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Bence Family Stores Leslie Reginald Bence Written in 1960s & reprinted September 2020 It isn’t easy being an institution in Box. Bence’s Stores at the bottom of the Market Place was part of the fabric of local commerce and the family became one of the best-known and well-connected people in the village. Recently, the story of the early years of the shop has come to light with the history which was recorded by Leslie Bence in the 1960s. Inside the Market Place shop (courtesy The Wiltshire Times 13 March 1954) |
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Farming Ancestors
My ancestors were farmers, who for very many generations farmed successfully in the nearby districts of Biddestone, Grittleton and Colerne. Evidence of their existence is in the tombstones erected to their memory in Biddestone Churchyard. My grandfather, Thomas Bence (born 1834) was a descendant of the Biddestone family who farmed at Eastrip Farm, Colerne. It was here that my father Thomas (born 1868) left school to help on the farm at the early age of 12 or 13.
My father quickly became an accomplished milker, which in those days was all done by hand. As much as possible, the animal feeding stuff was grown on the farm and later prepared with hand-working implements. These included a chaff cutter which fed hay through a trough into a cutter worked by turning a hand-wheel, and a root cutter, similar for pulping up mangold and swedes. The farm produce was marketed locally as much as possible, but once a week a load of butter, eggs, veg and fruit was taken to regular customers en route to Bath. Cattle for market was herded by road, a long weary walk at times; calves and pigs were taken by horse and cart. Ploughing with a plough drawn by a team of horses was hard work but, as my father grew into manhood, he was able to master the art. It was a long full week of hard work, but he coped cheerfully and, as was the custom in those days, all for his keep and occasional pocket money.
My Parents
It was about this time that he met my mother, Florence the daughter of a farming family named lngs, who farmed for generations at Mere and Kilmington, Somerset. Her father William Ings met with a tragic accident, being crushed against a barn wall by a horse-drawn wagon loaded with hay. He was very badly injured and after much suffering he succumbed to his injuries leaving my grandmother Elizabeth with six young children. It became necessary for her to give up the farm and her uncle, who was a successful business man in merchandise with premises at Corsham, suggested that she started a grocery shop at a cottage in Colerne, with him supplying wholesale goods from his shop at Corsham. This was a success, enabling her to bring up and educate her children.
On leaving school, the eldest Ings son became an apprentice at his uncle's business for three years whilst my mother was apprenticed for two years in the millinery department of a high-class shop named Walker & Ling of Milsom Street, Bath. It was the custom in those days for apprentices to live in, the accommodation being in attics above the premises. My mother had experience of shop work as she had helped my grandmother Elizabeth Child in the family shop on Saturdays and evenings. In those days shops often did not close until 10pm. Always willing and eager to help still, my mother would use her holiday weekends and every possible occasion to help her parents. When her apprenticeship ended, she stayed on with Walker & Ling for a while, becoming the lead sales person in the millinery department. When my grandmother suffered an illness, mother returned home to help for a few months in the shop until she recovered.
Trade at Coleridge House
During that time, she paid a visit to the nearby village of Box. Walking through the Market Place she noticed a plot for sale and negotiated with Thomas Merrett, the local builder, to construct a shop and dwelling on the site. My father’s uncle helped draw up the plans and generally advise as he was a Biddestone house builder.
The new shop took several years in preparation and construction and permission was needed from the Chippenham Rural District Council, started in 1894 and keen to be involved.[1] So my grandparents rented Coleridge House as their home after 1894 and operated this as a grocery and drapery business until the new shop was completed.[2] As with other local stores, the shop opened at 8am and closed at 8pm on weekdays and Saturdays 11pm. One customer in the early Coleridge days made it a rule of thumb to be the last customer on Saturday night and would arrive just before 11pm, my parents knew when she came it was time to call it a day. A carrier who plied from Bath to Chippenham would deliver cakes and buns from a wholesale bakery in Bath at about 8pm on Saturday nights. Sometimes visitors leaving the Chequers pub at 10pm would buy up the cakes to take home to their family. They were still living in Coleridge House in 1901.
My ancestors were farmers, who for very many generations farmed successfully in the nearby districts of Biddestone, Grittleton and Colerne. Evidence of their existence is in the tombstones erected to their memory in Biddestone Churchyard. My grandfather, Thomas Bence (born 1834) was a descendant of the Biddestone family who farmed at Eastrip Farm, Colerne. It was here that my father Thomas (born 1868) left school to help on the farm at the early age of 12 or 13.
