I remember my grandma telling me stories about James Herbert, her grandfather. An old man with an awful temper, he lived with his son, daughter-in-law and 3 grandaughters, he would slam his hand down on the dinner table when conversation got to loud during meals.
James Herbert was somewhat of an entrepreneur. He had a tragic childhood. He was born in the same house as his father, the home of his grandfather, they were both blacksmiths (his grandmother had died a few years before). His mother was the young Hannah Hall. She died in 1867 when James was 3. James Herbert himself remembered his own father talking about Hannah getting up in the night to drink, my grandmother speculated that she was diabetic.
George remarried to Alice Hammond in 1870 when J.H. was 6, they had a further 5 children together, and as a result J.H. became somewhat of a 'spare part' within the family, shunned by his stepmother, and his half-siblings. J.H. became an apprentice blacksmith, like his father, George, and his grandfather William before him. This was a hot job, and large amounts of alcohol were consumed, as this was easier to obtain than water, most of it drank by George, James' father. According to family legend, George would get drunk in the pub's and send for his son, who was asleep, to fight people for him.
J.H. escaped his family by marrying Phoebe Horton, in 1886, aged 21. They had 6 children, but they lost 3, including the eldest 2, (in 1889 and 1890) J.H. was still a blacksmith in 1891, aged 26. He became interested in cycling. In 1894 he appeared before court, charged with 'riding a tricycle furiously', he was riding between 15 and 20 M.P.H. uphill. He was let off but had to pay a fine. Banks raced in the 'Anfield 100' race and set a new record, which remained unbroken until recently (I think). He was described as the best cyclist the town has ever produced, and one of the greatest track cyclists of his day.
James Herbert began to accumulate property, he moved around a lot. in 1892 and 1900, he was listed at 36 West St., in 1906 at West Street, and in 1910 at 35 West St, and 15 Bridge St. He owned large amounts of property and land in Congleton, he brought the factory where his wife, Phoebe used to work, just so he could knock it down, as she had hated working there so much. Much of the land he possessed remained in the family until the death of his son in 1977.
J.H. opened a cycle shop, and in 1901 was listed as a 'cycle maker and agent', he owned Congleton's first car, and lost his driving license in 1904, apparantly for driving asleep up Macclesfield high street. By 1911, he was a cycle and motor dealer.
In 1917 his son Fred married Sallie Beardmore, and they moved in with J.H. and Phoebe. Phoebe died in 1933 after a long crippling illness, this, along with the strain of living with 3 young grandchildren did nothing to help his temper. On one occasion he struck his daughter-in-law across the face. He died in 1945, and was praised in the Congleton Chronicle as "one of the countries most famous track cyclists and a pioneer of the sport".
His son and daughter-in-law remained in the house at West Street, until the 1970's, much of the remaining property was sold off following Fred Banks death in 1977.
James Herbert was somewhat of an entrepreneur. He had a tragic childhood. He was born in the same house as his father, the home of his grandfather, they were both blacksmiths (his grandmother had died a few years before). His mother was the young Hannah Hall. She died in 1867 when James was 3. James Herbert himself remembered his own father talking about Hannah getting up in the night to drink, my grandmother speculated that she was diabetic.
George remarried to Alice Hammond in 1870 when J.H. was 6, they had a further 5 children together, and as a result J.H. became somewhat of a 'spare part' within the family, shunned by his stepmother, and his half-siblings. J.H. became an apprentice blacksmith, like his father, George, and his grandfather William before him. This was a hot job, and large amounts of alcohol were consumed, as this was easier to obtain than water, most of it drank by George, James' father. According to family legend, George would get drunk in the pub's and send for his son, who was asleep, to fight people for him.
J.H. escaped his family by marrying Phoebe Horton, in 1886, aged 21. They had 6 children, but they lost 3, including the eldest 2, (in 1889 and 1890) J.H. was still a blacksmith in 1891, aged 26. He became interested in cycling. In 1894 he appeared before court, charged with 'riding a tricycle furiously', he was riding between 15 and 20 M.P.H. uphill. He was let off but had to pay a fine. Banks raced in the 'Anfield 100' race and set a new record, which remained unbroken until recently (I think). He was described as the best cyclist the town has ever produced, and one of the greatest track cyclists of his day.
James Herbert began to accumulate property, he moved around a lot. in 1892 and 1900, he was listed at 36 West St., in 1906 at West Street, and in 1910 at 35 West St, and 15 Bridge St. He owned large amounts of property and land in Congleton, he brought the factory where his wife, Phoebe used to work, just so he could knock it down, as she had hated working there so much. Much of the land he possessed remained in the family until the death of his son in 1977.
J.H. opened a cycle shop, and in 1901 was listed as a 'cycle maker and agent', he owned Congleton's first car, and lost his driving license in 1904, apparantly for driving asleep up Macclesfield high street. By 1911, he was a cycle and motor dealer.
In 1917 his son Fred married Sallie Beardmore, and they moved in with J.H. and Phoebe. Phoebe died in 1933 after a long crippling illness, this, along with the strain of living with 3 young grandchildren did nothing to help his temper. On one occasion he struck his daughter-in-law across the face. He died in 1945, and was praised in the Congleton Chronicle as "one of the countries most famous track cyclists and a pioneer of the sport".
His son and daughter-in-law remained in the house at West Street, until the 1970's, much of the remaining property was sold off following Fred Banks death in 1977.
