Alfred Bunting

Alfred Bunting joined his father William in business sometime around 1860. He married Susan Victoria Garrett at Lion Walk in 1871 and set up home at Elmstead.  They had three sons and four daughters. Following his father's death, Alfred was left some land at Camp Field which he later disposed of and purchased his land off North Street (later to become known as North Station Road) where he had a house built for himself and his family, following a parting of the ways from his brother William Ellis who continued to trade as Bunting & Sons whilst Alfred traded under his own name. More about this on the Eric Bunting page.

Alfred's wife Susan, died in1884 and and he remained a widower until 1893 when he married Drucilla Lord, who bore him two more children, Arthur Eric (known as Eric) and Winifred.

Alfred was a shrewd and energetic businessman and quickly made a place for himself in the local business community. He was assisted by his second son, Reginald (1976-1941) whom he later took into partnership. The business still comprised all the activities of general nurserymen and to an ever increasing extent the cultivation of Japanese lilies imported from his younger brother, Isaac (Isaac of Japan) who had emigrated to Japan around 1880. These were grown outside and under increasing areas of glasshouses in North Station Road. His son from his second marriage, Eric joined the business shortly before the 1914-18 war but then left to enlist in the Essex Regiment. 

During the 1914-18 war the greenhouses were used entirely for the production of tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables in the national interest and this side of the business was run by Reginald, who was unfit for service having lost an eye some years previously.

Following his "demob" in 1919 Eric set up a separate branch nursery at Marks Tey, also specialising in cultivation under glass and settled down in Lexden. In 1920 Reginald Bunting, feeling it was time to set up on his own, left the business and emigrated to New Zealand where he started a nursery in Auckland. Reginald died in 1941.

Alfred did not enjoy very good health in his latter years but carried on working daily in his business until he was into his eighties. He was a kindly old man but in business would not let anyone get the better of him and he did not get on with his sister Julia (1841-1924) who was equally strong-minded.

Alfred died from liver cancer in 1926 and left the business to Eric and Winifred, who had really been running it for years anyway.