My father quickly became an accomplished milker, which in those days was all done by hand. As much as possible, the animal feeding stuff was grown on the farm and later prepared with hand-working implements. These included a chaff cutter which fed hay through a trough into a cutter worked by turning a hand-wheel, and a root cutter, similar for pulping up mangold and swedes. The farm produce was marketed locally as much as possible, but once a week a load of butter, eggs, veg and fruit was taken to regular customers en route to Bath. Cattle for market was herded by road, a long weary walk at times; calves and pigs were taken by horse and cart. Ploughing with a plough drawn by a team of horses was hard work but, as my father grew into manhood, he was able to master the art. It was a long full week of hard work, but he coped cheerfully and, as was the custom in those days, all for his keep and occasional pocket money.
My Parents
It was about this time that he met my mother, Florence the daughter of a farming family named lngs, who farmed for generations at Mere and Kilmington, Somerset. Her father William Ings met with a tragic accident, being crushed against a barn wall by a horse-drawn wagon loaded with hay. He was very badly injured and after much suffering he succumbed to his injuries leaving my grandmother Elizabeth with six young children. It became necessary for her to give up the farm and her uncle, who was a successful business man in merchandise with premises at Corsham, suggested that she started a grocery shop at a cottage in Colerne, with him supplying wholesale goods from his shop at Corsham. This was a success, enabling her to bring up and educate her children.
On leaving school, the eldest Ings son became an apprentice at his uncle's business for three years whilst my mother was apprenticed for two years in the millinery department of a high-class shop named Walker & Ling of Milsom Street, Bath. It was the custom in those days for apprentices to live in, the accommodation being in attics above the premises. My mother had experience of shop work as she had helped my grandmother Elizabeth Child in the family shop on Saturdays and evenings. In those days shops often did not close until 10pm. Always willing and eager to help still, my mother would use her holiday weekends and every possible occasion to help her parents. When her apprenticeship ended, she stayed on with Walker & Ling for a while, becoming the lead sales person in the millinery department. When my grandmother suffered an illness, mother returned home to help for a few months in the shop until she recovered.
Trade at Coleridge House
During that time, she paid a visit to the nearby village of Box. Walking through the Market Place she noticed a plot for sale and negotiated with Thomas Merrett, the local builder, to construct a shop and dwelling on the site. My father’s uncle helped draw up the plans and generally advise as he was a Biddestone house builder.
The new shop took several years in preparation and construction and permission was needed from the Chippenham Rural District Council, started in 1894 and keen to be involved.[1] So my grandparents rented Coleridge House as their home after 1894 and operated this as a grocery and drapery business until the new shop was completed.[2] As with other local stores, the shop opened at 8am and closed at 8pm on weekdays and Saturdays 11pm. One customer in the early Coleridge days made it a rule of thumb to be the last customer on Saturday night and would arrive just before 11pm, my parents knew when she came it was time to call it a day. A carrier who plied from Bath to Chippenham would deliver cakes and buns from a wholesale bakery in Bath at about 8pm on Saturday nights. Sometimes visitors leaving the Chequers pub at 10pm would buy up the cakes to take home to their family. They were still living in Coleridge House in 1901.
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Above left Coleridge House (unknown attribution) and right Bence's New Store, now called Benson House (courtesy Carol Payne)
Bence's New Store, 1900
I was three years old when the foundation stone was laid in 1900 with due ceremony including coins of the day embedded in the building. The plans were for a double fronted shop with large plate glass windows each side of the half glass entrance door. The living accommodation behind the shop was for two reception rooms, a kitchen and scullery and four large bedrooms with lavatory outside. A separate store building with tiled roof was alongside. The building took many, many months while the business at Coleridge House continued to progress.
Finally, the new premises were ready for occupation and stock was taken and placed in their new fixtures. My father concentrated on the one side with grocery and provisions and my mother on the other side with drapery, millinery, haberdashery and boots and shoes. This move took quite a while, as most of it was in the evenings after the shop was closed. When all was ready, the opening date of the new premises was announced. Customers from the old shop were joined by many new ones. With business increasing, an errand boy was employed to deliver groceries by carrier bicycle to Wadswick, Kingsdown and Box Hill.
