Limited was sold onto Spillers in about 1986. The family link with milling in Gloucester goes back to 1860 (and before the inception of Priday Metford) because Director Francis Tring Pearce married Martha Allen, the daughter of Henry Allen and Mary Ann Charlotte Richardson (1845–1872) of Tewkesbury. Henry Allen had been milling in the Gloucester area since 1860 as part of Reynolds and Allen Company. Henry Allen was Mayor of Gloucester in 1872. Mary Ann Charlotte Richardson was the daughter of John Richardson (died 1846) and Elizabeth (?Isobella) Pitt (died 1846). Elizabeth (?Isobella) Pitt was the daughter (?Granddaughter) of Dr Charles Pitt (Tewkesbury Doctor). Francis Tring Pearce (16/3/1846 - 19/5/35) was the son of Maria Tring (died 19/10/1853) and Thomas Pearce (died 13/1/1895). Thomas Pearce owned a Chemist at 134 Westgate Street, Gloucester from 1841 to 1870. Thomas Pearce was the son of Joseph Pearce (died 7/7/1847 at Birlingham, Worcestershire). The children of FT Pearce and Martha Allen were: Charlotte Mary Pearce (17/7/1872 - 24/10/1948) married Hubert Cecil Booth, inventor of the powered vacuum cleaner Henry Allen Pearce (15/10/1873 - 12/11/1931) married Mary Yeoman Harding Vowles (1879–1960) In the 1901 census, Henry Allen Pearce is noted as a miller. Francis Thomas Pearce (10/5/1875 - 17/2/1964) married Rose Marianne Parmenter Helen Marion Louisa Pearce (18/1/1877 - 7/11/1961) married Dr John Pottinger Herbert Elliott Pearce (3/2/1880 - 14/3/1957) was injured with the Royal Flying Corps in the first world war and later owned the "Hobday and co" ironmonger store in Pimlico, on the corner of Moreton and Tachbrook streets. He also published two books on poetry. Margaret Winifred Pearce (4/1/1882 - 4/3/1932) Edward Oscar Pearce (12/9/1885 - 31/8/1963)awarded an Order of the British Empire (military) in 1919 whilst a Captain (acting Major) in the Royal Engineers. He is thought to have been a civil engineer and to have lived in India for a long while, retiring back to England. The following photo shows the Pearce family who were involved in the mill in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. It was probably taken at Lorraine House, Park road, Gloucester. Nearly all of those in the photo were shareholders. References and sources References Sources Conway-Jones, H. (1984). "Gloucester Docks. An Illustrated History". Alan Sutton & Gloucestershire County Library. Various articles and newspaper items in Gloucester City Library. Gloucester Record Office. Companies based in Gloucester 1850 establishments in England 1994 disestablishments in England British