Information on John C. Coles, Coles' Park and his blue plaque may be found here: Blue Plaque
John Coles Coles was born in Frome, Somerset in 1842, son of Thomas Gear Coles (1815-1851) and Catherine Symes (1813-1852). He was brother of Thomas Gear Coles (1850-1914) also a wine and spirit merchant. In 1861 John was an apprentice to John Daniel Goold (1817-1890), Druggist & Grocer, Market Place, Chippenham and by 1867-71 he had his own Chemist's shop in the High Street at Coleshill, Warwickshire. In 1872 he was back in Market Place, Chippenham having taken over Goold's Pharmacy & Tea Warehouse from his old master. He was in a brief (contemplated) partnership initially at Goold's with a John Burrill, as COLES & BURRILL which was abandoned and dissolved on 2nd Sept. 1871 and John Coles Coles took over on his own. It doesn't look as though John married, he lived with his widowed aunt Sarah Hagley for many years until her death in 1893. He was Mayor of Chippenham 3 times and Alderman. There was a short partnership with a Charles Drakeford, trading as Grocers, Wine & Spirit Merchants, and Drug Sundrymen, in High Street, Malmesbury that was dissolved in December 1887. John died in Chippenham on 15th March 1916. He left a bequest of £4000 to Mayor and Corporation of Chippenham, to be used preferably for the health, recreation and benefit of the people of Chippenham. The money was used to acquire the land for the park that bears his name.
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| 1 Gallon Stone Jar |  |
| Impressed: COLE`S STORES /
MARKET PLACE / CHIPPENHAM/TEL.137 ESTd 1830 . Potter: Price, Bristol. |
| 1 & 1/2 Gallon Stone Jars |  |
| Impressed: JOHN C. COLES /
WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT / CHIPPENHAM. (J C COLES on 1/2 gal.) Potter: Powell, Bristol: 1 gal.; Price, Bristol: 1/2 gal. D. Sutton Collection. |
| 1/2 Gallon Stone Jar |  |
| Printed: JOHN C.
COLES/MARKET PLACE/CHIPPENHAM Potters: Price H Bristol |
| 1 & 1/2 Gallon Stone Jars |  |
| Impressed: 1 gal.: JOHN C
COLES/MARKET PLACE/CHIPPENHAM. Potter: Price, Bristol (Maltese Cross) . 1/2 gal.: JOHN C COLES/Market Place/CHIPPENHAM. Potter: Price, 4, Bristol. |