Walter John Stevens 1871-1925

Walter John Stevens was a dynamic and entrepreneurial young man who turned his hobby into his business and made a success of it, before ill health forced him to retire early. His Flying Dutchman bicycle was a popular and prize winning racing bike.

Walter’s family background

Walter was part of the large family of John Stevens and his second wife Matilda. John Stevens (1809-1879) was originally from Rudge in Somerset where he owned the Full Moon Inn[i]. From this inn it is possible to see the Westbury White Horse, and John moved a few miles to Chalford near Westbury to start his own farm. John had three or four children with his first wife Elizabeth, but after she died John married Matilda nee Daniells, who was over twenty years younger than him. Matilda had already had two husbands, but her four sons from her earlier marriages lived with their grandparents.

Walter’s mother Matilda Daniells was born in 1832 in Upton Scudamore, a village in between Westbury and Warminster, in Wiltshire. Her parents were agricultural labourer Jacob Daniells and his wife Elizabeth nee Hickman. (The name is spelt in various ways – Daniel/Daniels/Daniells). Matilda’s first husband was Benjamin Jones, a railway contractor who may have been working on the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway. After Benjamin died Matilda married John Eastment, a local man who was a wheelwright, but he died aged only about 30.

After John Eastment’s death Matilda met and married John Stevens, who by then was inn keeper of the Red Lion in Chalford. John and Matilda had four children there, and Walter was the youngest, born on the 6^th of February 1871[ii].

By the time Walter was born his father was already 61, and a few years later the family moved back to Matilda’s home village of Upton Scudamore, where John died in 1879. After his death Matilda opened a draper’s shop in the village. In 1881 Walter was living over the shop with his mother and two older siblings, and he was going to school.

Walter probably started work when he was about 15, and he trained as a mechanic. His mother Matilda died in 1888, and by 1891 Walter had moved away from Upton Scudamore and was boarding in the High Street, Kingswood, a small town about 3 miles north east of Bristol. The 20 year old Walter described himself as an engine fitter, and he also became a keen cyclist. When he was 21, Walter may have come into an inheritance from his father, and his enthusiasm lead to a new opportunity as a manufacturer of bicycles.

The passion for cycling

Bicycling became a very popular sport all over the country in the 1880s and 1890s. It offered a relatively cheap means of independent transport, although much of the enthusiasm seems to have centred around racing and going on social group rides. The bicycle also offered working people the chance to escape into the countryside, away from the city smoke. The invention of the safety bicycle with a chain drive transmission which allowed for smaller wheels, and then the development of pneumatic tyres meant that cycling became more comfortable and efficient. The organisation of early cycling clubs in Bristol, such as the Bristol South Cycling Club and the Bristol Bicycle and Tricycle Club showed the popularity of cycling in the city. Walter belonged to the East Bristol Cycling Club and in 1892 he took part in a 12 hour road ride and was awarded a gold medal by the club[iii]. The cycling clubs in Bristol would compete against each other in inter club races, and they would also travel further afield to compete in large sports events. This is probably how Walter met his friend Ernest (Ernie) Brain, another Bristolian cycling enthusiast, and maybe also Joseph Palmer from Bridgwater.

Stevens & Co. manufacturers of the Flying Dutchman bicycle

Although there were no large scale manufacturers of bicycles in Bristol, there were several smaller workshops such as that run by Walter Stevens. He must have started by using his mechanical training to cut and bend metal piping to form bicycle frames, and built up from there. At this time bicycles were made to suit each customer’s size. Walter chose the name ‘Flying Dutchman’ for his cycles, this may have been after the Great Western train service which ran between 1849 and 1892, which was in turn named after a famous racehorse.  The name indicated speed, and would have particularly appealed to cyclists who wanted to race. Walter’s first premises was at Church Road Bristol in 1892, and by 1899 Walter had expanded into factory premises at 79/80 Castle Street.

Walter was an astute businessman and understood the power of advertising. He placed regular advertisements in the Bristol Magpie, a newspaper which contained a significant amount of sports news.

Walter also placed groups of small advertisements in newspapers such as the Western Daily Press. The advertisement from 1899 shown below lists a wide range of prizes won by competitors riding Flying Dutchman bikes made by Stevens & Co. Walter’s friend Ernie Brain is shown winning two first prizes. The other prizes listed show that the riders were travelling across southern England and Wales to compete.

Walter also would take a series of classified advertisements, which he would make up to date and eye catching using topical references.

The collection below from the Western Daily Press in 1900 refers to the Boer War, as well as a more local event.

Following notes and photograph are from K. Fisher, descendant of Walter Stevens

In 1901 he moved from Church Road to 37 West Street. A photograph exists of the new premises probably taken in 1901 of W. J. STEVENS manufacturer of the “Flying Dutchman” Cycles Estd 1892. A poster in the window says “The Flying Dutchman Cycles maker won more prizes during the 1900 season than any other make in the West of England and more than all the other Bristol cycle makers put together” and the window contains a display of the prizes won by Mr H. T. Allen, Flying Dutchman Cycle. There are also Adverts for Lucas’s lamps and bells, Palmer tyres, Beaumont wheels, and B.S.A. fittings. In 1902 a business, Stevens W J & Co, is additionally recorded at 37 West Street and after 1903 the Castle Street address is no longer mentioned. From 1905 the business is recorded as Stevens W J & Co, Cycle makers, until 1921 when it is named Flying Dutchman Cycle Company. In 1923 the business moved to 55 West Street.

Walter’s business continued to grow and eventually he had up to four cycle shops. Walter kept advertising throughout WWI and he continued to make his advertisements topical, as shown in the example below from the Bristol Times and Mirror 11 May 1916.

