W J Stafford, Great Heath

Can anyone give me a date for this photograph?

The clue may be "established 60 years". So you'd have to go back through the trade directories. The Spennell's Annual Directory of Coventry & District, 1912-13 has Wm J Stafford, baker at both 493 Foleshill Rd and 148 Lockhurst Lane.

I haven't pieced it all together properly but here are a few gleanings.... William Stafford, born 1877, baker, living in Lockhurst Lane, (106, I think), 1901 I guess it was his father's business to start with as I found a Joseph Stafford, (58 years in 1901), living in Lockhurst Lane in 1901 the same as William. He was described as Grocer/Baker, Employer, born at Ansley. Also I found some building plans approved in 1919 for W.J. Stafford, Melrose Villa, 442 Foleshill Road (East Side), 'St. Elmo', Lockhurst Lane. I did find some adverts for work, Stafford Buildings, Lockhurst Lane but lost them

familysearch.org records the marriage of a William Joseph Stafford of 125 Lockhurst Lane on 18 Sep 1900 at Exhall to Laura Elliott, His father was Joseph Stafford. In the 1911 census William Joseph is aged 34 and born in Bedworth. There is no William Joseph birth registered in this period but there is a Joseph William in 1876.

Good work mcsporran, I whittled it down a bit, Hovis trade name was introduced in 1890 and Joseph Stafford, the father of W.J. died in August, 1903. The Stafford family were at Longford, Grocer, John Stafford on the 1861 census. I found this in Coventry Collections... W.J. Stafford c. 1910 An interesting family business that deserves studying in more detail, so let's hope we can find more out about the bakery etc. Thanks to MR for posting the photograph

William Joseph Stafford lived at 442 Foleshill Road and owned the house where I was born in Holbrook Lane, I have the original lease dated 20 January 1926. My dad also worked for him delivering bread on this type of horse drawn cart in 1930s.

Hello and welcome to the forum And thank you for posting this item - what an amazing coincidence