Charles Grinstead, Fishmonger and Grocer of King Street Maidenhead, Killed in a Motor Accident - "The Amount of Good he has Done Maidenhead is Enormous", his Daughter Daisy Grinsted, and wife Agnes Sarah Grinsted

Angel monument to Charles Grinsted, Daisy Grinsted and Agnes Sarah Grinsted.  All Saint's Cemetery, Maidenhead Berkshire.

"In Ever Loving Memory of -

Charles Grinsted who passed away December 12th 1928 aged 65 years

Also Daisy, his daughter who died October 6th 1908 aged 12 years

Also his beloved wife Agnes Sarah, died Oct 7th 1935 aged 71 years."

Charles Grinsted was born in 1863 in Mile End, Old Town, London to Thomas Place Grinsted, a fishmonger, and his wife Emma Shakel. 

Charles first appears on the 1871 Census aged seven, living with his parents and siblings at 40 Bedford Street, Tower Hamlets, London. By 1881 the family had moved to 209 Oxford Street, Tower Hamlets, London, where 17-year-old Charles is working as a porter.

Sometime before 1888 Charles moved to Maidenhead Berkshire where he followed in his father's footsteps by opening a fishmonger's shop at 2 King Street Maidenhead.  Eventually branching out into 4, 6, and 8 King Street. In the November of 1888 Charles was sued for damaging the windows of a coffee shop during a fight with rival fishmonger. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on Wednesday 21 November 1888: 

"Messrs. Millington, Bros., of Maidenhead, sued Charles Grinstead, fishmonger, for the recovery of £1. 7s. 6d. for repairs to a window. One of the plaintiffs stated that the window concerned was that of a coffee-shop, which the defendant and a rival fishmonger had broken whilst fighting. The defendant, he said, gave him the order to repair the broken panes, and he had done so. 

The defendant said it was the other man who broke the window whilst drunk. His Honour ordered the payment of the claim in full, with costs."  

On the 1891 Census Charles can be found living at 22 Market Street, Maidenhead. Living with Charles as his wife is Agnes Sarah Bushell, although they were not actually married. Living with them at the time is this 1-year-old daughter Lily, their infant son Charles, and Agnes's brothers Frederick, Alfred, and Arthur. The 1901 Census finds the family occupying 2 - 4 King Street, Maidenhead.

Their fifth child and fourth daughter Daisy was born at 2 King Street in 1897, sadly she was to die at the age of 12 in 1908. On 7th October 1908 the Maidenhead Advertiser carried the following announcement:

"Deaths

Grinsted- On October 6th, Daisy, the dearly-loved daughter of Charles and Agnes Grinsted, of King-street, Maidenhead; aged 12 years."

On 14th October 1908 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"FUNERAL OF DAISY GRINSTED. 

Very pathetic was the scene at the funeral, on Friday afternoon last at Maidenhead Cemetery, of little Miss Daisy Grinsted, aged 12, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Grinsted, of King-street, where they carried on business for many years. The deceased, who was a cheerful, lovable girl, was taken away after a brief illness, and general was the sympathy with the parents in the great loss they had sustained, while genuine sorrow was felt by all Daisy's many little school friends it the passing of one who was a great favourite with them in both Sunday and day school. Some idea of the love for the departed and sympathy with the bereaved was gained at the funeral, which was attended by hundreds of persons, while some 76 wreaths and other tokens were sent by relatives and friends. The interment was at Maidenhead Cemetery, and the Rev. Stephen Borrow (Wesleyan minister) officiated, the deceased being a scholar at the Wesleyan Sunday School. The service in the chapel and at the grave-side was very impressive."

Charles continued to build his mini empire to become a bookmaker and licensed game dealer. On the 1911 Census the family are still living at 2 King Street, living with them is 16-year-old Leonard Swift, who was assisting in the business. In 1923 Charles finally married Agnes in Holborn London. 

On the 1921 Census the family are still living in King Street, living with them at the time is their married daughter Lily Cook and their granddaughter Norah Cook.

Charles continued to live and operate his businesses from King Street until his tragic death on 12th December 1928.  On 19th December the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"FATAL ACCIDENT to POPULAR MAIDENHEAD TRADESMAN

Mr. Charles Grinsted

The Cheeriest and Kindliest of Men.

