Prestatyn grave Anthony Bradley

Grave of Anthony Bradley (d.1908)

prestatyn_grave_anthony_bradleyAnthony Bradley was born at Aintree, Liverpool, in 1859. Little is known of his formative years but he was a keen rower in his youth and a lifelong member of the Grosvenor Rowing Club. He sculled competitively on the Dee at Chester. He was part of the winning Maiden Fours team at the Chester Regatta in 1882 and went on to hold many posts at the club. He was a generous benefactor, and one of the club's boats was named after him. Anthony also supported Chester Bowling Club and was a prominent Freemason.

Three years after his brother William founded a wholesale and retail clothiers on Brook Street in Chester named Bradley's, Anthony took over the running of the firm. He helped develop the company and went into partnership with two employees, Sydney Wells Clark and Joseph Banks.

Photo of Bradleys store in Llandudno in 1965The business expanded rapidly and opened its 100th branch shortly before Anthony's death in 1908. It then had stores across Cheshire, Lancashire, North Wales and the Midlands. The business continued until the late 20th century. The photo, courtesy of Conwy Archives Service, shows the Llandudno branch in 1965.

Anthony died in August 1908 at his Prestatyn home, called Terfyn. He was 49 years old. Although he’d been in failing health for some time, he had spent the day before his death shooting on his Prestatyn estate.

He left £124,659 (about £10m today) in his will. Among the beneficiaries were his former business partner and brother-in-law Sydney Wells Clarke, who is also buried in this churchyard. His widow Eleanor Elizabeth Bradley died in 1910, aged 52.

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