Mr William Turton Stacey

March 12, 2023

Mr W. T. Stacey of 65 Westbourne Road

Today’s subject is a story of a meteoric rise and the eventual fall of Mr William Turton Stacey, the clue picture of a roundel which gives a visual clue to his love of music, which brought him wealth and eventually bankruptcy, you can see the roundel on the front of 65 Westbourne Road, now private flats and with a garden that’s heavily overgrown with trees. The following is the obituary of Mr W T Stacey from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph from the 6th of December 1904, it was sent to me by Edmund a fellow member of Sheffield History Forum.
Mr William Turton Stacey, formerly of Sheffield died at 25, Kensington Road Southport on the evening of Sunday last. A telegram was received on Saturday by Mrs Stacey, stating that her husband was seriously ill from inflammation of the lungs and he wished her to come at once and nurse him. Mrs Stacey immediately hurried to Southport, where she had comfort of being with him to the end, which occurred at eleven o’clock the following evening, Mr Stacey had been in indifferent health for a considerable time. The reverse in his affairs, with which the public is familiar, prematurely aged the once cheery alderman. In the United States he suffered from a severe attack of Malaria fever, which completely prostrated him, he returned to this country early in the spring and was seen in Glasgow by several Sheffield gentlemen who found him a very different individual from what he was before he left for America. Mr Stacey felt his altered circumstances so keenly that he may be said to have been thoroughly broken down by the change. About three weeks ago he went to Southport in the hope that the more genial atmosphere might alleviate a sever cold, accompanied by a harassing cough from which he was also suffering. His hopes were disappointed for he became worse and a telegram from his widow, received on Monday morning informed his relatives and friends he had succumbed to his illness.
Mr Stacey was the eldest son of the late Mr Ebenezer Stacey, silversmith and Brittania metal manufacturer of Garden Street. During the first fifteen years of Mr William Stacey’s life his father had the same struggles in founding a business which have fallen to the lot of many manufacturers, the son, William was set to work to help him at the early age of ten. His father often spoke with pride and satisfaction of the way which his boy did his up-most to further the interests of the business. When the trade developed to considerable dimensions he became exceedingly useful to his father and showed a remarkable aptitude for his calling. His tastes however, were not quite in that direction as early in his life he manifested a strong liking for music and considering the opportunities at his disposal made himself very proficient in execution and as a teacher. When several of his brothers were able to take his place in his fathers business an opportunity occurred for his starting on his own account as a music seller and pianoforte teacher, in which he was very successful for some years. His first shop was 91 and 93 West Street and he afterwards took larger premises in the same neighbourhood, from which in 1866 he removed to the High Street. While in West Street he officiated as the honorary organist of Mount Zion Chapel and afterwards frequently acted in this capacity elsewhere. He was a the originator of the three years system of acquiring musical instruments, in which he did a fine business during the years of the "big boom" of 1870 -73 but on the reaction which then set in and continued till today there was something like a collapse of all demand for articles of luxury. Mr Stacey like many others thought the years of prosperity would last for ever and when the time of adversity came he was unprepared. The deceased, who was at the time a churchwarden of St Georges, served for many years on the Town Council and the Sheffield Board of Guardians. In April 1877 he was elected an Alderman on the death of Alderman John Tasker, in 1879 on the death Alderman Grundy, he was appointed presiding Alderman for St Peters Ward. .Mr Stacey was born in February 1822, he married the eldest daughter of the late Mr Benjamin Etchells of Tapton Hill and he leaves nine children, we have frequently heard his friends recall one incident of his life which cannot be out of place now to mention. His father Ebenezer Stacey died suddenly while from home, there was no will, a considerable portion of his estate consisted of freehold property and William instead of taking advantage as eldest son, was the principal mover in getting the estate apportioned on the principle of "share and share alike". He first made provision for his mother and on her death he acted on the same principle. The internment of Mr William Stacey took place on Wednesday afternoon at the General Cemetery, the body was brought from Southport on Tuesday day and was taken to the residence of his family in Watson Road, The mourners were the five sons, son in law, two brothers and brother in law, several old friends of Mr Stacey were present at the graveside. It was a private funeral. I think this article does skate over the circumstances of his bankruptcy just prior to his death. On 9th January 1884 in Sheffield County Court, the first meeting of the creditors of James Herbert Stacey of 65 Westbourne Road, hatter, in partnership with William Turton Stacey, trading as Stacey and Son. Their joint account showed liabilities of £1069 and assets of £312. Possibly his failed business with his son as hatters brought down the rest of his empire?
Two of Williams sons stayed in the music field, John Capper Vickers Stacey lived at 31 Harcourt Road and was a professor of music but he died on the 15th Mar 1904 just nine months before his father, Joseph Etchells Stacey, followed his profession as a piano-tuner out of 75 South View Road.