Grandfather Ellis, Norman, Bernard and great grandfather Ellis, Riddings.

Great grandfather Ellis was the forman at Riddings Ironworks (owned by the Oakes family who lived at Riddings House). He lived at Furnace Row, Somercotes, just outside the gates of the Ironworks. Furnace Row still survives today almost unchanged, while the ironworks has disappeared.

He brought up his family there, started a printing business and dabbled in photography, using his bathroom to process the glass negatives and prints (see below).

He left his printing business to be shared equally between his two sons (George and Fred) and two daughters (May and Cis). The press transferred to George Street, Riddings and was run by his eldest son George. The others helped out, but they were all entitled to an equal share of the profits.