ALFRED STANT 1850 – 1889
ELLEN MANLEY 1850 -1942
Alfred Stant was born in Wrexham in 1850; he was the son of Thomas Stant and Mary Bennion. Thomas was a farmer from Hanmer and Mary from Shropshire.
When he was 11 months old the family were in Abbot Street where Thomas was a publican, there were 6 pubs in Abbot Street and in 1851 none were named.
Alfred was the youngest of 8 children there at the time.
Thomas moved to 9 Charles Street and opened a grocers shop, but he died aged 55 in 1866.
He was buried in the Ruthin Road cemetery and other members of the Stant family are also there. Mary then moved just up the street and ran the shop from 4 Charles Street with the help of 2 of her daughters and Alfred.
On 9 May 1876 Alfred married Ellen Manley at St Giles, the marriage announcement states she was the eldest daughter of the late John Manley, Rossett Mills. He had died in December 1874 aged 45.
Ellen had been born 6 September 1850 in Rossett, her father John Manley, was a corn dealer. Her mother was Ellen Corden who was from Uttoxeter. Ellen was still with her parents in 1871 when they were in Springfield, Marford, by now her father was a miller and a farmer of 32 acres, and she was the eldest of 9 children.
In 1877 Alfred`s mother Mary Stant died aged 67. The couple stayed in Charles Street and by 1881 Alfred was a baker, they also had a 3 year old son John Bennion to look after.
Alfred died at Abenbury Lodge on 17 July 1889, he was only 39. He had made a will; he was late of Charles Street and Abenbury Lodge, and a farmer and shopkeeper. He was quite wealthy and left a personal estate of £1960 12s 3d.
Some of Alfred’s brothers were also bakers and it`s possible they worked with him and later with Ellen.
Ellen carried on with the bakery in Charles Street and in 1891 was there with John Bennion.
She made quite a success of it, as in 1900 an article was placed in the newspapers praising their products.
“DR. GOODFELLOW, Ph.D., F.R.M.S., PROFESSOR OF PHYSIOLOGY AND HYGIENE, EAST LONDON TECHNICAL COLLEGE, THE WELL-KNOWN FOOD EXPERT, REPORTS AS FOLLOWS ON E STANT’S BREAD.
The Laboratory, Bow and Bromley Institute, London, E., Sept. 6th, 1900. I have carefully analysed and examined a loaf of bread manufactured by E. Stant, of Wrexham, with most satisfactory results. I found the loaf to be perfectly pure, and manufactured from flour of high quality. The texture and bloom were excellent, and the flavour most pleasing. I have every confidence in certifying this bread to have reached a high standard of purity and excellence of manufacture. (Signed) JOHN GOODFLLOW. AWARDED- GOLD MEDAL AND DIPLOMA BAKERS’ INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, SEPTEMBER, 1900. E STANT, CHARLES STREET”
Later that year they were advertising for a man used to horses to assist with the van, applications by letter “E.Stant . Hygienic bakery, Charles Street”
By 1901 Ellen and John Bennion had moved to Derby Road but were still both running the bakers business. They moved again to 29 Chester Street by 1911. Ellen was still a baker. It`s possible that these were their home addresses and the shops were in other streets.
Stants was in Charles Street for many years, the premises were much later occupied by “Bumbles” a lovely tea shop and restaurant.
In 1939 Ellen was living with her son John Bennion, a baker and confectioner, and his wife Marion Louise in Marford. In 1942 Ellen was in Penymaes Avenue where she died aged 91. Her son and his wife had also moved to the same address.
Stants the bakers continued for many years, they had quite a few shops in the town, and their cream cakes and buns were a treat enjoyed by many!
Alfred and Ellen are buried together. “Re – United” after 53 years.
Researched by Annette Edwards. December 2018.
The 1920 photo was by Algernon Smith, thanks to Anthony Lacey. Gravestone photographs by Graham Lloyd. Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery J-02324
