John Bance 1837-1918

Emily Elizabeth Bance, nee Geary. 1854- 1904

The Bance brothers were a successful wool trading company, selling cloth to tailors and outfitters.

His advertising suggested buying from the West of England Cloth Hall, Newbury, but no address was given. Perhaps it was at 15, Bartholomew Street, where he lived for many years. The partnership with his brothers was dissolved in 1882.

He was active in all kinds of local institutions: 1891, Worshipful Master at Porchester Lodge of Mark Master Masons; 1881 Working Men’s Conservative Association; 1880 proctor of Kendrick’s Charity; Oddfellow; Trustee and Governor of St Bartholomew’s Grammar School and The Chequers Club which was a nightly elite meeting at the hostelry.

He was chair and managing director of the Newbury Water Company for many years.

As fashion changed and off the peg clothes became available, he was made bankrupt in 1895. At the time he was holding an enormous amount of stock – but where?

By the 1891 census he had a housekeeper, a widow, Emily Elizabeth Brookland and her son, Ernest (14), who is listed as an apprentice. In 1897 he married Emily in Paddington.

Emily was born in Oxford, and in 1876 married George Temple Brookland (born Oxford) an outfitter and tailor. Their son, Ernest, was born in Portsea. George, probably one of John Bance’s customers, died in 1888, aged 38.

Despite being much younger than John, Emily died in 1904 and is buried in NRC.

Ros Clow 23/06/2025

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