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Emanuel Spence Ltd and it's relationship with the History and People of Middlesbrough

The story of Emanuel Spence starts in 1840 with the marriage of John and Hannah Spence and the subsequent birth of Emanuel Spence in 1862 who was one of a family of nine children.

Emanuel Spence initially married Ann Newbould in 1891 who was part of the Newbould butchery family, however Ann died in 1915. Emanuel then married Florence Almgill in 1916.

This was a significant marriage in it's time as the Almgill family were responsible for building many of the properties in central Middlesbrough. Florence Almgill was one of four sisters, Maude, Hilda and Freda being the others. Hilda and Freda were also to become a part of Middlesbrough's history.

Florence,Maude,Hilda and Freda had already been well provided for on their 21st Birthdays as they had each been given a substantial block of terraced properties each. Indeed in 1949 our records show that Florence owned 39 properties comprising of most of Craven Street, Talbot Street, Roscoe Street and Falkland Street - so buy to let is not new.

Maude did not marry, however Hilda Almgill married Albert Forbes who founded the Forbes bakery chain and was responsible for Forbes Buildings a prominent feature of Linthorpe Road even now. Freda married Marcus Mcnay who founded Mcnays steel who went on to be part of GKN.

So each of the sisters whether in property or Business became important members and employers of early Middlesbrough.

emanuel Spence founded his plumbing business in 1895 and was shortly to become a leading member of the Town and the Church.

The making of Linthorpe Road

The Council years

The beginnings

Emanuel Spence first became a councillor of the Acklam ward in 1910 until 1923.

He was elected to be Mayor in 1919 - the Town Council were so impressed with his work for the Town that they commissioned the specially painted scroll shown on the left to thank him for his work - this is the only one ever undertaken.

Another often overlooked person was the Mayoress, Florence Spence was Middlesbrough's Lady Mayoress and this too is missing from all the local History books. This was a great honour in the 1920's when women were not allowed into positions of power.

Florence was also the first

Middlesbrough lady driver !!

One of the major projects undertaken by Middlesbrough council’s Sanitary Department in 1926, was the installation of modern water closets. The Master Plumbers’ Association was called in and a price for each conversion was agreed at 48s 6d.

Emanuel Spence, who was one of the best known plumbers in the town and a forthright councillor, did his own sums and concluded that the rate payers were being taken for a ride.

Although he stood to lose out, he nevertheless won his corner and the cost of each conversion was finally reduced to 15s.6d. His intervention understandably did not go down well with the other plumbing contractors on the job.

Emanuel Spence was a great defender of the people ensuring that the ratepayers obtained good value for money.

Between 1924 and 1926 a great scheme was carried out to create a main road through the centre of Middlesbrough, thus giving the town definition.

Emanuel Spence ensured that this was carried out giving the townspeople good value for money - this was not carried out without great protests.

No Councillors or Mayors since have even come close to making such radical changes to improve the Town or be willing to stand by such major projects.