Walter’s friend Ernest Brain, manufacturer of the Bleriot bicycle

Walter had met his friend Ernie Brain by 1899, and probably earlier. Ernie had trained as a hair dresser, but like Walter, his passion was cycling. Perhaps inspired by Walter’s success as a cycle manufacturer, Ernie also moved into this field and developed a bicycle which he named ‘Bleriot’, probably after the French aviator, inventor and engineer, Louis Bleriot.

Following notes and photograph are from K. Fisher, descendant of Walter Stevens

Between 1898 and 1916, Ernie was an enthusiastic cyclist taking part in numerous cycle races. He won the Bristol Richmond Cycling Club Challenge Vase in 1898, 1899 and 1900 and there are records of many wins through to 1903 on Flying Dutchman. Between 1905 and 1906 he is described as a Hairdresser and Cycle Agent but in 1907 reverts to being a Hairdresser now at 90 Lawrence Hill until 1913 when he is again described as a Hairdresser and Cycle maker. In 1916 he moved to 13 Lawrence Hill as a dedicated Cycle dealer. He was still cycling, winning the “Old Crocks” race at Bristol Athletics Sports on June 17 1916 now on a Bleriot Cycle.

Ernest Brain advertised his Bleriot bicycle in the Western Daily Press, the example below was published on the 22^nd March 1926.

Walter’s family life

Following notes are from K. Fisher, descendant of Walter Stevens

Directly opposite Walter’s Church Road premises the Wookey family had a corner shop at 256 Church Road trading as a grocer and coal agent. On the 6^th August 1895, aged 24, Walter married Laura Rosina Wookey aged 23 one of the four children of William and Elizabeth (Say) who came originally from Axbridge in Somerset. They married in Russell Town Congregational Church. The church closed in 1968 as part of a 1960s redevelopment programme which did not actually happen, it was demolished in 1976 and the site is now a grass strip. They lived in Church Road, then in West Street and trade directories in 1907 record them as living in Ivanhoe, Kensington Hill.

Walter and Laura’s first child, William John Wookey Stevens, was born in 1896. They had a second son in 1897, Alfred Thomas James, who sadly died in 1898. Walter and Laura next had two daughters, Matilda Elizabeth, born in 1899, and Ethel Blanche, born in 1900.

By 1901, they were living in West Street, but Walter had to return briefly to Westbury to deal with a family crisis. His older brother James had died in 1898, aged only 32. James left behind a young widow, Emily, and four young children. Emily also died in March 1901, and Walter, as an executor of her will, had to help sort out the future of the children. At this time, Walter wasn’t able to keep this family together and three of the children went to orphanages, but as his business prospered, Walter was able to leave the children bequests in his will.

Walter and Laura had another baby boy in 1902, Rowland Albert, who only lived for a few weeks. Their last child, Francis Rowland, was born in February 1903, but he died in March 1904, aged 13 months.

The great sadness of losing three babies in six years would have put a strain on their marriage, and Walter and Laura separated. Laura continued to live in the family home now on Kensington Hill, Brislington, Bristol, but by 1911, Walter was living in Bridgwater with his friend Joseph Palmer, and Joseph’s wife Bertha.

WWI

In 1915, Walter and Laura’s 19 year old son signed up. William could drive and he joined the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport). Walter and Laura must have been extremely anxious about him, but although he was part of the French Expeditionary Force, William survived the war and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory medal.

Walter’s last years

By 1911 Walter had taken up permanent residence with his friend Joseph Palmer, living at 3 Wembdon Road, Bridgwater.  Joseph Palmer was a builder, who had married a younger wife, Bertha, and didn’t have any children.

Walter had invested his money wisely, buying several properties which earned him rental income. He also continued with his love of speed and movement by buying a boat and a car. However, by 1913, Walter was beginning to suffer with a health condition which affected his mobility, and this probably continued to deteriorate. Bertha Palmer was able to help nurse Walter as his health declined slowly over several years.

The 1921 census showed Walter living with Joseph and Bertha Palmer, and Walter had retired from his business, although he was only 50. His friend Ernie Brain continued to visit Walter in Bridgwater, and became an executor for his will. Walter died at Wembdon Road on the 2^nd of September 1925, aged 54. His brother-in-law Charles Alfred Best, husband of Walter’s sister Amy, was with him when he died.

Walter was buried in Wembdon Road Cemetery in Anglican Section M/20, and his good friend Joseph Palmer was buried next to him a few years later.

After Joseph Palmer’s death, Ernie Brain married Joseph’s widow Bertha. Ernie never forgot his friend and kept in touch with Walter’s children.

Clare Spicer, Jill Trethewey and K. Fisher – 23/06/2025

Postscript

In July 2021 the chairman of the Friends spotted this bill sheet on eBay and purchased it for the Friends. It was issued by J.M. Davis and Son, cabinet makers, upholsterers, undertakers, insurance agents and decorators of Fore Street and George Street, Bridgwater. Dated 30 September 1925, it was issued to the executors of the late Mr Stevens. The invoice is as follows:

References

Friends of Wembdon Road Cemetery – burial records and photos of monuments
Ancestry.co.uk – births, marriages, deaths, census, military and probate records
British Newspaper Archive – digital images of newspapers quoted above.

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[i] Will of W.J. Stevens 11 Nov 1925

[ii] Children of John Stevens and Matilda nee Daniells – all born in Chalford, Wiltshire:- Lena Jesse 1863, James Albert John 1866, Amy Susannah 1869 and Walter John 1871.  

[iii] Bristol Mercury 05 Dec 1892