I was three years old when the foundation stone was laid in 1900 with due ceremony including coins of the day embedded in the building. The plans were for a double fronted shop with large plate glass windows each side of the half glass entrance door. The living accommodation behind the shop was for two reception rooms, a kitchen and scullery and four large bedrooms with lavatory outside. A separate store building with tiled roof was alongside. The building took many, many months while the business at Coleridge House continued to progress.
Finally, the new premises were ready for occupation and stock was taken and placed in their new fixtures. My father concentrated on the one side with grocery and provisions and my mother on the other side with drapery, millinery, haberdashery and boots and shoes. This move took quite a while, as most of it was in the evenings after the shop was closed. When all was ready, the opening date of the new premises was announced. Customers from the old shop were joined by many new ones. With business increasing, an errand boy was employed to deliver groceries by carrier bicycle to Wadswick, Kingsdown and Box Hill.
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With more room for stock and display, the drapery side became very active. Ready-mades were not so easy to get and most families made their own garments, including shirts, underwear, sheets and pillowcases. Wholesale drapery houses in Bristol were keen to trade and sent their commercial travellers by train from Temple Meads to Box Station with their skips loaded with samples. At Box Station they would hire a porter to take the skips by hand trolley the 1 mile to the shop.
It was the custom for travellers not to enter the shop if there was a traveller already there, and many times I've seen one, pacing up and down outside, awaiting his turn. At one time they became too numerous and took up a lot of time, which my parents did not want to spare. |
Estimate for building Bence's Stores £925.10s (courtesy Geoff Bence)
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I remember my father on seeing one entering the shop would say We've no time for you gentlemen today, we are far too busy. Through the years, however, they made many life-long friends of the men of the road, some of whom holidayed with them after their retirement.
The industry of the village in those days was mainly with the stone trade. Most of the community were honest, hardworking people anxious to pay their way and enjoy happy relationships. Now and again, there would be a bad payer whom my parents were quick to note and would assess the reason for this. As there was little state help in those days, an illness needing a doctor and medical supplies had to be paid for out of the family wage packet and, in some such cases, the grocery bill could not be met. My parents often agreed they could pay off the debt when they could, which many, many honoured to the last penny. Many years later old and loyal customers have told me of the understanding of my parents. My parents had no sympathy for real bad payers however and advised them to shop elsewhere.
The industry of the village in those days was mainly with the stone trade. Most of the community were honest, hardworking people anxious to pay their way and enjoy happy relationships. Now and again, there would be a bad payer whom my parents were quick to note and would assess the reason for this. As there was little state help in those days, an illness needing a doctor and medical supplies had to be paid for out of the family wage packet and, in some such cases, the grocery bill could not be met. My parents often agreed they could pay off the debt when they could, which many, many honoured to the last penny. Many years later old and loyal customers have told me of the understanding of my parents. My parents had no sympathy for real bad payers however and advised them to shop elsewhere.
Bence’s Store on the left of the Market Place (courtesy Box Parish Council)
My Apprenticeship, 1910-1913
When I was about nine my time at the village school was nearing its end and my parents entered me as a pupil at King Edwards School where, for five years, I plodded on to learn all I could. As I was nearing my fourteenth birthday, my parents sought out a drapery training house of good repute, namely Parsons and Hart of Andover, Hampshire, where they entered me for a three-year apprenticeship. My father accompanied me when we travelled to Andover. He was impressed with the establishment, where the staff and apprentices lived in. They were accommodated above the shop premises, with bedrooms, dining room and sitting room and a housekeeper in charge. He was happy to leave me to start my training. I soon made new friends with the other apprentices, and after working hours we enjoyed games, get-togethers and socialising. I made several lifelong friends then, whose visits to our home my wife and I have enjoyed over the years. The Parsons and Hart House had a first-class reputation in the town, as well as a vast country trade. Travellers would periodically visit many outlying farmhouses and villages on the plain, bringing back vast orders for household linens, materials for home-made garments and suchlike.
For the first few months of my apprenticeship, my job was to measure hundreds of yards of sheeting, shirting, calico and long-cloth as well as towelling, dairy straining cloth and similar. I enjoyed that training which also gave me great insight into country trade. As holidays came around, I was always ready to get back home to see my parents, to thank them for my regular pocket money and to relate my experiences. The pocket money was my only source of income as apprentices were not paid a wage. The regular letter that accompanied my income were always eagerly awaited and, after paying expenses such as laundry, I could save enough to treat my pals to some sort of titbit.
