Next time you take a walk down Bread Street, take a look at The Borough Stores complex, not that it is now called that. This was a major centre for the supply to the public for centuries of basics for living.
Government requirements from around 1930 probably influenced the Tonking business, for by 1935, the Tonkings had expanded into the production of Margarine, with a new building on Belgravia street.
In this century we see the centre core of the original Bodilly buildings have later been demolished, and the margarine factory has gone, possibly bombed in WWII.
The Borough Stores
Bread Street, Penzance
Thomas Hacker Bodilly
The origins of the premises later to be taken over by
Lloyd's Bank in the Market House (built 1837) lay in those
premises appointed by the bank began by Richard Oxnam, John Batten and William Carne.
The bank was originally in Chapel Street in 1795.
Various changes after Richard Oxnam retired in 1810 led to the joining of Thomas Hacker Bodilly in that bank.
The new banking house was built in Market House in 1864,
and the share of Thomas Hacker Bodilly, when he died 24th May 1873, passed to his son, also Thomas Hacker Bodilly.
The original Stores of Thomas Hacker Bodilly were built in Bread Street in 1837;
his Grocery and milling business had been transferred down through the family since before 1740, from John Bodilly;
they were Grocers, Corn suppliers, Millers (they had a massive mill built at Wherrytown in 1874,
based on the earlier mill of around 1845; the stores were built in Bread street, named The Borough Stores, in 1874,
and the premises were massive and extensively used.
The Bodillys lived in Alverton Cottage from around 1855 and certainly until after 1901.
With major changes in marketing and supplies, mills in Cornwall depleted;
Thomas Hacker Bodilly junior died 23rd August 1896;
Ralph Hacker Bodilly continued in his father's business - they lived at West Lodge, and he died in 1909;
By 1910 J H Tonking had acquired The Borough Stores for trade as Grain and other supplies;
James Herbert Tonking was from Phillack and he lived at 64 Chapel Street Penzance;
by 1935 Penzance had a thriving Margarine Factory in Bread Street.
It appears to have been destroyed by German incendiaries during WWII.
But the Borough Stores still stand, occupied by Mount's Bay Wine.
Part (in Belgravia Street and at the rear of High Street) of the older section of property
originally built for the Bodillys continues in use, and is just being converted.
Raymond Forward
