Berry Family

[littlej]

Does anyone have any info on the Berry Family of Altrincham in Cheshire? William Berry was the Manufacturer of Cherry Blossom Boot Polish, in Manchester. My Grandmother was in service in their house, I have only just found this out, so I have little or no knowledge so far. The company was said to be named after his daughter. (Cherry Berry, the mind boggles!!)

Jac

[LizzieW]

Hi Jac

I could be wrong but I thought they lived in Hale. Cheshire. 

My mum used to have a ladies underwear shop in Hale in the late 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s and she used to have customers who were part of the Cherry Blossom Boot Polish Company.  She also had Mrs Timpson (from Timpson shoes) and other such people. This was in the days, when people used to have a monthly account and mum used to have to send out a statement at the end of each month, listing the invoices and items bought.  All the book-keeping done by hand.  I know the rich people were the ones who used this system.  The more normal people paid cash as they bought things.  I often added up the amounts on the till roll at the end of the day.

Unfortunately, mum died last May, so I can't ask her about the family.  I'm sure she would have known any of the staff of these families as they all came into her shop.

Lizzie

ps.  Modified - just had a thought, they could have lived on The Downs, Altrincham there were lots of large houses there too.

[littlej]

Hi Lizzie,

Funny you should say that, one of my family contacts originally told me exactly the same, but at that time I didn't know the surname, so wouldn't have known if I had found them. I know roughly whereabouts on the Downs. I'll check the local directories.

Thanks ever so

Jac

[mshrmh]

There's a history of Cherry Blossom polish on their website at
http://www.shoe-polish.com/
which states it was developed by the Mason Brothers of the Chiswick Soap Company; which later acquired William Berry Limited.
http://chiswickpolish.homestead.com/
for similar article.
There are some biographies of Altrincham notables on the local history society's site at
http://althistsoc.users.btopenworld.com/biogs.html
but there's no Berry listed.
You've already mentioned directories - if those online don't help you may want ot contact Trafford Local Studies Library at Sale - they have some there as well as other "local" items.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0376/
There's also an online photo collection Trafford Lifetimes at
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/content/tca/

[Reiver]

From the Historical Directories website:

Cheshire (Kelly's 1902)
William H Berry lived at Wilton Villa, The Firs.

I could not find William Berry on the The Firs in the 191x Directory.

I may pop along afterwards and see if I can spot Wilton Villa

Reiver

[LizzieW]

mshrmh

Thank you for the link to the biographies of Altrincham notables.  Although I'd heard of most of them, the one that stands out for me is Bill Speakman VC.  I remember when he came back from the Korean War with his VC, we all lined Hale Road, I stood on the railway bridge, and we were given Union Jack flags to wave for him.

Lizzie

[mshrmh]

Lizzie - re Bill Speakman - the have re-named the bridge over the railway at Woodlands Road  A 560 between Barrington Road & Stockport Road, Speakman's  Bridge in the last few years in his honour (I think that's a relatively new bridge - maybe replacing the one you were on waving your flag). At the time the local papers reproduced the reports from the time of his VC - perhaps you were in one of the pictures! They have a framed copy of his VC citation together with that of an earlier Altrincham VC in Altrincham Library.

[LizzieW]

The bridge we stood on was on Hale Road, which on a Google map is the A538.  It runs through Altrincham (Stamford New Road, Railway Street, Ashley Road)  and then takes a left hand turn and becomes Hale Road. 

Lizzie

[mshrmh]

Lizzie - I know the one you mean - used to be a Quick's garage near there (modern offices now) - still generally called Hale Road Bridge (creative?).