Samuel Rhodes

Wholesale draper and cheese dealer

Came to Kendal in 1826.

In 1830 he moved his business premises from Stricklandgate? to 58 Highgate, moving his business (Samuel Rhodes and Sons) across the road to 37 Highgate in 1835. Elizabeth Winder carried on a similar business in 58 Highgate after he left.

In the 1851 Census it says he was born in Preston, Lancs. He is described as 47, a draper employing 6 assistants and his sons John (24) and William (17) are also drapers. James (12) who later joined him as a draper was still at school living with him and his wife Elizabth (48) then at what appears to be 37 Highgate presumably 'over the shop' or close by (Census record No.159 in ED2b). There was also Thomas (21), already a watchmaker and Edmund (14) who later joined him to form T&E Rhodes jewellers at 19 Highgate (mentioned recently). They also had a House Servant, Isabella Croasdale (20) living in.

He lived at Bank Top, (now part of Greenside) in 1861 but purchased plots of land to the north including what became 1 Greenside (now 42 Greenside following re-numbering) where he was having a house built. Plans were submitted in 1861 by Miles Thompson (the architect) and passed in 1862 so it can be assumed it was built fairly soon after that. He also owned the plot of land on the opposite side of Greenside which became 1 Bankfield (now Highgrove Bankfield following being turned into appartments)). 1 and 2 Bankfield Garden have been built relatively recently on the same plot. Theses two plots were purchased following the Kendal Fell Trust Act 1861 which allowed the land to be sold off that was previously enclosed for the benefit of the town. Strangely quite a bit of the land valuable for housing was sold off to the Trustees of Kendal Fell Lands (of whom Samuel Rhodes was one!)

Born 1802/3. Died 25 June 1875 (aged 72) at Bank Top.

Trustee of Kendal Fell Lands in 1861

Corporation of Kendal

Councillor 1861

Alderman 1870

Mayor of Kendal 1874 (died in office)

Other notes

Dwelling house in Villa Bank Field, Kendal, for Samuel Rhodes Esq. (Plans 1 & 2)

Reference: WSMB/K11/Book 2/299

Title: Dwelling house in Villa Bank Field, Kendal, for Samuel Rhodes Esq. (Plans 1 & 2)

Architect: J. Bintley Date: 7 Feb. 1871

(This record is held by Cumbria Archive Centre, Kendal)