The Chandler family was a large one and for many years the business of Chandler Brothers dominated the corner of Wood Street and Devizes Road.
Frank was born in 1860, one of John and Susannah Chandler’s large family and was running the business alongside his widowed father at the time of the 1881 census. He married farmer’s daughter Ada Keziah Edmonds at St Paul’s Church on June 10, 1890. He was 30 years of age and she was 23.
The couple’s first home was above the shop in Wood Street where a staff of eight boarded with them including three draper’s assistants, 2 dressmakers and a milliner.
Their only child, a daughter Ada, was baptised on April 21, 1891, at the church where the couple had married but sadly she died around the time of her first birthday.
At the time of the 1901 census Frank and Ada lived at South View, a house on the Sands in Old Swindon, just a short walk from the family business.
Death of Mr Frank Chandler
We regret to announce the death, which has taken place under painfully sudden circumstances, of Mr Frank Chandler, of South View, The Sands, Swindon, and a member of the firm of Messrs Chandler Bros., drapers and outfitters, 35, Wood Street, and Devizes Road.
The deceased gentleman, who was 46 years of age, and who leaves a wife, but no children, was recovering from a long attack of acute rheumatism. He went to Bournemouth, where he caught a chill, and he was compelled to return home. Unhappily, the chill was followed by complications which necessitated an operation being performed. Accordingly, on Saturday afternoon his medical attendant, Dr J. Campbell Maclean, accompanied him to London, where, at a surgical home, he was attended to. The operation took place on Saturday evening, but Mr Chandler, without recovering consciousness from the anaesthetic, died suddenly from syncope.
Mrs Chandler, who also accompanied her husband to London, and whose own health is by no means satisfactory, returned to Swindon soon after Mr Chandler’s demise.
Mr John Chandler proceeded to London very soon after hearing of his brother’s death.
The painful news was announced to a large congregation yesterday morning by Canon Estcourt before the sermon at the Parish Church, of which the deceased gentleman was a member, and the intelligence came as a severe shock to the many by whom Mr Chandler was intimately known.
The body will be brought to Swindon for interment.
By the death of Mr Frank Chandler, the town has lost an inhabitant who was held in the highest esteem. He was the youngest son of the late Mr John Chandler, and his long connection with the well known business in Wood Street brought him into contact with very many people. His gentlemanly and courteous bearing, his kindly disposition won for him a large circle of devoted friends to whom his sudden loss will occasion keen sorrow. What lends a further degree of painfulness to the event is the fact that, as stated by Canon Estcourt, the deceased gentleman was about to take over control of the whole of the important Wood Street business. Mr Frank Chandler never took any active part in the town’s affairs, though as a sterling business man he was warmly respected by all with whom he came into business contact.
At Swindon Parish Church on Sunday morning, the Vicar, Canon Estcourt, before commencing his sermon, referred to the sad death of Mr. Chandler. He said: As I was on my way to Church this morning I heard the distressing news of the death of Mr Frank Chandler, which took place after an operation which he underwent in London. He was, as you know, just about to take over the management of one of the large business establishments in the town. But God has seen fit to order things otherwise for him. I am sure today our sympathy and our prayers will go forth to his many relations, and to his wife especially.
The Evening Swindon Advertiser, Monday, November 19, 1906.
The Late Mr Frank Chandler
The Funeral
Amid every manifestation of deep sympathy and regret the funeral took place on Wednesday of the late Mr Frank Chandler, of the well known firm of Chandler Bros., Wood Street, Swindon whose sad death in London we announced last Monday.
The body was conveyed from Paddington by the train leaving there at 11.40, and arrived at Swindon GWR Station at 1.20 p.m. Thence it was removed to the Parish Church, where the first part of the funeral service was conducted by the Vicar (Canon E.W. Estcourt), who also officiated at the graveside.
The cortege, headed by a carriage laden with floral tributes, left the Church at 2.30, and proceeded to the Cemetery via Cricklade Street, Wood Street, Bath Road, Lansdown Road, and Kent Road.
Extract from the funeral report published in the Evening Swindon Advertiser Thursday, November 22, 1906.
The funeral took place on November 21, 1906 when Frank was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery in grave plot E8327. He is buried alone.
Radnor Street Cemetery 