3539
Dennis Chassis No 3539
2 ton chassis
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Chassis 3539 on a recovery truck after collection
This 1914 Chassis was originally purchased by Ernest Shentall of Chesterfield for his fruitiers business. Ernest was also the Mayor of Chesterfield and involved in the purchase of two Dennis buses for the town.
The lorry was ordered in 1913 and delivered very early in 1914 (probably January as it disappears from the order books in February).
Reproduced by permission of Alexander Dennis and Surrey History Centre
These photos from the Dennis archives show the detail of the lorry very well. However they do not show the registration number. The registration number R-42 was painted on, a standard prefix for Chesterfield but earlier than would be expected for a 1914 registration. This suggests the registration was transferred from an earlier vehicle owned by Ernest Shentall.
So far I have collected a complete differential, gearbox, steering box and dashboard/irons.
This may not look like much but it is a Dennis worm drive axle in pretty good condition
Slightly later Dennis Gearbox (1922) but otherwise identical to that originally fitted. A great deal of work is required to repair this gearbox.
This gearbox requires some serious repair work. Much of the aluminium case is rotted away and one of the mounting lugs is broken off. The transmission brake is missing and one of the gear pairs is totally worn out. However that is all possible to repair.
This radiator is correct for this chassis. Another part obtained for the collection.
I now have an Aster engine to fit to this chassis, it is a bit smaller than the original engine but should be OK. Once I have found the space to put it together it should be a nice project.
Ernest Shentall
Ernest Shentall was born in Chesterfield in 1862 (mother Ann b.1829, father Charles b.1828). On the 1871 census Charles is listed as a Green Grocer, but in 1881 is listed as a Fruitier. On the 1891 census Ernest is listed as a Fruitier, he has married Harriet (b. 1861) and has a son Harold (b.1879). Ernest Shentall is still listed as a Fruitier in the 1911 census. Ernest Shentall (b.1862) was Mayor of Chesterfield from 1913 to 1919. He was knighted in 1918.
A photo of a Shentall shop of around 1909 shows it split into two halves. One selling fruit and the other selling flowers. A Shentall flower shop still trades in Chesterfield but these businesses were separate to the Ernest Shentall Company
The Sir Ernest Shentall Company continued to purchase Dennis vehicles. This photo shows three Dennis Pax lorries from the 1940s (Thanks to Sharon Boam for giving permission to reproduce this photo).
There is also an Ernest Shentall (born in 1883) who is listed on the 1911 Census as a Provision Merchant. His mother is listed as Eliza Shentall (b. 1849).
Ernest Alan Shentall was born in Chesterfield on 6/12/1913 and died in April 1991.
Mr L. Clay
Mr Clay was transport manager at Ernest Shentall for 42 years. He died in 1966 and may well have been responsible for this Dennis van during his career.
Mr Clay was Leslie Haywood Clay, born on 19th April 1896 to Frederick and Lizzie Clay in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire. On the 1901 census they are living at 36 West Terrace, Hucknall but by 1911 the family have moved to 235 Langwith Road, Bolsover and Leslie is working as a "Colliery Pony Driver Underground". Leslie had a sister (Amy Irene Clay) and a brother (Iver LIonel Clay). In 1915 Leslie is listed in the WWI pensions records, still as resident in Langwith Road. It is not known if Leslie Clay was one of the many people who learnt to drive during WWI.
In March 1920 Leslie married Edna Turner (born 12th March 1902); she outlived Leslie, passing away on her 70th birthday.
In the 1939 register Leslie and Edna Clay are living at "The Cottage, Shentalls Garage, Saltergate, Chesterfield". Leslie has his occupation listed as "Motor Mechanic, Foreman"
The family of Mr Clay seem the most likely place to find a photo of my lorry in the service of Ernest Shentall.
Timeline
1862
Ernest Shentall Born
1879
Harold Shentall born
1900
August: Ernest Shentall opens his new premises in St. Mary's Gate, Chesterfield (Derbyshire Courier 18/08/1900) The site on St. Mary's Gate was the former residence of Sir Gilbert Heathcote
1901
June: Advertising for further staff (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 8/6/1901)
1913
Ernest Sentall succeeds Major W.B.Robinson as Mayor of Chesterfield for 1913/1914 (Derbyshire Courier 18/11/1913)
1914
January/February: Takes delivery of Dennis 2-ton lorry, registration R-42. (Dennis company records, Surrey History Centre)
Ernest Shentall re-elected Mayor of Chesterfield (Derbyshire Courier 14/11/1914)
1915
Ernest Shentall re-elected Mayor of Chesterfield
1916
Ernest Shentall elected Mayor of Chesterfield for the fourth year running (Derbyshire Courier 11/11/1916)
1917
Ernest Shentall holds the office of Mayor of Chesterfield for the fifth year running (Derbyshire Courier 29/9/1917)
Ernest Shentall added to the roll of Honorable Freemen of Chesterfield (Derbyshire Courier 10/10/1917)
1918
Ernest Shentall knighted (Birthday honours)
Ceremony conferring the freedom of the borough upon Sir Ernest Shentall took place on 9th November (Derbyshire Courier 21/9/1918)
Does not stand for re-election at the end of 1918
1919
Sir Ernest Shentall motor lorry smashes window (Derbyshire Courier 26/7/1919)
1920
Ernest Shentall returns from a nine week tour of Jamaica (Derbyshire Courier 13/3/1920)
1921
Theft of cash from an Ernest Shentall motor lorry. (Nottingham Journal, 25/8/1921)
1924
"Sir Ernest Shentall expected home next Tuesday after an extended trip to South America"(Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 3/5/1924)
Marriage of Sir Ernest Shentall and Miss Edith Ellen Salsbury
1925
Dennis van sold to Wallis coal merchants of Alford. (No primary evidence for this)
Fatal accident between Ernest Shentall four ton lorry and Harry Kingswood, Age 13. (Nottingham Evening Post)
1928
Harold Shentall becomes chairman of Chesterfield football club.
