24 - The Perrin Grocer's Shop

The Perrin family of 3 siblings lived at Household 24 where they also ran the Grocer's shop. John Perrin was the head of the house with his older sister Martha and younger sister Sarah. None of the siblings had married by 1871.

Their father Charles Perrin was a fairly wealthy man born in Ashley, Cheshire but who lived most of his life in Hyde and then Bredbury. He owned a business as a grocer and provisions dealer, but also owned various properties and had money invested in the The Queen's Hotel Building Society in Bredbury. When he died in 1861 he left a considerable amount to his wife Hannah Perrin, nee Worstencroft, and his sons Samuel and John.

Charles was involved in a court case in 1860 when he accused James Taylor, a joiner and builder who lived opposite, of slander for shouting "shortweight" at him, alluding to the fact that Charles had been in trouble on a few occasions for having defective scales. Many Romiley and Bredbury residents gave evidence and the case was dropped.

After Charles died, his widow Hannah went to live with her son Samuel initially and John began his own grocer's on Romiley Road. His sisters may have helped with the running of the shop. An advert for "Perrin's Pills" mentions John as a retailer of the "best medicine in the world" that treated asthma, dropsy, lowness of spirits and dozens more ailments. I'm sure it had a great rate of efficacy...

Another advert appeared in 1875, paid for by John who was described as a Grocer and Corn Dealer. It read, "TEA! TEA! TEA!!! I Challenge the WORLD for Purity, Pungency, Strength and Flavour". The advert also mentioned Fine Jamaica Coffee and New Kiel Butter.

In 1877 John applied for a license to sell alcohol and ended up in a huge beef with the vicar of St Chad's, P H Moore. His plan was to sell wine, liqueurs, sweets and spirits and to provide beer for consuming in the property next door. His first attempt was scuppered as he needed to submit separate applications. On a second attempt the license to sell foreign wines was granted, but when the licensing committee were discussing his request to sell spirits, an objection was made on behalf of P H Moore, the churchwarden and the congregation of St Chad's church, who claimed that Perrin had not posted the request on the door of the chapel. It turned out that Perrin had spoken to Moore about his plans and Moore had strongly advised against, saying it would be damaging to the community. Moore then posted the request on a noticeboard, rather than the front door.

Perrin found himself in trouble a year later when he was fined 5 shillings plus costs for not muzzling his dog.

But things were about to get much worse. In 1880 a meeting of Perrin's creditors took place, as his business was failing and he owed money. In 1881 the house and shop were sold, including all of the stock and all of his furniture. He had been living with his widowed mother and his sister Martha at that point. Martha would later take the bailiffs to court, claiming that many of the items sold belonged to her, and not to John. Although Martha is listed without an occupation in the censuses, the newspaper article tells us that she had her own grocer's business in Reddish and items from her shop were taken. The court decided in her favour.

By 1891 Martha was living with her sisters in Openshaw. 39 year old Sarah Perrin was listed as "Shop Manageress (out of employ) and 41 year old Hannah was a dressmaker.

John was also in Openshaw, living with his wife Jane who he married in 1886. They were both working as grocer's assistants and they had a little boy named Charles. By 1901 John had become a Provision's merchant.

Jane passed away in 1911, by which time John was retired and Charles was working as a storekeeper at a Telephone Works. John died in 1918.