The Dunn Family of Wotton 1900-2007

After a five-year apprenticeship as a watchmaker in Bristol and several subsequent positions around the country, in c. 1908 Ernest Samuel Dunn with his Welsh bride, moved to Wotton and took on Ketterer’s watchmaker and jewellery business. His son – Reginald George Samuel – was born in 1910, and Ernest was involved in WWI as a Wireless Technician in the Royal Flying Corp. Post-war, he purchased what is now 39 Long St

            Wotton c1890- early 1900

and, with the odd ‘argument’ with neighbours, ran the business successfully until his death in 1956. Reginald married in 1943 and qualified as an ophthalmic optician in the early 1950s. Having learnt the watchmaker/jewellery business at his father’s shoulders (literally), he continued to run it alongside optics until semi-retiring in 1965. Then he sold 39 Long Street and bought 13 High Street where he practised optics until his sudden death in 1974 – until then he would still repair your watch/clock if you asked nicely! The practice was sold to Norvilles and, for many years, his widow could be seen “On her perch!” as a receptionist until she too decided retirement was a good option. She died in a local nursing home in 2007.                

                        Dunn Family 1916-17

Largely with personal family papers and photographs from the 1870s – interspersed with anecdotes – I will provide an interesting insight into running a business in Wotton for almost 100 years from pre-WWI days, through the inter-war years and WWII, and into the 1970s.

Dunn shop 1965

                                       Norville's 2014

Wotton-under-Edge Civic Centre

Friday 30th January 2015 at 7.30pm

Visitors welcome.

Non-members £5 on the door