Returning home one holiday I found my parents still very busy, so much so that my mother had employed an assistant to help her on the drapery side, which enabled her to give a hand on the grocery side when needed. Several regular customers now sent or left their weekly orders to be delivered next day. This was a great help as the orders could be put up after shop hours or at a slack counter. ln due course an assistant was also employed for the grocery side. As my apprenticeship neared its end, they wanted me to return home to help and finally take over the drapery side. This happened and, because trade was good, we found it necessary to use one of the bedrooms as a stock room for incoming merchandise.
Within a year or so after my marriage in 1919, my parents bought a house on the Devizes Road called Belle View and decided to retire, handing over the business to me. It was decided then that the whole premises be used for the business, and as my story ends it still is with the help of two of my three dear sons. The story of my parents’ active life and their achievements is happy memories and calls for the record, hence my story.
When I was about nine my time at the village school was nearing its end and my parents entered me as a pupil at King Edwards School where, for five years, I plodded on to learn all I could. As I was nearing my fourteenth birthday, my parents sought out a drapery training house of good repute, namely Parsons and Hart of Andover, Hampshire, where they entered me for a three-year apprenticeship. My father accompanied me when we travelled to Andover. He was impressed with the establishment, where the staff and apprentices lived in. They were accommodated above the shop premises, with bedrooms, dining room and sitting room and a housekeeper in charge. He was happy to leave me to start my training. I soon made new friends with the other apprentices, and after working hours we enjoyed games, get-togethers and socialising. I made several lifelong friends then, whose visits to our home my wife and I have enjoyed over the years. The Parsons and Hart House had a first-class reputation in the town, as well as a vast country trade. Travellers would periodically visit many outlying farmhouses and villages on the plain, bringing back vast orders for household linens, materials for home-made garments and suchlike.
For the first few months of my apprenticeship, my job was to measure hundreds of yards of sheeting, shirting, calico and long-cloth as well as towelling, dairy straining cloth and similar. I enjoyed that training which also gave me great insight into country trade. As holidays came around, I was always ready to get back home to see my parents, to thank them for my regular pocket money and to relate my experiences. The pocket money was my only source of income as apprentices were not paid a wage. The regular letter that accompanied my income were always eagerly awaited and, after paying expenses such as laundry, I could save enough to treat my pals to some sort of titbit.
Returning home one holiday I found my parents still very busy, so much so that my mother had employed an assistant to help her on the drapery side, which enabled her to give a hand on the grocery side when needed. Several regular customers now sent or left their weekly orders to be delivered next day. This was a great help as the orders could be put up after shop hours or at a slack counter. ln due course an assistant was also employed for the grocery side. As my apprenticeship neared its end, they wanted me to return home to help and finally take over the drapery side. This happened and, because trade was good, we found it necessary to use one of the bedrooms as a stock room for incoming merchandise.
Within a year or so after my marriage in 1919, my parents bought a house on the Devizes Road called Belle View and decided to retire, handing over the business to me. It was decided then that the whole premises be used for the business, and as my story ends it still is with the help of two of my three dear sons. The story of my parents’ active life and their achievements is happy memories and calls for the record, hence my story.
Les Bence’s history ends at this point. He wrote it to record the story of his parents but it leaves the story of the shop incomplete. We can add more to the story of Tom and Florence Bence and the subsequent history of the shop. More than that we need to tell the history of Les Bence himself, which he modestly ignored.
The Market Place (courtesy Verity & Richard Jeffery)
Thomas and Florence Bence in Retirement
Away from shopkeeping duties, Tom and Florence were able to do more in the village. Tom joined Phil Lambert in running the scouts in 1935, Phil as scoutmaster and Tom as treasurer.[3] A year later Tom was elected as sidesman at Box Church.[4] They also undertook charity work and assisted Tom’s brother Robert Reuben Bence and sister-in-law who were Master and Matron of the Calne Poorhouse. They particularly helped with the serving of Christmas dinner to inmates.[5]
Shopkeeping was a profitable business before the 1950s and the Bence family was related to many other similar families including the Dyers, Fudges, Brays and Goulstones. Family ties developed through marriage and in 1919 Tom Bence lent Robert Dyer £150 to help fund the purchase of the Market Place land to be converted into a builders’ and undertakers’ yard.
Tom was quite a sportsman and one of the founders of the Box Rifle Club in the First World War. He encouraged his family to follow and Les, Nigel and Geoff were keen cricketers and badminton players.
