John Wildgoose is standing outside the florist's and fruiterer's shop he ran in Smedley's Buildings on Smedley Street, probably in the early years of the twentieth century^[1]. He lived at Lilac Cottage, Upper Hackney^[2].

He was born in Darley, a son of John and Sarah (nee Dunn^[3]) and grew up in Two Dales^[2], marrying Sarah Elizabeth Collinson at St. Helen's Church, Darley Dale, in 1880^[3]. He opened the Smedley Street shop in 1899. In the 1901 census he was described as a florist and nurseryman, with his eldest son Arthur Frederick helping him as a nurseryman although John Wildgoose and Son was not listed as a business until after the First World War^[4]. Arthur also assisted in the shop. Sarah died in 1905 and John did not remarry until 1920. His second wife was Emma Wildgoose and they also married at St. Helen's. John died on 12 August 1935, aged 80, and Emma passed away on 8 February 1942, aged 67^[5].

The floristry remained in Matlock for many years, although the business moved from Smedley Street to Matlock Bridge. It was still trading in the mid 1970s, but by 1983 had become Fleurs^[6].

Below are two advertisements from Matlock Operatic Society Programmes

1953

1968

Also see Matlock: Letterheads of Local Businesses (6), Surnames U - W

References (coloured links are to transcripts or more information elsewhere on this web site):

^[1] See his entry in Kelly's 1908 Directory | Kelly's Directory 1912 | Kelly's 1916 Directory.
^[2] From various census returns. The family were in Two Dales in 1861 and Glosker Row in 1871 and 1881. John lived next door to his parents in 1881.
^[3] Parish Register.
^[4] Kelly's Directory, 1925.
^[5] Dates of death from the national probate calendars.
^[6] With thanks to Starkholmes WI and the member who checked florists cards. Wildgoose's probably finished trading in the late 1970s.