Alfred Palmer (businessman)

Alfred Palmer (1852-1936) was a member of the Palmer family, proprietors of the Huntley & Palmers biscuit manufacturers of Reading in England.

He was born in Reading, the son of George Palmer and his wife, Elizabeth Sarah, the daughter of Robert Meteyard.

Palmer spent over fifty years working for the Huntley & Palmers biscuit company, chiefly as the head of the engineering department where he was responsible for the building and maintenance of the biscuit machinery. He also served as a director of the company.[1]

Besides his business involvement, Palmer was a significant benefactor of the University of Reading,[2] and held the position in 1905 of High Sheriff of Berkshire. [3]

Wokefield

His country estate was at Wokefield Park in Stratfield Mortimer. By 1901, Palmer was “Lord of the Manor”. [4] This status continued through the 1920s,[5] and until his death. Palmer was an award winning breeder of Galloway cattle at Wokefield.[6][7] [8]

Palmer purchased the property in 1901,[9] then at his death, it was sold in 1936 to the De La Salle Catholic Brothers for use as a school.[10]

References

  1. ^ The Directory of Directors, 1927. Thomas Skinner & Co. 1927. p. 1190. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  2. ^ Davies, Ellis Roger (1981). A History of the First Berkshire County Council. Berkshire County Secretariat. p. 1911. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  3. ^ The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Archæological Journal. Vol. 11. C. Slaughter. 1905. p. 38. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  4. ^ Kelly's directory of Berkshire, Bucks and Oxon. McFarland. 1901. p. 226. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  5. ^ British Berkshire Herd Book. Vol. 42. British Berkshire Society. 1926. p. xx. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  6. ^ Wallace, Robert; Watson, James Anderson Scott (1923). Farm Live Stock of Great Britain. Oliver and Boyd. p. 181. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  7. ^ Bull, Leonard (1926). History of the Smithfield Club: From 1798 to 1925. Smithfield Club. p. 225. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Smithfield Show Features". Agricultural Gazette and Modern Farming. Vol. 80. 7 December 1914. p. 412. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  9. ^ Kingsley, Nicholas. "Allfrey of Wokefield Park". Landed Families. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  10. ^ Barer, Burl (2003). The Saint: A Complete History in Print, Radio, Film and Television of Leslie Charteris' Robin Hood of Modern Crime, Simon Templar, 1928-1992. McFarland. p. 369. ISBN 9780786416806. Retrieved 2 November 2024.