~ Families and People ~
Gornal's Famous
John Lloyd Gibbons
(1837 - 1919)
Owner of Ellowes Hall, 1891 - 1919

John Lloyd Gibbons was born on 25 August 1837 to Wolverhampton-born manufacturing chemist Henry and Elizabeth Gibbons. He was educated at Aldridge Grammar School and went on to become an engineering surveyor and a prominent figure in public life.
In 1885, John Lloyd Gibbons married Emma Eliza White from Gloucestershire, they were married at Wolverhampton, however Emma died in 1896.
He re-married Eliza Grey Ballenden of Sedgley two years later.
Eliza Ballenden was the daughter of Dr. John McNab Ballenden, who served as Chief Medical Officer for Sedgley.
Dr. Ballenden and family lived at Bleak House on the Dudley Road, next to present-day Arcal Street.
John Lloyd Gibbons was also a Magistrate for Sedgley Petty Sessions.
He was also elected as a Councillor for North Bilston in 1891, the same year that the family took up residence at Ellowes Hall.
He was elected as Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton South in the by-election of 1898 following the death of Charles Pelham Villiers, M.P., earlier that year, Gibbons was a member of the Liberal Unionist Party.
11th February, 1898 newspaper report.

BYE-ELECTIONS. SOUTH WOLVERHAMPTON.
Polling in South Wolverhampton took place on the 3rd inst. for the seat vacated by the death of the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers. The candidates were Mr. J. L. Gibbons (L.U.) and Mr. G. R. Thorne (L.). The result was declared at a late hour on Thursday night. Mr. Gibbons was returned, receiving 4115 votes, against 4004 recorded for Mr. Thorne. Mr. John Lloyd Gibbons is the third and elder surviving son of the late Mr. Henry Gibbons, agricultural chemist, Wolverhampton, and belongs to one of the oldest families in the neighbourhood. He was educated, first, by a former rector of Wolverhampton, and afterwards at Aldridge Grammar School. He is an engineer and surveyor by profession, and is 60 years old. He married Miss Emma White, niece of the late Mr. Edward Pugh. She died two years ago, leaving no issue. Mr. Gibbons inherited from her the Ellowes Hall estate and other properties. He is a Broad Churchman, and trustee of several advowsons at Bilston and Wolverhampton. He is a justice of the peace for Staffordshire, and represents Bilston on the Staffordshire County Council; he is also chairman of the Wolverhampton Women's Hospital, is actively associated with other institutions, and is a member of the Royal Agricultural Society. The new member has contributed handsomely to churches, chapels, and numerous charities. He has never before sought Parliamentary honours. For some time he was a member of the Liberal clubs at Wolverhampton and Bilston, but left them on the Home Rule question. His election causes no political change.
John Lloyd Gibbons died on 25 April 1919 and is buried at All Saints Church, Sedgley.
His widow Eliza sold Ellowes Hall later the same year and bought The Limes on Dudley Road, Sedgley.
Eliza died in 1929 and The Limes fell into disrepair for a number of years.
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