See also
| Husband: | Charles Portway (1828-1909) | |
| Wife: | Frances Hammond (1855-1932) | |
| Children: | Bennis Hammond Portway (1889-1971) | |
| Francis Kingsmill Portway (1891-1949) | ||
| Marriage | 1888 | Steyning, Sussex |
| Name: | Charles Portway | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Father: | George Portway (1791-1868) | |
| Mother: | Sarah Bull (c. 1795-1851) | |
| Birth | 12 Aug 1828 | Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk |
| Baptism | 9 Nov 1828 (age 0) | Bapt, Northgate St Independent, Bury St Edmunds (IGI) |
| Census | 1851 (age 22-23) | Ironmonger, servant to George Lewis, ironmonger, Lowndes Terr, Knightsbridge (unmarried) |
| Census | btw 1861 and 1881 (age 32-53) | High St, Halstead, Essex |
| Census | 2 Aug 1866 (age 37) | Widower, Ironmonger & iron merchant |
| Residence | 1866 (age 37-38) | Address: Halstead, Essex (on marriage cert.) |
| Census | 1871 (age 42-43) | Ironmonger employing 9 men & 8 boys, High St, Halstead (married, wife absent) |
| Occupation | 31 Oct 1878 (age 50) | Partnership with Frank Attfield Fawkes for manufacture of horticultural equipment. T.H.P.Dennis & Co, dissolved (London Gazette 5.11.1878) |
| Census | 1881 (age 52-53) | Ironmonger & stove maker, High St, Halstead (widower) |
| Census | 1891 (age 62-63) | Stove manufacturer, The Croft, High St, Halstead |
| Census | 1901 (age 72-73) | Stove mfr, High St, Halstead |
| Death fact | 1909 (age 80-81) | 1909 Jun Qtr, Halstead, 4a/391 (aged 80) |
| Death | 6 Apr 1909 (age 80) | The Croft, Halstead, Essex |
| Cause of death (Facts Pg) | 6 Apr 1909 (age 80) | Gangrene of left foot & leg; senile decay |
| Burial | 10 Apr 1909 | St Andrew, Halstead, Essex (aged 80) |
| Will | 16 Jul 1909 (age 80) | Probate Ipswich to Harry Harvey Portway (£37759) |
| Name: | Frances Hammond | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Father: | William Henry Hammond (c. 1808-1890) | |
| Mother: | Eliza Berry (c. 1820-1900) | |
| Birth | 27 Mar 1855 | 13 Westbourne Villas, Paddington, Middlesex |
| Birth fact | 1855 (age 0) | 1855 Jun Qtr, Kensington, 1a/4 |
| Census | 1871 (age 15-16) | Living with parents |
| Census | 1881 (age 25-26) | Living with parents |
| Death | 29 Jul 1932 (age 77) | 7 Marlborough Road, Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Name: | Bennis Hammond Portway | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Birth | 1889 | Halstead, Essex |
| Census | 1889 (age 0) | Birth: 1889 Jun Qtr, Halstead, 4a/585 |
| Death | 18 Feb 1971 (age 81-82) | Sudbury, Suffolk |
| Name: | Francis Kingsmill Portway | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Birth | 1891 | Halstead, Essex |
| Census | 1891 (age 0) | Birth: 1891 Jun Qtr, Halstead, 4a/647 |
| Occupation | 18 Mar 1921 (age 29-30) | -; Trading as Paragon Motor Manufacturing Co, Manningtree, Essex (L.Gazette 18.3.1921) |
| Residence | 1921 (age 29-30) | Braham Hall, Brantham, Suffolk |
| Death | 4 Mar 1949 (age 57-58) | Sutton Dene, Pier Avenue, Clacton, Essex |
Charles Portway took inspiration from the enclosed metal stoves which had appeared in North America, and built his own version to heat his Halstead ironmongery store. The design proved so successful that a neighbouring shopkeeper asked Portway to build a stove to heat his store too. Portway set up a foundry to produce his 'Tortoise' stoves under the slogan 'Slow But Sure' - so successful they lasted up to the 1980’s almost without change.
It was the first heating appliance to offer fuel efficiency as a major selling point, so that Robert Higgs, the chief executive of the Heating and Ventilating contractors association argues the Portway was the founding father of energy efficiency.
http://www.soliftec.com/heroes.htm (retrieved 13.6.2011)
The first third of the 19th century saw a number of innovators introduce stoves to the market. In 1830 (sic) Charles Portway designed and hand built his first Tortoise stove in Halstead, Essex. Charles ran an ironmongery store and when neighbouring shops saw how effective his stove was, they all wanted one. Mr Portway started a small foundry, which, by the start of the twentieth century, had produced over 100,000 stoves.
http://www.fireplace.co.uk/text/texthistory.htm
Charles Portway took a very active part in the affairs of the town of Halstead. He was President of the Liberal Association and entertained Herbert Asquith, the Prime Minister, at his residence, The Croft. He was a staunch churchman and took great interest in all public works, education and sport, holding numerous offices.
Source: "A Look Back At Halstead" by Doreen Potts, 2003 (privately published).
See also: http://www.portwayfires.com/
A picture of a Charles Portway "Tortoise" Stove at:
http://www.hevac-heritage.org/items_of_interest/heating/equipment/warm_air_stoves/
PORTWAY Charles of Halstead Essex J.P. died 6 April 1909; Probate Ipswich 16 July to Harry Harvey Portway stove manufacturer Frederick Percy Prentice ironmonger William Martin Baker school master and Harry Dakin Sheldrake accountant. Effects £37759 1s 7d. Resworn £38743 16s 5d.
PORTWAY Frances of 7 Marlborough Road Ipswich widow died 29 July 1932. Probate Ipswich 28 September to Bennis Hammond Portway and Francis Kingsmill Portway gentlemen. Effects £865 3s. 1d.