Posted on 11/04/2011 9:29:26 AM PDT by DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
RJ Balson and Sons, a butchers based in Bridport, Dorset, boasts an astonishing history that is almost 500 years old.
Experts have traced the businesses roots back through 25 generations to when founder John Balson opened a stall in the town's market on South Street in 1535.
Since then dozens of family members have worked as butchers in the market town, passing their skills down the generations.
And 476 years later, the shop remains a thriving business and has been named Britain's oldest family run retailer.
At that time Henry VIII was still married to Anne Boleyn, the first complete English language translation of the Bible was printed in Antwerp by William Tynedale and Miles Coverdale, and Peru, the Galapagos Islands and Quebec were discovered.
It has been in its present location since 1880, not far from its orginal location.
According to the Institute for Family Business, this makes it the oldest continuously trading family business in Britain.
The firm sells its produce, including 20 varieties of sausages such as els, boar and ostrich,l all over the world, with a large customer base in America.
It also sells exotic fare such as pheasants and guinea fowl but has remained close to its traditional roots.
Until recently the store's owner was Donald Balson, who died this year aged 88.
He said earlier this year: "The love of the job, which has been passed down from generation to generation, is one of the main reasons we have been successful."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Well said.
25
So, you could date the Windsor family business from 1399, when Henry was crowned, although some take it back to the medieval foundation of the Duchy, before it united with the monarch.
Congratulations to all the Balsons! That is a remarkable feat. I wonder what the rocord is for family run businesses in other countries? Is it possible that this business is the oldest continuously family run business in the world?
See my #12 for one that's at least 500 years older....
Axe me no questions, I'll fell you no lies.
When you look at the origins and histories of these royal families, you realize that they basically are descended from a bunch of warlords essentially like Mafia godfathers or Arab sheikhs. Murderous, backstabbing, conspiratorial trash. They lived off of taxes on the lower orders and spent their time riding to the hounds, screwing harems of mistresses, and fighting other nobles for power.
It’s good to be king. :-))
To your point, the first Duke of Normandy was Rollo, a Viking warrior believed to be a nobleman from Denmark or Norway. He raided Northern France and up the Seine until the King gave him Normandy if he would quit raiding and swear fealty. His descendant, William the Conqueror, invaded England and seized the Crown. The rest, as they say, is history.
We know a few of his six wives had been around the block, but just once each.
The present heir, Prince Charles, is named after a couple of the most worthless absolutist Kings of the past. Charles I was beheaded, and deservedly so, after repeatedly making war on Parliament. His successor, Charles II, a philandering playboy, sent agents all around Europe, kidnapping all the “regicides” who voted to execute his father, and had them drawn and quartered (eviscerated while alive). That’s precisely what our Founding Fathers meant by “cruel & unusual punishment.” That was only about a century before the American Revolution, so the Founders remembered it well.
Thanks; I’ll just point out that each of the so-called royal houses (apart from the current one) has died out, going extinct. The most recent extinction was that of the House of Stuart, which ended with Queen Anne, and of course had a few little bumps in the road (the Glorious Revolution, the English Civil War / Protectorate).
I recall reading years ago that all the kings and queens of England have been descended from Alfred the Great, King of Wessex.
http://www.britroyals.com/royals1.htm
They were on a roll.
Those headsmen were swingers in their own right.
I heard they never got past necking.
Mama’s boys, every last one, although they did cut the cord.
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