Sigismund Stern

Little Grove, South Front, not long before Stern bought the house. Published by Kell Brothers of Holborn, c. 1860s. Plaque to the memory of Sigismund and Margaret Stern at St Mary the Virgin church, East Barnet.

Sigismund James Stern (5 December 1807 – 15 May 1885) was a German-born merchant in the Manchester cotton trade. He was later active in banking in London and owned the Little Grove house and estate in East Barnet to the north of the city.

Early life Sigismund James Stern was born on 5 December 1807 at Frankfurt am Main, the only son of James Stern, merchant of that city.

Not long after his arrival in the city, Stern became a partner in the cotton trading firm of Leo Schuster Brothers & Company, a position he held for nearly 50 years. Stern was also a justice of the peace for Lancashire,

Death Stern died at Little Grove on 15 May 1885. The house continued to be occupied by Margaret Stern until her death. She was buried with her husband at St Mary the Virgin church, East Barnet. Walter Stutters described her as the "Lady Bountiful" of the parish.