CovSoc member, Peter James, tells us about one of Coventry’s well known families. Peter writes…..
Bednall Hall in Staffordshire was built in the early 19th century and became the home of Dr. Thomas Kenderdine in 1913. He moved there from Rowley Park in Stafford and lived at Bednall Hall until his death in 1936. Having never married, in his will he left the estate to Thomas Bradley Kenderdine his nephew and son of Ernest Henry Kenderdine.
Thomas’ younger brother Dr. Ernest Henry Kenderdine born in Stafford in 1877, set up a GP practice at 19 Queens Road Coventry in 1905. A few years later on 4th June 1910 he married Lily Bradley in Dudley. Number 19 Queens Road also became a family home. Ernest was still residing there when he died aged 65 in 1942.
Ernest Kenderdine had formed a partnership with his nephew Eric Cecil Keevil Kenderdine and they were later joined by Ernest’s son Tom. During the First World War Ernest had served as Tuberculosis Officer for Coventry and during WW2 he also served on a number of medical boards responsible for checking the health of new recruits. He passed away at the age of 65 in 1942 and was buried at Bednall in Staffordshire.
Eric Cecil Keevil Kenderdine was born in Clifton in 1900 the son of Alfred (a chemist & druggist) and Gertrude Kenderdine. He studied medicine at Bristol University graduating in 1924. By 1926 he had joined his uncle Ernest as a partner at the Queens Road Surgery and was living at 49 Earlsdon Avenue South. Eric retired aged 75 after being a GP for nearly 50 years and serving as a magistrate for a number of years. While living in Tanners Lane in Tile Hill Village he finally passed away aged 88 years.
In 1939 he was living in Earlsdon Avenue South along with his sister Florence Keevil Kenderdine and a domestic servant.
Kenderdine School
Florence Keevil Kenderdine founded the Montessori Kenderdine School in 1936 for children aged between 3 and 7 years. She was formerly a concert violinist who was trained as a teacher by Maria Montessori. Maria had studied medicine and gained a degree from the University of Rome while later pioneering a method of education which focused on a child’s natural ability. She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize on 3 occasions in 1949, 1950 and 1951. This was for her endorsement of education as a tool to encourage and promote peace. The school opened in a terraced house in Tile Hill in 1936 and moved to Berkswell Grange at the time of the Second World War. Soon after the war ended the school moved to a house at 49 Earlsdon Avenue South where it remained until finally closing in 2010. At the time of the closure there were eleven members of staff who were made redundant.
Sons of Ernest Kenderdine
The Census taken on 19th June 1921 showed Ernest Kenderdine and his wife Lily living at 19 Queens Road with their son Arthur Richard aged 1 year and 9 months. Their other sons : Francis Charles aged 7 years and 3 months, John Henry aged 8 years and 8 months plus Thomas Bradley aged 9 years and 9 months were staying at their uncle Thomas’ property at Bednall Hall.
Thomas Bradley Kenderdine
Thomas was the eldest son born in Coventry on 7th September 1911. After qualifying as a doctor he joined his father and cousin Eric at the Queens Road practice. He married Marjorie Marston in Coventry in 1939 and they lived at Orchard Crescent in Cheylesmore. When his uncle died Thomas inherited Bednall Hall Estate and was living there when he died on 27th March 1985 aged 73.
John Henry Kenderdine
John was born on 4th October 1912 in Coventry. He became a builder and eventually ran Hallam & Co.Builders Ltd. who were based at 44 Cash’s Lane.
He married Rita Marston in 1942 and died in Coventry in October 1995.
Francis Charles Kenderdine
F C Kenderdine generally known as Charles was born in Coventry on 3 April 1914. He was a solicitor with law firm Hughes and Masser and eventually became a partner. He also served as City Coroner until 1984. After being educated at King Henry VIII School he acted as a solicitor on the schools behalf. Charles married Betty Moore in Warwickshire in late 1949 and they lived in Barrow Road Kenilworth. He died in March 1989 just short of his 75th birthday.
Arthur Richard Kenderdine
A R Kenderdine always known as Dick was the youngest son of Ernest and Lily Kenderdine born in Coventry on 9th January 1919. After qualifying as a doctor he joined cousin Eric and brother Thomas at the Queens Road Surgery. In 1944 he married Irene Ilieve at All Saints Church in Bednall. He was living in Kingsbridge Devon when he passed away on 21st May 2008 aged 89.
The Kenderdine family made a significant contribution to life in Coventry through their involvement in healthcare, education and legal matters.
Thanks to David Porter for his research and articles provided.