A SHORT HISTORY OF TAYLOR'S CORNSTORES - SOMERCOTES
by SLHS on
Monday 22 July 2019
Taylors Cornstores was founded by James Argyle Taylor, the son of a farmer, who was born at Greenhill Lane on 19 July 1878. After leaving school at the age of 11 James started work in a bakery on Coupland Place, Somercotes. The baker retired in 1897, but loaned James the sum of £100 in order to take over the business, which continued to prosper. In 1905, James established a newly built bakery on the corner of Mansfield Street and Victoria Street, Somercotes which comprised of a Provender Mill, stables, stable yard, bakery, shop and house [a Provender Mill is a small mill usually in which animal foodstuffs are prepared, although it could be used for grinding wheat for flour].
James married Florence Hall at Somercotes on 26 November 1906 and by the census of 1911 they were living at Victoria Street with their son, John Argyle who was born in 1908. They also had a live-in servant. James was described as a Master Baker and Corn Factor.
As the business continued to be successful, James branched out into other investments, including the purchase of Common Side Farm at South Normanton, once part of the Carnfield estate. In 1915, an auction was held for the livestock on this farm, as James had taken the decision to rent the property to a tenant farmer. The results of the auction were published in the Derbyshire Advertiser & Journal on 12 February 1915. It makes for interesting reading, and is transcribed in full: “Sharp bidding and high prices were the outstanding feature of a sale of agricultural stock at the Common Side Farm, South Normanton, conducted by Mr. Samuel T. Watson, of the firm of Messrs. W. Watson, auctioneers, Ripley, Tuesday. Mr. James A. Taylor, of Somercotes, the owner of the farm which formerly formed a part of the Carnfield Estate, has let it, and consequently it became necessary to disperse the stock. There was a very large attendance of buyers and from the start to the finish the sale prices ran high. The dairy cattle was eagerly sought after. There were 24 beasts offered and sold. The prices included the following; —Heifer in calf, £22 10s.; in-calf cow, due May, £14 10s.; red and white heifer, £15 5s.; cow, in milk and in calf, due August, £17 5s.; in-calf heifer, due March, £15; cow, in milk and in calf, due April, £21 2s. 6d.; cow, in milk and in-calf, due May, £15; fat cow, £20 2s. 6d.; meated beast, £15 15s.; in-calf cow, due August, £19; cow, in milk and in-calf, due October, £18 10s.; barren heifer, £16 15s.; in-calf cow, due March, £16; cow, in milk and in-calf, due August, £9 10s.; in-calf beast, time up, £23 5s.; newly-calved cow, £24 10s.; newly calved cow, due this month, £20; and a barren stirk, £10 2s. 6d. The horses included bay cart mare, 16 hands, rising six years, in foal to Mr. Nix's horse, “Saxon Admiral,” which made 52 guineas (Mr. Bearder). A cart mare, 17 hands, eight years, in foal to Mr. Nix’s horse, ‘‘Dunstowe Jameson,” was also bought by Mr. Bearder, the price being 49½ guineas.”
In 1921, James purchased the corn mill at South Wingfield, which became the centre of his growing business empire. Over the years, several shops were opened in the area; Alfreton, Clay Cross, Eastwood, Ilkeston, Kirkby, Ripley, Somercotes and, of course, South Wingfield.
The Ripley & Heanor News published on 25 January 1935 recorded the next major event in the history of the company: “NEW COMPANIES - James A. Taylor, Limited, registered January 17th. To take over the business of a flour miller, etc., carried on at South Wingfield Mill. Derbyshire; Ring's Mill, Mansfield, and elsewhere, "J. A. Taylor" Nominal capital £10,000 in £1 shares. Permanent directors: J. A. Taylor, Ring's Mill, Mansfield, Notts. (managing director); Florence Taylor, address not stated; J. A. Taylor, 1, Arthur Street, Mansfield. Qualification of directors.: £50 shares. Remuneration of directors: As voted by the company.”
The following year, in 1936, James’s brother Frank Taylor, died. Frank had joined his brother in the bakery business at Somercotes and when James eventually left Frank took over the business on Victoria Street. As Frank Taylor had a lifetime association with Somercotes his obituary, published in the Belper News on 10 April 1936 is transcribed as follows: “SOMERCOTES RESIDENT - FUNERAL OF MR FRANK TAYLOR - Somercotes lost a well-known resident by the death, on Friday, of Mr. Frank Taylor (63), 7, Victoria Street, Somercotes. He had been in ill-health for several months. Mr. Taylor was head of the firm of Messrs. Frank Taylor and Sons, bakers and confectioners, for 13 years. His connection with the bakery trade extended over 38 years and he was at one period in business with his brother, Mr James A. Taylor, King's Mill, Mansfield. Some years ago the latter took over the corn merchant’s business of Messrs Bowers, and Mr. Frank Taylor continued as a baker and confectioner at Somercotes His three sons. Mr F. O Taylor, now Duffield; Mr. J. K. Taylor, Leeds, and Mr. J. E. Taylor, Somercotes, were associated with him until a short time ago, when the two former sons joined the staff Messrs. Edm. Malt Ltd., London. Of a generous and jovial nature, Mr. Taylor was a friend to many charitable objects. He was a son of Mr. John Taylor, a Greenhill Lane farmer, and had always resided in the district. He is survived the widow and three sons. The funeral, at Somercotes, on Sunday was conducted by the Rev. R. E Birtwistle (Vicar)” A long list of mourners followed.
Over the years, many hundreds of advertisements appeared in local newspapers for Taylors Cornstores, and the shop in Somercotes became a well-known landmark.
James had moved from Somercotes to Kings Mill, Mansfield, where he was living at the time the 1939 Register was compiled. He was listed as Managing Director of a Flour and Corn Mill. His second son, also named James Argyle, was also living there and his occupation was described as a Director and Traveller of a Flour and Corn Mill. James died at Kings Mill on 8 October 1963. His business was inherited by his sons John and James.
The shop at Somercotes continued trading for many years, but was eventually closed and the premises sold in July 2019, ending an association with the village spanning over one hundred years.