John Bennett & Company
John Bennett & Company
It should be
noted that the majority of the information in this article is from
the book 'Billiards & Snooker a Trade History' complied by J.R.
Mitchell, which was published in 1981. The J. Bennett company
history was written by John K. Bennett, the fifth generation in the
business, for the book.
However,
research done by Peter Ainsworth, using newspaper adverts indicates
that John Bennett's 'history', which does admit that the Company's
early years are shrouded in mystery. may have dates and addresses
mixed up!
John Bennett &
Company :- by John Bennett
In December,
1941, and incendiary raid on London completely destroyed the John
Bennett & Co's building at 120 Newington Causeway, London SE1.
All existing records of the Company were lost until an
extraordinary incident in 1963 brought to light some of the
Company's early history.
In September
1963, a man walking down a street in Lambeth, noticed an unopened
letter laying on the pavement. The envelope bore a Victorian penny
stamp postmarked London, W.C., and dated October ,1893.It was
addressed to an insurance company. the finder, opened the letter ,
written as it later turned out by the founder's son, from John
Bennett & Co. of 35 Surrey Street, Strand, W.C. Enclosed was a
Coutts cheque made payable to the Insurance Co. for the renewal of
fire insurance.
Research was
carried out and Coutts the bankers confirmed that they had a
customer , John Gibson Bennett (who died in 1899), and the London
County Archives show that 35 Surrey Street, Strand, was destroyed
by fire in June 1898.
The letter had a
heading showing the firm was founded in 1821. It carries the Royal
Coat of Arms and "Tables for India and the Colonies not affected by
variations in climate".
Research by Peter Ainsworth into cushion
plates has the following observation with regard to the founding
date of 1821.
The early years
of the Company's existence are shrouded in mystery, fires of 1898
and 1941 have been so destructive. However tables are continually
been discovered bearing the Surrey Street address. The significance
of the Surrey Street address is that these table were manufactured
between 1821 and 1898. My father, John Gibbons Bennett (1885-1965)
told me that the writer of the letter found in the Street was his
great uncle John Gibson Bennett (1816-1899). We have no information
about the founder's birth and death dates.
It is known that
after the 1898 fire the business moved to Vincent Square, London,
SW 1. I understand that it was carried on by my grandfather, John
Samuel Bennett, but he died prematurely in 1899, the same year as
my great uncle. From then the business was run by my grandmother,
and my father, who was then 14, left school to join her. It seem
most of the responsibility was shouldered by the trusty foreman
fitter and it was he who taught my father all the practicalities of
the trade. My father, who was a very fine craftsman and a
perfectionist, in turn passed his knowledge on to me.
Peter
Ainsworth research into Bennett's cushion plates makes the
following observation
The Company did
not stay at the Vincent Square address very long. Soon after the
turn of the century it moved to 120 Newington Causeway, London,
SE1, and my grandmother continued to hold the reins until her death
in 1918, shortly before I was born. The Newington Causeway premises
provided living accommodation as well as shop and office, with the
workshop and stables at the rear. Not long after W.W 1 ended the
rear part of the premises was redeveloped and the need for work
premises became essential, 35 Rockingham Street, which was only 600
yards away, was taken and it provided room for a garage, warehouse,
workrooms. Machine shop etc..
In 1920 a
subsidiary company, Grosvenor Billiard Halls Ltd, was formed. This
company ran five Billiard Halls - in Hackney, Canonbury, Watford,
Islington and Highbury. Everyone of these was destroyed during
W.W.II.
In 1931 The
London County Council acquired 35 Rockingham Street for
redevelopment as council flats, so the works were moved again, this
time to 8 Rockingham Street, which were more convenient and
modern.
In 1941, 120
Newington Causeway was destroyed in the December fire bomb raid.
The heat from the fire was so intense that even the billiard table
slates were turned into dust and nothing was salvaged. Struggling
to continue with reduced staff and supplies in wartime conditions,
my father turned a small corner of the workrooms into a shop and
partitioned of another bit as an office so the business continued
from 8 Rockingham Street. It was not until 1952 that suitable
premises were found, nearby, and then 49 Newington Causeway was
purchased and we were able to recover and expand. Rockingham Street
was subsequently compulsorily purchased as part of the 'Elephant
Scheme' and the site became part of the new Ministry of Health
building.
Peter
Ainsworth research into Bennett's cushion plates makes the
following observation
John Gibson
Bennett my father, died in 1965 and the business was carried on by
myself, John K. Bennett.
Front cover
of Bennetts 1966 Accessories catalogue
Inside
1966 Accessories Catalogue mentioning death of John G.
Bennett
Another forced
move took place in 1967, when London County Council compulsorily
purchased 49 Newington Causeway and the Company moved to 157-163
Old Kent Road. The larger premises enabled considerable expansion
to take place. In 1967 the Company took over W. Stevens & Sons,
who had themselves absorbed R. Stevens & Sons.
Front Cover
of 1988 Accessories catalogue
Inside
Front of 1968 - showing incorporation of W. Stevens & Son
Ltd.
Back cover of
1968 catalogue
Peter
Ainsworth research into Bennett's cushion plates makes the
following observation
In 1974 the
Company acquired the 'traditional' side of Mister Billiards
business, took over additional workshop in Streatham High Street,
and with an enlarged board embarked on a new era. (Interesting that
John Bennett adds a confidential note in a letter to Bob Mitchel,
complier of the book 'Trade History' That as a result Bruce Donkin
& Bill Hamson, their office staff and fitters are joining me,
and that an announcement will be in the next Snooker
Scene)
Front cover
of 1977 Accessories catalogue
Peter
Ainsworth research into Bennett's cushion plates makes the
following observation
1978 price
list to be used in conjunction with illustrated catalogue No.
7722
The Business was
acquired by E.J. Riley in 1979 and continued in the Old Kent Road
until 1982 when those premises were closed and the name
disappeared.
However in 2006
The John Bennett Billiards Ltd name was reinstated
Acknowledgements
:-
Peter Ainsworth (
Cushion Plates and research into the information)
Book - Billiards
& Snooker a Trade History Complied by J.R. Mitchell
Snooker Heritage
Collection for the Accessories Catalogue pictures
© Peter Ainsworth 2023
-© Peter Clare 2023
Reproduction of this article
allowed only with the permission
from
© E.A. Clare & Son
Ltd -2023
