Alfred Wilding

(Photo and text from "Who's Who In Newport" 1920.)

Wilding, Alfred was born at Wistantow, Shropshire, 1853. He was educated at Longville, Shropshire, and came to Newport in 1874, commencing business here as a gentlemen's hatter and hosier. In 1884 he removed to the "Bon Marche," and there carried on an extensive business as a general outfitter until the beginning of 1897, when he removed into much larger and more commodious premises, which were constructed specially for the outfitting trade. Mr. Wilding is the managing director of Messrs. Wilding's (1911) Limited, and has succeeded in building up one of the largest general outfitting businesses in the provinces, controlling two shops in Newport and three branch establishments in other South Wales towns. Mr. Wilding belongs to an old Shropshire family, which settled on the borders of that county in the latter part of the fifteenth century, one of his ancestors holding the lease of a farm granted by the Abbot Haughmand in 1510. Is married, and the father of four sons. Three of them served in the war; two of them held commissions. Head office: 172 Commercial Street. Telegrams: Wildings. Tel. 2905. Residence : Ightfield, Caldicot.