"Sir Ernest and Lady Shentall who have been on a tour round Africa and have been in Paris since Saturday arrived in Chesterfield on Thursday" (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 28/4/1928)
1932
"Clay, Shentall's Garage, Saltergate", (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 30/1/1932)
Remarkably successful year for Midlands Counties Motor Finance, Ernest Shentall chairman of the Board). Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 26/3/1932.
An Ernest Shentall lorry runs over the ankles of Mr Hooper. (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 22/10/1932)
Roy Staley, an employee of Sir Ernest Shentall is knocked off his bicycle by a motor car. (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 22/10/1932)
1933
Furious riding at Walton, Leslie Haywood Clay, Saltergate employed by Ernest Shentall (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 22/7/1933)
1936
Funeral of Mr William Cotterill (17 Birdholme Crescent) who had worked for Sir Ernest Shentall for 30 year at Spital Cemetery. (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 10/10/1936)
1937
Funeral of Sir Ernest Shentall. The family mourners were: - Lady Shentall, Mr and Mrs Harold Shentall (son and daughter in law), Mr and Mrs Arthur Shentall (Brother and sister in law), Miss Margaret Shentall (grandchildren). (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald 1/1/1937)
1939
"Mr Harold Shentall, Chesterfield, who in many ways seems to be following in the footsteps of his father, the late Sir Ernest Shentall has joined the board of directors of the Midlands Motor Finance Co. Ltd, Sheffield of which Company Sir Ernest was Chairman for many years. Mr Shentall is managing director of Ernest Shentall Ltd, and is well known as chairman of directors of the Chesterfield Football Club. He is noted for his shrewd business sense and sound judgement. The paid up capital of the company is £250,000 and the chairman Mr George Kenning, JP reports that the company is still breaking records."
Shentall Memorial Gardens opened. (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 26/5/1939)
Bungalow, Walton, Chesterfield, formerly home of the late Sir Ernest Shentall was the centre of the sale on Wednesday on the instructions of Lady Shentall. (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 9/6/1939)
The brides father is manager of Sir Ernest Shentall (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 16/6/1939)
Mr Harold Shentall joins the board of Midlands Counties Motor Finance Company. (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 23/6/1939)
1940
11th May 1940: Death of Sir Ernest Shentall (of the Bungalow, Walton near Chesterfield) Effects £635 17s 11d. Transfer of Company to Harold Shentall. (Probate) [I think date of death should be 25/12/1936] Buried Spital Cemetary, Chesterfield
1941
Pte S Hutchinson, RASC, serving overseas was called up in December 1939. He was employed by Sir Ernest Shentall Ltd. as a salesman. (Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Chronicle, 9/5/1941)
1954
Harold Shentall admitted as Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers
1967
Business Address: Sir Ernest Shentall Ltd, 2 St. Mary's Gate,
1972
11th April 1972: Death of Harold Shentall (of the Bungalow, Walton near Chesterfield) Effects £121312 (Probate)
1997
Mick Giles purchases the Dennis chassis (in farm trailer form) from a gentleman in Spilsby (Lincolnshire). The owner stated it had been used by Wallis coal merchants in Alford who had purchased it in around 1925 but later converted it into a trailer.
2009
I purchase the chassis from Mick Giles but with nowhere suitable to start the restoration it is kept in storage. Mick had managed to find the correct radiator and gearbox but they were both in poor condition.
2012-2014
Building the new house and workshop
2015
January: Restoration starts with repairs to the chassis.
2018
The restoration was given the Transport Trust Ron Wilsdon award and attended the awards ceremony at Brooklands.
Age related registration number issued by DVLA as the original registration (R-42) could not be reclaimed.
Restoration of Dennis 3539 completed
2019
The Dennis starts attending local events. It was a great pleasure to take Mick and Mavis Giles for a trip out.
Photo of 3539 in December 2015
Summer 2016, starting to look like the factory photo.
January 2018, most components in place but still no registration number.
In April 2018 the DVLA issued an age-related registration number as the original number (R-42) is currently fitted to a Bentley.
The restoration was given the Transport Trust Ron Wilsdon award and attended the awards ceremony at Brooklands.
The engine ran again for the first time in 2018 and after a few problems with the gear linkage were resolved it went for a drive on the roads (probably for the first time in over 80 years.
2019
With most of the tasks completed Dennis 3539 has been to a few events in 2019 including use as a wedding car for close friends who helped with the restoration and a attending a local canal festival.
There were general improvements to the running of the vehicle which included lowering the carburettor to improve the fuel supply.
2020
At the start of 2020 I fitted the canvas cover over the bed, but Covid-19 put a stop to all the events planned for 2020. However, we managed to go out for a few drives. My mother has funded the purchase of a period British Banana Company crate and "all about willow" have faithfully reproduced the type of fruit baskets that would have originally been carried.
If you have any further information on Ernest Shentall or this vehicle please email me benjamin.p.hawkins@gmail.com