1890.
Mike
 
yellowduckbook said:
Looking for any information or photo's of my relative Joseph Plumpton. He was a steel spectacle Maker living in Howard Place, Birmingham in the 1860's & 1870's. The 1871 census states that he is a Steel Spectacle Maker & Retail Shopkeeper at 68 Howard place, Birmingham, so presuming he had his own shop at some point. By 1881 he is living at New Inkleys, Birmingham and is still a Steel Spectacle Maker, but no metion of a retail shopkeeper anymore!

I have google it, and around the time of the 1880's some retail shops suffered in a similar time to our known recessions of today - possible explanation of shop closing.

Any help much appreciated!

Thanks,
Yellowduckbook
Click to expand...
Hi, I've just started looking into my family tree on Ancestry.com and think I have some info on the same Joseph Plumpton if you're still looking. I don't have any photos that I've found as yet, but if you let me know what kind of info you're interested in I can see whether I have anything useful. I've got some addresses and names of family for a couple of generations. How are you related to him?
 
Welcome to the forum.
You may not get a reply as "yellowduckbook" hasn't been on the forum since 2011. Clicking on the name next to the avatar usually tells you when someone was last logged in.
 
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