Les and Vi Bence
Les was called up to join the army in the 1914-18 war but he failed the medical. In 1918 he suffered in the Spanish influenza epidemic which struck the village closing the school for over a month in November that year.[6]
Leslie and his wife Vi were one of the best-known couples in the village. Their first house was at The Clift, Box Hill, until in 1928 they moved into the centre of Box at Lorne House, which cost them £500. Violet Bence was one of the eight children in the Daniell family, most of who farmed in and around Box. The family dominated Box life in the 1940s and 50s, evidence of which occurred in 1952 when forty-three Daniell relatives assembled for a family reunion.[7] Because Les and Vi were prominent local traders, they were constantly going to funerals, parties and other events. Some funerals involved almost the whole village such as that of Miss Helen Batterbury in July 1935 a stalwart of Box Church, the Church Sunday School and the village nurse.[8]
They were also members of various village clubs and activities in the years before television and when many people had no radio. Les was an active participant at Box Cricket Club, as were his sons Nigel and Geoff Bence. In 1946 Les was the master of ceremonies in the first cricket club dance held in the Bingham Hall since 1939. For servicemen who had spent years away from their friends it was something of a reunion.[9] There was a live band for the event, Ernie Russell and the Blue Aces, but later it was too difficult to get together a whole band so in 1947 the New Year’s Eve dance put on old-time dances by the radiogram manipulated by Mr Leslie Bence .[10]
Vi was a member of several Box clubs including the Ladies Club and, because of her family connections, she never lacked friends in the village. She attended most of the village gatherings and numerous family funerals.
Second World War
Perhaps Les’ most significant contribution to Box village was at the time of the Second World War. Too old to serve, Les was a Special Constable in 1939, charged with guarding Box Tunnel. His son Geoff remembered: It involved going into the Tunnel which dad found quite daunting, it being very eerie in the dark with the sound of water dripping from the roof. When a train came through, he had to quickly get into one of the alcoves provided for the purpose. Steam trains then of course, so one had to contend with the smoke, the noise and the drips. Dad was the sergeant and Alf Lambert was the Superintendent.
Les assisted both at the Peace celebrations for VE Day in 1945 and the Coming Home Commemoration in 1946. The 1945 event was hastily-organised and Les set up the equipment for the King’s speech to be relayed on a tannoy system. He also arranged for music on the BBC Light Programme to be relayed on the site of the cricket pitch on the Upper Rec. A church service of remembrance and thanksgiving was organised a week later on Sunday 13 May when an estimated 700 people wanted to attend, far too many to fit into the church so arrangements were made to have additional seating in the churchyard.[11] Les organised a loud speaker to relay the service to the outside congregation who could follow the service perfectly, except when planes flew overhead and blotted out all other sound by their roar.
In 1946 he acted as steward of the Peace Commemorations by organising a small committee to meet at Lorne Villa (now usually called Lorne House).[12] The plan was for a fancy-dress competition, tea on The Rec rather than the old Fete Field and a Victory procession. It was a change from earlier use of The Rec when the council had let the land for grazing on the Upper and Lower Recreation fields. In the end the Lower Rec was still let out but for the first time The Upper Rec became the centre of the Box village, providing amenities for the parish.
Les had a hobby of tinkering with radios and in the 1950s televisions which he was able to introduce to diversify the shop’s retail offering. He promoted repairs, maintenance and new sales as people became eager to have news and music in their houses. Their son, Geoff, recalled that one room was called the charging room, because dad had the apparatus to re-charge accumulators which provided the power for wireless sets in those days. He put his hobby to civic use also and, for a number of years, he was active in arranging lighting for pantomimes held in the Bingham Hall.
Les showed his adaptability with the coming of television after the war. People of that generation remember gathering in Box Church for the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. On a tiny valve television set they had a perfect view of the broadcast which was most impressive. The reality was more like a hazy picture, poor quality in itself but a significant moment of peaceful unity after the war, championed by Leslie.[13]
Conclusion
Bence’s shop helped to generate our concept that The Market Place was a retail area, rather than just The Parade at the top of the street. Before the Bence family came it was more like a manufacturing area with Box Brewery and Steam Mill corn grinding. In the same way, Leslie Bence was much more than a shopkeeper. He served on the Parish Council for a number of years and was president of the Bath Grocers’ Association and later secretary.[14] But it was his community work after the Second World War when he came to the fore. It was typical of the man that his memoires ignored all the contribution he made.