I remember my grandma telling me stories about James Herbert, her grandfather. An old man with an awful temper, he lived with his son, daughter-in-law and 3 grandaughters, he would slam his hand down on the dinner table when conversation got to loud during meals.
James Herbert was somewhat of an entrepreneur. He had a tragic childhood. He was born in the same house as his father, the home of his grandfather, they were both blacksmiths (his grandmother had died a few years before). His mother was the young Hannah Hall. She died in 1867 when James was 3. James Herbert himself remembered his own father talking about Hannah getting up in the night to drink, my grandmother speculated that she was diabetic.
George remarried to Alice Hammond in 1870 when J.H. was 6, they had a further 5 children together, and as a result J.H. became somewhat of a 'spare part' within the family, shunned by his stepmother, and his half-siblings. J.H. became an apprentice blacksmith, like his father, George, and his grandfather William before him. This was a hot job, and large amounts of alcohol were consumed, as this was easier to obtain than water, most of it drank by George, James' father. According to family legend, George would get drunk in the pub's and send for his son, who was asleep, to fight people for him.
J.H. escaped his family by marrying Phoebe Horton, in 1886, aged 21. They had 6 children, but they lost 3, including the eldest 2, (in 1889 and 1890) J.H. was still a blacksmith in 1891, aged 26. He became interested in cycling. In 1894 he appeared before court, charged with 'riding a tricycle furiously', he was riding between 15 and 20 M.P.H. uphill. He was let off but had to pay a fine. Banks raced in the 'Anfield 100' race and set a new record, which remained unbroken until recently (I think). He was described as the best cyclist the town has ever produced, and one of the greatest track cyclists of his day.
James Herbert began to accumulate property, he moved around a lot. in 1892 and 1900, he was listed at 36 West St., in 1906 at West Street, and in 1910 at 35 West St, and 15 Bridge St. He owned large amounts of property and land in Congleton, he brought the factory where his wife, Phoebe used to work, just so he could knock it down, as she had hated working there so much. Much of the land he possessed remained in the family until the death of his son in 1977.
J.H. opened a cycle shop, and in 1901 was listed as a 'cycle maker and agent', he owned Congleton's first car, and lost his driving license in 1904, apparantly for driving asleep up Macclesfield high street. By 1911, he was a cycle and motor dealer.
In 1917 his son Fred married Sallie Beardmore, and they moved in with J.H. and Phoebe. Phoebe died in 1933 after a long crippling illness, this, along with the strain of living with 3 young grandchildren did nothing to help his temper. On one occasion he struck his daughter-in-law across the face. He died in 1945, and was praised in the Congleton Chronicle as "one of the countries most famous track cyclists and a pioneer of the sport".
His son and daughter-in-law remained in the house at West Street, until the 1970's, much of the remaining property was sold off following Fred Banks death in 1977.
James Herbert was somewhat of an entrepreneur. He had a tragic childhood. He was born in the same house as his father, the home of his grandfather, they were both blacksmiths (his grandmother had died a few years before). His mother was the young Hannah Hall. She died in 1867 when James was 3. James Herbert himself remembered his own father talking about Hannah getting up in the night to drink, my grandmother speculated that she was diabetic.
George remarried to Alice Hammond in 1870 when J.H. was 6, they had a further 5 children together, and as a result J.H. became somewhat of a 'spare part' within the family, shunned by his stepmother, and his half-siblings. J.H. became an apprentice blacksmith, like his father, George, and his grandfather William before him. This was a hot job, and large amounts of alcohol were consumed, as this was easier to obtain than water, most of it drank by George, James' father. According to family legend, George would get drunk in the pub's and send for his son, who was asleep, to fight people for him.
J.H. escaped his family by marrying Phoebe Horton, in 1886, aged 21. They had 6 children, but they lost 3, including the eldest 2, (in 1889 and 1890) J.H. was still a blacksmith in 1891, aged 26. He became interested in cycling. In 1894 he appeared before court, charged with 'riding a tricycle furiously', he was riding between 15 and 20 M.P.H. uphill. He was let off but had to pay a fine. Banks raced in the 'Anfield 100' race and set a new record, which remained unbroken until recently (I think). He was described as the best cyclist the town has ever produced, and one of the greatest track cyclists of his day.
James Herbert began to accumulate property, he moved around a lot. in 1892 and 1900, he was listed at 36 West St., in 1906 at West Street, and in 1910 at 35 West St, and 15 Bridge St. He owned large amounts of property and land in Congleton, he brought the factory where his wife, Phoebe used to work, just so he could knock it down, as she had hated working there so much. Much of the land he possessed remained in the family until the death of his son in 1977.
J.H. opened a cycle shop, and in 1901 was listed as a 'cycle maker and agent', he owned Congleton's first car, and lost his driving license in 1904, apparantly for driving asleep up Macclesfield high street. By 1911, he was a cycle and motor dealer.
In 1917 his son Fred married Sallie Beardmore, and they moved in with J.H. and Phoebe. Phoebe died in 1933 after a long crippling illness, this, along with the strain of living with 3 young grandchildren did nothing to help his temper. On one occasion he struck his daughter-in-law across the face. He died in 1945, and was praised in the Congleton Chronicle as "one of the countries most famous track cyclists and a pioneer of the sport".
His son and daughter-in-law remained in the house at West Street, until the 1970's, much of the remaining property was sold off following Fred Banks death in 1977.
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