Young man who made his mark on Weymouth

It’s thanks to Susan Hogben, who has written a blog on Victorian tales of Weymouth and Portland, that we can provide full details on the tragic family tale that was responsible for how the Sidney Hall, once on the site where Weymouth Asda is now, came to get its name.

The Sidney Hall is named after Sidney Groves, its full name being the Sidney Groves Memorial Hall.

He died at the young age of 26.

He was the son of John Groves, the Groves family being wealthy business people who owned a very successful brewery in Hope Square, which has now been converted to flats.

John Groves was the chairman of the family business, Messrs John Groves and son.

The family lived in Rodwell Villa, a large house that was set in extensive grounds, which later became better known as Rodwell Lodge.

This large rambling house was converted to a hotel in the mid 1970s, but sadly, later went the way of most of these large old houses, completely demolished and replaced by apartments.

John was a well-respected business man in the town and served as town mayor three times between 1886 and 1889.

He was also one of the guardians for the parish, and was known for his generosity towards those less fortunate inhabitants of his parish.

At Christmas he would personally send out a bushel of coal to all the poor families under his care.

Living in their luxury home were John and his second wife Emily, along with John’s children.

John had three sons from his first marriage to Rosina Kerslake – Herbert, Ernest and Sidney and five daughters – Rosina, Alice, Emily, Lizzie and Mildred.

The children – both the boys and girls – had attended a private boarding school in Richmond Surrey. Perhaps they had been sent there after their mothers premature death in 1869.

In the above picture of the Groves family, taken about 1885, stood in the back row are Herbert and Ernest, the youngest lad, Sidney is seated to the right of his father, leaning into his body as if for support, and one of his sisters has her hand protectively resting upon his shoulder.

The young girl sat in the front holding her father’s hand was Mabel Constance, the only child between John and his second wife, Emily Dods. In the 1891 census, 22-year-old Sidney is employed as a solicitor’s clerk.

But he was so much more than that.

Like his father he became involved with military matters, and became a Lieutenant in the Weymouth Company of Rifles, referred to as ‘E Company’.

This was a band of volunteers that had originally been set up in 1859, part-time but trained soldiers who could be called upon should the need arise.

Sidney was also involved with many other voluntary groups including the Gordon Boys’ Brigade.

Sadly the Groves family was soon to suffer two family tragedies.

In 1889, John’s daughter Alice died not long after giving birth to her third child.

Then in July 1895 the family were about to be hit yet again by a tragedy.

John’s youngest son Sidney was taken seriously ill with pleurisy, an infection of the membranes that covers the lungs.

He was being cared for at the family home and at one point seemed to be recovering.

On Thursday, July 18, Sidney suddenly took a turn for the worse, his loving parents were by his bedside when he drew his last breath that fateful night. He was only 26.

Heartbroken, John prepared the funeral plans for the burial of his second child, but Sidney was so admired and loved by people that John had to concede to a public funeral.

On the following Monday afternoon the grieving women of the family set out from Rodwell Villa in their carriages and made for the small chapel at Weymouth cemetery. Here they waited for the body of their son and brother to arrive.

At 3pm the funeral procession left the house. Sidney’s last journey was to be a funeral with full military honours.

His coffin was conveyed throughout the streets in an open hearse, the top covered with the Union Jack and his helmet.

Marching behind the carriage was the firing party that contained 40 of his military colleagues.

Also marching were members of the 1st Dorset Rifle Volunteers, who were going to make sure that Sidney had a good send off, one that he deserved.

Behind the straight-backed soldiers came the family.

In the first mourning carriage was his heartbroken father John and his two elder brothers, Herbert and Ernest.

Behind the male members of the family came the procession of carriages of wealthy and elite families of the town and county.

The Pope family from Dorchester, a brewing dynasty, also attended and the Weymouth Town Mayor was decked in his official regalia.

But the average working man and boy was also represented, they too had wanted to show their respects for the young lad and his family.

The Gordon Boys’ Brigade formed a smart company as they marched behind the carriages, followed closely behind by members of the Hope Brewery tenants and Hope Brewery employees.

People lined the streets to say their last farewell to this popular young lad.

By the time the cortege had reached the small chapel, the crowds had swelled enormously.

His comrades in arms carried Sidney’s coffin into the chapel where it was laid while the sermons were read.

The chapel was packed and hundreds more stood outside attempting to hear what was going on.

Out of respect for the family those not related or acquainted stood outside the walls of the cemetery – it was estimated that the crowd numbered in the thousands.

Over the next couple of years John thought long and hard.

He wanted something meaningful and lasting built in memory of his son, something that would be relevant to his short lifetime, but would also serve the community of Holy Trinity.

Finally arriving at the idea of erecting a fine building that would be used by the Church Lads Brigade amongst others, John contacted Crickmay, the well known local architect, and between them they arrived at the building that became such a well known and much loved sight in Weymouth over the years.

The foundation stone was laid in 1897 and the completed building, costing £7,200, was opened on April 18, 1900.

The Sidney Groves Memorial Hall was officially opened by Lord Chelmsford.

This was John’s lasting gift to the young men of the Holy Trinity parish in memory of his dear departed son Sidney.

Besides the main hall were further buildings, the Small Sidney Hall that sat to the side and the rear became the drill hall.

Sadly, the large old building didn’t reach its century.

In 1987 it was demolished to make way for the football ground and the building of the new supermarket, now Asda.

All that remains of Sidney’s legacy is the large stone carved borough coat of arms that had once sat high above the arched doorway and the foundation stone that John Groves laid in what he hoped would be a long lasting memory of his young son.

They are displayed in a wooden decorated section of the wall at the end of the Asda car park.