Kidderminster
In the 18th Century the Talbot family had already become established in public life in Kidderminster, starting with Samuel Talbot the Grandfather of William Talbot.
William Talbot was the first member of the Talbot family to practise as a Solicitor in Kidderminster, commencing around 1828, and continuing for nearly sixty years. He practised from premises in Church Street which stood on the site of the present entrance to the New Meeting House. He became the Clerk to the Kidderminster Court of Requests which subsequently became the County Court of which he was the first Registrar.
William's eldest son, Colonel William Henry Talbot, later practised with his father in Church Street: he served as Mayor and was the second Honorary Freeman of the Borough. He succeeded his father as Registrar of Kidderminster County Court.
William's elder son, Major Ellis William Talbot was the third Solicitor who similarly became the Registrar of Kidderminster Court and became a member of the Town Council from 1897 to 1919.
He was succeeded by his son John Ellis Talbot who was elected as a Councillor in 1936 and served as Mayor in 1947 and 1949. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Brierley Hill Division of Staffordshire in 1959 and served until his death in 1967. There was a period of partnership with our neighbours Painters until 1957.
The fifth generation solicitor is Charles Ellis Talbot who commenced practice in 1957 joining his father in Church Street before retiring from the Practice in 1990.
The Practice moved into 30 Church Street in approximately 1840 where it has continued ever since.
John Talbot also formed the Kidderminster Equitable Building Society which was run from the premises. The Building Society later became the Heart of England Building Society which itself became part of Cheltenham and Gloucester Plc. and is now part of Lloyds TSB Plc.
Stourbridge
J. Harold Ellis's son, Frederick George Maxwell Ellis, took over his father's practice following his father's death in November 1962 and continued as a sole practitioner. The practice later became known as J Harold Ellis & Son with a branch office in Hagley.
In February 1989 that practice was taken over by Tandy Wickstead with a number of offices around North Worcestershire.
In June 1991 David Anthony Tandy, a former Partner in Morton Fisher, left the Tandy Wickstead Partnership. He retained the Stourbridge Office (formerly J Harold Ellis & Son) and took over the Talbot & Talbot Practice of Kidderminster jointly with Martyn Morgan.
The Current Practice
This was the start of the new 'Talbots' of Stourbridge and Kidderminster.
Max Ellis and Charles Talbot continued to work with the Practice as Consultants until their retirement.
David Tandy retired in 1993 and Derek Simmonds became a partner in November of that year.
Martyn Morgan was born and educated in Stourbridge and practised in the old Stourbridge firm of Harward and Evers (now Higgs & Sons) before moving to live in France in 1990/1, later returning to join Talbots. Martyn is the firm’s Senior Partner.
Derek Simmonds was born and educated in Kent, with close family ties to the Black Country. He moved to the Midlands area in 1990, initially working for the Herefordshire based practice T A Matthews. Derek became a partner in the firm in 1993 and is Head of Civil Litigation.
Andrew Wakeman was born and educated in Birmingham before obtaining his law degree from Nottingham University. Andrew was articled to the Birmingham firm of Glaisyers and joined Talbots in 1996. He became a partner in 1998 and is Head of the Criminal Department.
Gillian Bowskill was born and educated in the Midlands before obtaining a law degree from Birmingham Polytechnic. Gill joined Talbots as Head of Trusts & Estates in 2003 and became a partner in 2005.
In May 2003 the Practice opened a small new office in Hagley and in November 2004 a large fourth office was opened at 63 Market Street, Stourbridge.
