Ernest with his sister Amy - 1890s
Full name: Henry Ernest Dell.
Date of birth: Friday, 3rd May 1872.
Birthplace: Holloway, London, England.
Date of death: Saturday, 14th January, 1956 (aged 84 years).
Place of death: 32, Broomfield Avenue, Palmers Green, London, England.
Signature:
Frances Miriam Southwell (1875-1954). |
Date of marriage: 1915.
Place of marriage: Islington, London, England.
1872-1878 - 408, Holloway Road, Holloway, London, England.
Pulled down and re-built c1888 - became Henry's Dell's grocery shop
Now occupied by Santander.
1881 - 39, Fairmead Road, Holloway, London, England.
1885-1899 - 78, Cromwell Avenue, Highgate, London, England.
1901-c1915 - "Holmwood", Vicars Moor Lane, Winchmore Hill, London, England.
1919-1956 - 32, Broomfield Avenue, Palmers Green, London, England.
Ernest's father Henry established his grocery business during the late 1860s/early 1870s. Ernest became involved with the business in the late 1880s/early 1890s and eventually became a partner in the 1900s.
1888-1950: Henry Dell Ltd, 408 Holloway Road, Holloway, London, England.
Employees: Gladys Arnott.
Had further branches at 655/657 (1890-1941) Holloway Road
1890-1956: Dell's Stores Ltd, 450, Hornsey Road, Upper Holloway, London, England.
Employees: Arthur Saunders, Arthur Bradshaw Harrison (Director), Walter Henry Stone (Manager).
Now a laundrette.
Dell ghost sign can be seen on the rear of the property - thanks to Jane Parker/Sam Roberts.
Henry Dell
Gross value of Estate: £14,890 7s. 9d.
Net value of Estate: £10,132 8s. 8d.
"I Bequeath all my furniture, books, linen, china, glass, pictures, plate, plated, articles and other household effects unto and equally to be divided between my said son and daughter."
"I bequeath the following pecuniary legacies namely To my said daughter Amy Elizabeth Baker nine hundred pounds provided that she shall allow the same to remain lent to my said son in his business at six per cent per annum payable quarterly but without any security so long as my said son shall be willing to retain the same and to pay to my said daughter interest therefor at the rate aforesaid to my said niece Gertrude Elizabeth Thorne shall nine hundred pounds provided that my said niece Gertrude Elizabeth Thorne shall allow the said sum of nine hundred pounds to remain in the hands of my son Ernest Henry Dell without security as long as he is willing to keep it and pay her therefor interest at the rate of five per cent per annum payable quarterly on the usual quart days in each year."
"....and as to all the rest residue and remainder of my property estate and effects whatsover and wheresoever and of what nature or kind sover both real and personal. I give devise and bequeath the same unto my said son Henry Ernest absolutely and if my said son predecease me then I give devise and bequeath the same to my trustees Upon trust to pay and divide the same equally between the widow of my said son and my said daughter Amy Elizabeth Baker absolutely provided always and I declare that the said gift of a share of my residuary estate to my said daughter Amy Elizabeth Baker is upon the express condition that she shall in the division of such residuary estate bring into hotpotch and account for the legacy of nine hundred pounds which I have hereinbefore bequeathed to her."
Henry gifted £25 to each employee who had been in his firms employ for fifteen years, and £10 for those who had been in the firms employ for ten years but not more than fifteen years. Residuary etstate stood at around £5,372 before this money was deducted.
Gross value of estate: £9,393 5s. 1d. / Net value of estate: £9,266 11s. 11d.
"THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me HENRY ERNEST DELL of 32, Broomfield Avenue, Palmers Green, London N.13 Grocer.
1. I APPOINT my late Wife's Niece CLARA MAUD WATTSON of 85, Eton Place, N.W.3 ARTHUR EDWARD DOWLEY of 56, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C.2 Solicitor and my friend EDWIN STANLEY GEORGE SHAW of 60, Uphill Road, Mill Hill, N.W.7 Executors and Trustees hereof and if the said Arthur Edward Dowley shall predecease me then I appoint ROGER DOWLEY of 56, Finsbury Pavement aforesaid Solicitor, Executor and Trustee of my said Will in place of the said Arthur Edward Dowley.