It is regret that we have to record the death, in tragic circumstances, of Mr. Charles Grinsted, one of Maidenhead's most popular tradesmen who had been in business as a fishmonger and fruiterer in King-street for over 40 years,

Mr. Grinsted was returning home on Wednesday evening in his car, driven by his chauffeur, Frederick Edgar Delby, of 52, Bell-street, and when on Maidenhead Thicket corner crashed into the rear of a stationary lorry, belonging to Messrs. Pickfords. Mr. Grinsted died from his injuries, immediately, but Mr. Delby was conveyed to Maidenhead Hospital suffering from severe shock.

Maidenhead thus loses one of its oldest, well-liked and respected tradesmen. The news of his death came to countless people in the town and district as something in the nature as a shock, as Mr, Grinsted possessed that rare art of making friends wherever he went. The large number of years he had carried on business in the town had brought him in touch with an infinite number of people, when his cheery, genial good humour - which was ever present in his composition - kindness and spontaneous generosity quicly marked him out as a "friend to all."   

Mr. Grinsted had a great dislike for publicity - a dislike which perhaps was his reason for not entering public life -but the amount of good he has done Maidenhead is enormous. 

The full extent of how the town has benefited by having a tradesman of the calibre of Mr. Grinsted in its midst will probably, however, never be appreciated, as all his actions were carried out in the utmost unostentatious manner, accompanied ever by that much-admired trait in him - spontaneity. No one who ever went to Mr. Grinsted  for help or advice ever came away with their mission unfulfilled.

In this way, aided by his upright character, he built up a wide circle of friends who all held him in esteem and affection. What is perhaps more remarkable was the fact that he had no enemies *except maybe the Millington Brothers back in 1881* He posessed the gift of always making a friend and never an enemy. In Maidenhead his popularity was very high, and there will be many people who will miss that passing smile or kind word which was always a predominant characteristic. 

Mr Grinsted was 65 years of age, and was born in London. He came to Maidenhead 40 years ago and started his business in King-street. Although his chief interest was centred upon his business, he was interested in the turf, and in later years had an extensive practice as a commission agent. If not perhaps taking an active part, Mr. Grinsted was keenly interested and often a source of help to many local organisations especially the Ivy Leaf Club, the British Legion and local Territorials. He was a member of "Berries" Lodge (Maidenhead) of Freemasons, and of "The Jersey" (Maidenhead) Lodge of Mark Masons, (of whom he was a Past Master) and also a Buffalo and Druid.

He leaves a widow, four sons[sic] and four daughters, to whom a great deal of sympathy is being expressed."

Charles funeral service was held at the Wesleyan Church before his burial at All Saints's Maidenhead Cemetery.

Agnes remained at 4 King Street along with her daughter Lily, Lily's husband Freddie Cook and their daughter Norah (who was born on the kitchen table of number 4 King Street on 9th July 1911) until her death in October 1935.  On 9th October 1935 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"Maidenhead Business Link Severed.

Sudden Death of Mrs. A. S. Grinsted.

By the sudden death which took place about 9 p.m. on Monday of Mrs. Agnes Sarah Grinsted, widow of Mr. Charles Grinsted, of Nos 2, 4 and 6, King-street, whose death occurred under distressing circumstances as the result of a motor accident some seven years ago, an old business link with Maidenhead has been severed. It was while Mrs. Grinsted was chatting with members of her family at her home that she collapsed and died within a few minutes. death was due to heart failure.

Mrs. Grinsted was a familiar figure in the King-street business of fishmongers , greengrocers, etc., and her passing was mourned by a wide circle of friends and customers, by all of whom she was held in high esteem. The deepest sympathy is extended to the five sons, Messrs. Edward, Joseph, Robert, George and Charles Grinsted, and the four daughters, Mrs. L Hunt, Mrs. C Aylmore and Misses Nellie and Agnes Grinsted, in their bereavement. The business will be continued as usual. The funeral takes place to-morrow (Thursday) at Maidenhead Cemetery 3.30 p.m." 

Lily, Freddie, and Norah carried on the family business, adding butchery to their skills, until the 1950s when Windsor and Maidenhead Council compulsorily purchased the King Street shops and demolished them to make way for the New Market development.  Norah moved to The Crescent, Maidenhead.

King Street Maidenhead c1950

Sadly, Norah Cook passed away on 14th March 2011, just months shy of her 100th birthday.  The last remaining grandchild of Charles and Agnes Grinsted, bringing an end to the empire. 

Norah's Obituary can be found here - The Maidenhead Advertiser:  Obituary: Fun-loving Maidonian, 99, was last granddaughter in dynasty.