GLOVER & BURLEY fruit & veg merchants Birmingham Market

[Rob G]

There is a tale handed down through our family, that we are associated with the above named company, which until the 1960s still existed. I can't find anything to link the BURLEY line to this firm, except perhaps for one intriguing fact.
John BURLEY 1826-1879 was described on all census as a chainmaker of Quarry Bank/Cradley Heath until the census of 1871 when he is 'Provisions dealer'. Does this provide some sort of link? However, the waters are further muddied as, when he died in 1879, there was an inquest, the report of which says that he was employed as a labourer at The New British Iron Co., Corngreaves, where he was accidentally killed while cleaning a furnace.
There was a fruit & veg merchant by this name working at Birmingham Market from the mid-late 19th century and there is still today a building in Digbeth bearing the name 'Glover & Burley'. Could it be that John BURLEY had more than one job?
Rob G

[gardener]

Could it be that John BURLEY had more than one job?

It seems unlikely that he would be a chainmaker/labourer around Cradley Heath at the same time as running a shop in Birmingham. And as far as I can see his children had quite low-paid jobs. Sometimes people seem to have sold "stuff" from their house and just called themselves grocers/provision dealers.

Could you maybe find a library or local history group that would know the family behind the fruit and veg place? And work out from there to see if there is a connection?

[Rob G]

Thanks for your input.

I sent requests to Bham Mkts archive several years ago but never received replies. But, as you suggest, there maybe other avenues so will see what they bring.

Many thanks
Rob G