Zahringer’s of Kingswood

This is old news, but I’m sad to see that Zahringer’s in Kingswood closed in 2022. When I lived in Kingswood from 1937-1966, Mum and Dad always took our clocks and watches there to be repaired on the premises. In fact, my engagement ring was bought there, and I made my last purchase in the shop, a small alarm clock, when I last visited Kingswood, just before the Lockdown. Both articles are still in daily use.

The shop expanded into the extension on the left of the picture in the 1980s, (after my time) and china ornaments, trinkets and figurines were sold there with the jewellery in the original part.

Internees, WW1 (Photo copyright Knockaloe Farm Visitor Centre with thanks.)

When searching in the Public Record Office, about 30 years ago for my grandfather-in-law Arthur Lindegaard’s Naturalisation papers I also came across the name Joseph Zahringer and made a note. I don’t know if the application was granted, as I understand Joseph was interned on the Isle of Man during the Great War because of his German heritage.

(Knockaloe Farm in Patrick, on the Isle of Man was opened as a purpose-built Internment Camp in 1914. Between 1914 and 1919 it housed 23,000 prisoners of war.

As far as I know, nothing similar happened to Arthur, as the Danes were neutrals in that war.

Joseph Zahringer was born in Germany in 1871, apprenticed in Gloucestershire before moving to Kingswood where he married a local girl, Thirza Denning. The shop was initially opened in Boulton’s Lane, before moving to the Regent’s Street site in 1890, Joseph and his entire family lived in the rooms upstairs.

As I am hoping to visit IOM later this year, I hope to find out something more.