Away from shopkeeping duties, Tom and Florence were able to do more in the village. Tom joined Phil Lambert in running the scouts in 1935, Phil as scoutmaster and Tom as treasurer.[3] A year later Tom was elected as sidesman at Box Church.[4] They also undertook charity work and assisted Tom’s brother Robert Reuben Bence and sister-in-law who were Master and Matron of the Calne Poorhouse. They particularly helped with the serving of Christmas dinner to inmates.[5]
Shopkeeping was a profitable business before the 1950s and the Bence family was related to many other similar families including the Dyers, Fudges, Brays and Goulstones. Family ties developed through marriage and in 1919 Tom Bence lent Robert Dyer £150 to help fund the purchase of the Market Place land to be converted into a builders’ and undertakers’ yard.
Tom was quite a sportsman and one of the founders of the Box Rifle Club in the First World War. He encouraged his family to follow and Les, Nigel and Geoff were keen cricketers and badminton players.
Les and Vi Bence
Les was called up to join the army in the 1914-18 war but he failed the medical. In 1918 he suffered in the Spanish influenza epidemic which struck the village closing the school for over a month in November that year.[6]
Leslie and his wife Vi were one of the best-known couples in the village. Their first house was at The Clift, Box Hill, until in 1928 they moved into the centre of Box at Lorne House, which cost them £500. Violet Bence was one of the eight children in the Daniell family, most of who farmed in and around Box. The family dominated Box life in the 1940s and 50s, evidence of which occurred in 1952 when forty-three Daniell relatives assembled for a family reunion.[7] Because Les and Vi were prominent local traders, they were constantly going to funerals, parties and other events. Some funerals involved almost the whole village such as that of Miss Helen Batterbury in July 1935 a stalwart of Box Church, the Church Sunday School and the village nurse.[8]
They were also members of various village clubs and activities in the years before television and when many people had no radio. Les was an active participant at Box Cricket Club, as were his sons Nigel and Geoff Bence. In 1946 Les was the master of ceremonies in the first cricket club dance held in the Bingham Hall since 1939. For servicemen who had spent years away from their friends it was something of a reunion.[9] There was a live band for the event, Ernie Russell and the Blue Aces, but later it was too difficult to get together a whole band so in 1947 the New Year’s Eve dance put on old-time dances by the radiogram manipulated by Mr Leslie Bence .[10]
Vi was a member of several Box clubs including the Ladies Club and, because of her family connections, she never lacked friends in the village. She attended most of the village gatherings and numerous family funerals.
Second World War
Perhaps Les’ most significant contribution to Box village was at the time of the Second World War. Too old to serve, Les was a Special Constable in 1939, charged with guarding Box Tunnel. His son Geoff remembered: It involved going into the Tunnel which dad found quite daunting, it being very eerie in the dark with the sound of water dripping from the roof. When a train came through, he had to quickly get into one of the alcoves provided for the purpose. Steam trains then of course, so one had to contend with the smoke, the noise and the drips. Dad was the sergeant and Alf Lambert was the Superintendent.
Les assisted both at the Peace celebrations for VE Day in 1945 and the Coming Home Commemoration in 1946. The 1945 event was hastily-organised and Les set up the equipment for the King’s speech to be relayed on a tannoy system. He also arranged for music on the BBC Light Programme to be relayed on the site of the cricket pitch on the Upper Rec. A church service of remembrance and thanksgiving was organised a week later on Sunday 13 May when an estimated 700 people wanted to attend, far too many to fit into the church so arrangements were made to have additional seating in the churchyard.[11] Les organised a loud speaker to relay the service to the outside congregation who could follow the service perfectly, except when planes flew overhead and blotted out all other sound by their roar.
In 1946 he acted as steward of the Peace Commemorations by organising a small committee to meet at Lorne Villa (now usually called Lorne House).[12] The plan was for a fancy-dress competition, tea on The Rec rather than the old Fete Field and a Victory procession. It was a change from earlier use of The Rec when the council had let the land for grazing on the Upper and Lower Recreation fields. In the end the Lower Rec was still let out but for the first time The Upper Rec became the centre of the Box village, providing amenities for the parish.
Les had a hobby of tinkering with radios and in the 1950s televisions which he was able to introduce to diversify the shop’s retail offering. He promoted repairs, maintenance and new sales as people became eager to have news and music in their houses. Their son, Geoff, recalled that one room was called the charging room, because dad had the apparatus to re-charge accumulators which provided the power for wireless sets in those days. He put his hobby to civic use also and, for a number of years, he was active in arranging lighting for pantomimes held in the Bingham Hall.