2. I BEQUEATH all my contents of my house 32 Broomfield Avenue aforesaid unto the said Clara Maud Wattson and my Sister Amy Baker or if she shall have predeceased me her Daughter Olive Elizabeth Braithwaite knowing that whatsover they decide to do as to the disposal thereof will be in accordance with my wishes.
3. I BEQUEATH the following pecuniary legacies:-
(a) The said Clara Maud Wattson Two Hundred and fifty pounds.
(b) Louisa Bleckley Dell of Victoria Home Ossining, New York United States of America One hundred and twenty pounds.
(c) My cousin Gertrude Elizabeth Thorne of Holmwood Cottage Sibford Gower near Banbury Two hundred pounds.
(d) Miss Lily Esther Oxborrow at 32, Broomfield Avenue N.13 Seven hundred and fifty pounds.
(e) Walter Henry Stone Fifty pounds.
(f) Mrs. Violet Moule of 63 The Ridgway, Golders Green Fifty pounds.
(g) Africa Inland Mission of 3 John Street, W.C.1 for medical work among natives Fifty pounds.
(h) Miss Gladys Arnott employee of Henry Dell Ltd. Fifty pounds.
4. I BEQUEATH the sum of Two hundred and ninety pounds to my Executors and I request them so far as possible to distribute the said sum among the persons if living and in the manner set out in the list dated October 7th 1954 which I have already prepared and signed and which will be found with this my Will but such request is not to create any trust or legal obligation.
5. I BEQUEATH to Arthur Bradshaw Harrison, Director of Henry Dell Ltd. all my shares in Henry Dell Ltd. by free transfer.
6. I BEQUEATH to the said Edwin Stanley George Shaw all my shares including my interest in two founders shares in Dells Stores Ltd. by free transfer and without imposing any obligation on him I request the said Edwin Stanley George Shaw in his management of and in carrying on the business of the said Company to act as far as possible in accordance with my wishes which are known to him.
7. I BEQUEATH my leasehold premises No. 450 Hornsey Road subject to the underlease thereof to Dells Stores Ltd. to Walter Henry Stone Manager of Dells Stores Ltd.
8. I BEQUEATH my leasehold premises No.32 Broomfield Avenue aforesaid to my Executors Upon Trust as soon as possible after my death to sell the same with vacant possession and to pay one-half of the net proceeds of sale to my said Niece Olive Elizabeth Braithwaite, the other half of such proceeds to fall into and form part of my residuary estate.
9. I DEVISE AND BEQUEATH the residue of my estate and effects whatsover and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever as follows:- The sum of Four hundred pounds equally between the said Clara Maud Wattson and Gertrude Elizabeth Thorne or to the survivor of them in addition to the legacies hereinbefore bequeathed to them and if both of them shall have predeceased me then the said sum shall be divided equally between the two Charities hereinafter mentioned And as to the remainder of my residuary estate I BEQUEATH the same equally between Friends Service Council whose office is at Friends House, Euston Road, N.W.1 to be applicable for the relief of refugees and Scripture Gift Mission.
10. I DIRECT that any Executor or Trustee hereof being an Accountant or Solicitor or person engaged in any profession or business may be so employed or act and shall be entitled to charge and be paid all professional or other charges for any business or act done by him or his firm in connection with the trusts hereof including acts which a Trustee could have done personally.
11. HEREBY REVOKING all Wills and Testamentary dispositions by me at any time heretofore made I DECLARE this to be my last Will and Testament.
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of October One thousand nine hundred and fifty-four.
THIS IS A CODICIL to my Will stated the seventh day of October One thousand nine hundred and fifty-four.
1. I BEQUEATH my piano to my Sister Mrs. Amy Elizabeth Baker and if she shall predecease me then to her Grandson Pip Gaskell.
2. I DIRECT that the second clause of my Will shall be read as though the words "except my piano" are inserted after the word "contents" in the first line of that clause.
3. I DIRECT that clause 7 of my said Will shall be read as though the following words "On Walter Henry Stone handing to Edwin Stanley George Shaw signed copy of the undertaking dated 31st July 1947 by the said Walter Henry Stone" were inserted at the end of that clause.
In all other respects I confirm my said Will.
IN WITNESS whereof hereunto set my hand this eight day of July One thousand nine hundred and fifty-five."
Page updated 28th November, 2020.