Les showed his adaptability with the coming of television after the war. People of that generation remember gathering in Box Church for the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. On a tiny valve television set they had a perfect view of the broadcast which was most impressive. The reality was more like a hazy picture, poor quality in itself but a significant moment of peaceful unity after the war, championed by Leslie.[13]
Conclusion
Bence’s shop helped to generate our concept that The Market Place was a retail area, rather than just The Parade at the top of the street. Before the Bence family came it was more like a manufacturing area with Box Brewery and Steam Mill corn grinding. In the same way, Leslie Bence was much more than a shopkeeper. He served on the Parish Council for a number of years and was president of the Bath Grocers’ Association and later secretary.[14] But it was his community work after the Second World War when he came to the fore. It was typical of the man that his memoires ignored all the contribution he made.
Family Tree
John (1794), farmer married Mary Ann (1801). Ten children including Thomas Bence (1834)
Thomas Bence (1834 at Biddestone - 1922) married Sarah Gunning in 1864. 1871, 1881, 1891 wife Sarah (1846 Marshfield) living at Eastrip, Colerne 1881 at Eastrip. Children: Thomas (1868); Mary (1872); Emma (1874); John (1876); Henry (1880); Robert (1883); Alice (1885); Isabella (1888); and Clarissa (1892).
Thomas Bence (12 December 1868 at North Wraxall - 1957) married Florence Gertrude Ings (10 March 1866 at Kilmington -15 June 1960) in 1895. Child:
Leslie Reginald (1896-1983).
Leslie Reginald (2 June 1896 at Box - 1983) married Violet Mary Daniell (8 May 1891-1992) on 21 April 1919. Children:
Nigel Thomas (23 December 1920 - 2006); Geoffrey C (31 October 1924) and Bryan L (4 March 1929). By 1939 they lived at Lorne House with George F Taylor (15 January 1928) and William L Walker (5 May 1927).
John (1794), farmer married Mary Ann (1801). Ten children including Thomas Bence (1834)
Thomas Bence (1834 at Biddestone - 1922) married Sarah Gunning in 1864. 1871, 1881, 1891 wife Sarah (1846 Marshfield) living at Eastrip, Colerne 1881 at Eastrip. Children: Thomas (1868); Mary (1872); Emma (1874); John (1876); Henry (1880); Robert (1883); Alice (1885); Isabella (1888); and Clarissa (1892).
Thomas Bence (12 December 1868 at North Wraxall - 1957) married Florence Gertrude Ings (10 March 1866 at Kilmington -15 June 1960) in 1895. Child:
Leslie Reginald (1896-1983).
Leslie Reginald (2 June 1896 at Box - 1983) married Violet Mary Daniell (8 May 1891-1992) on 21 April 1919. Children:
Nigel Thomas (23 December 1920 - 2006); Geoffrey C (31 October 1924) and Bryan L (4 March 1929). By 1939 they lived at Lorne House with George F Taylor (15 January 1928) and William L Walker (5 May 1927).
References
[1] They made various suggestions including that a wall be reinstated, The Wiltshire Times, 26 May 1900
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 13 March 1954
[3] Parish Magazine, May 1935
[4] Parish Magazine, May 1936
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 31 December 1927 and 2 January 1932
[6] Parish Magazine, December 1918
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 9 August 1952
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 6 July 1935
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 9 March 1946
[10] The Wiltshire Times, 10 January 1948
[11] Parish Magazine, June 1945
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 27 April 1946
[13] Parish Magazine, April and July 1953
[14] The Wiltshire Times, 13 March 1954 edit.
[1] They made various suggestions including that a wall be reinstated, The Wiltshire Times, 26 May 1900
[2] The Wiltshire Times, 13 March 1954
[3] Parish Magazine, May 1935
[4] Parish Magazine, May 1936
[5] The Wiltshire Times, 31 December 1927 and 2 January 1932
[6] Parish Magazine, December 1918
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 9 August 1952
[8] The Wiltshire Times, 6 July 1935
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 9 March 1946
[10] The Wiltshire Times, 10 January 1948
[11] Parish Magazine, June 1945
[12] The Wiltshire Times, 27 April 1946
[13] Parish Magazine, April and July 1953
[14] The Wiltshire Times, 13 March 1954 edit.