Wellington History Group Special Paper: number 3 MARJORIE MCCREA’S TRADESMEN OF WELLINGTON

INTRODUCTION by Allan Frost CONTENTS first came across Marjorie ****************** McCrea’s name in the early Page 2: Alfred Barlow, I1970s when I discovered the Hairdresser contents of a four-drawer cabinet * * * in Wellington library (the old one, Page 3 in Walker Street). James Bates & Fred Hunt The cabinet contained a treasure trove of local history documents, all Chemists of which had been donated to the * * * people of Wellington by folk like Page 4: Henry Baxter Marjorie who, for personal reasons, Draper didn’t want their precious * * * MARJORIE MCCREA paperwork to go to Shropshire Page 5: 1908–2006 Archives or the Local Studies Jack Owen and Fred Bean ****************** Library, both at Shrewsbury. Her name continued to crop up Outfitters Wellington-born Marjorie Eileen from time to time, whenever the * * * McCrea spent a great deal of her fruits of her meticulous research (we Page 6: Richard Brittain life researching local history could all learn a lot from her when it Grocer with a special interest in comes to historical accuracy and discovering facts and writing * * * interpretation) were published, like Page 7: George Harvey about people who were the ones in this Special Paper. associated with the town in It wasn’t until she found herself Jeweller & Clockmaker which she lived all her life. in the twilight years of her life that I * * * Her mother came from a managed to meet her. She realised, Page 8: Harvey’s family whose name was with resolute stoicism, that her time Clockmaker Apprentice synonymous with the social for research and writing had ended, * * * gatherings, entertainment and and I was most fortunate to borrow Page 9: Joseph Millichap refreshment in and near the her detailed notes on the life of Wellington’s most famous literary Gardener town: they were the Pointons * * * who, in addition to maintaining figure, Hesba Stretton, which helped a prosperous plumbing and me write Hesba’s biography. By way Page 10: Ernest Mynett of reciprocation, I lent her recordings decorating business, also found Draper of my mother’s memories of Old time to run the Station Hotel and * * * Wellington . . . the spoken word is an Red Lion (Holyhead Road) Page 11: Frank Onions invaluable tool for those with limited Hotel – in addition to having a or failed eyesight. Butcher 100-year involvement in the I felt extremely honoured when * * * Forest Glen Pavilions at the foot her remaining research papers were Page 12: Bert Richards of The Wrekin Hill. given to me at the time she was Hairdresser Sadly, her writing ceased in preparing to leave home to spend her * * * the early years of the present final days in the Morris Care Home. Page 13: George Turner century as a result of failing eyesight. Her memoirs and Wellington History Group is most Engineer & Gunsmith research notes are important grateful to Neil Thomas, current editor * * * sources of information on of Shropshire Magazine, for kindly Page 14: Additional Notes Wellington’s past. giving permission for the articles George Evans written by Miss McCrea and * * * * * * published by the magazine in 1982 and 1983 to be reproduced here. Released November 2012 Published in Shropshire Magazine, August 1982

Alfred Ba rlow

Wellington's first ladies' hairdresser

by Marjorie McCrea

eight inches in depth with an opening at the At one time perm Clubs were run by one end where the bead and haJr was put in. employees of the Chad Valley Toy factory Mr Alfred Barlow. The cover could be left open. and others. Twenty girls paid ls. (5p) per Marcel waving was done by hot curling week. When they needed a permanent wave irons. Gas was used up to 1924, after which they paid ls. and the rest was paid from Mr Alfred Barlow was the first ladies' electricity was supplied by Messrs G. H. club funds. The person running the club hairdresser to set up business in Wellington. York from their dynamo until electricity could have a free perm at 21s. These clubs He came from Harrods of London to 40 New came into WeUington in the 1930's. High ran for many years. Street, on October 6, 1911. He toole over the frequency was used which is not used today. Bar lows made their own vanishing cream business from Thomas Wood who Mr Barlow's son Ronald qualified in during the 193945 war. This sold fa.ster emigrated to New Zealand in 1911. Birmingham as a chiropodist and opened a than they could make it at 2s.6d. (12%) ,per The shop was double fronted and had two surgery at the shop in 1936. jar. They also bottled their own brilliantine counters, one for cosmetics, and the other Usually the staff consisted of 12 people. and made their own shampoo from green for toys. The men's and ladies' hairdressing Hours of working were 8.30am to 7pm soft soap which came ln large drums, on salons were at the back of the shop, but before 1939, 9am to 6pm afterwa.rds. They ration. after the family went to live in Herbert were allowed an hour for lunch and half an When Mr Ronald Barlow's son was three Avenue in 1929 the salons were moved hour for tea - provided by Mr Barlow up years old be dropped eight ounces of the upstairs. until 1939. Before the war they were allowed employees' tea (also on ration) into the soft Many businessmen came to be shaved one week's holiday a year plus bank soap drum and mixed it well in - a great first thing in the morning, and the staff was holidays. loss in those days. always busy from 8.15 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. The A variety of fancy goods was sold: Perfumery was also sold 'loose' before shop was also open for one and a half hours brushes, combs of all kinds including dust 1939 - customers would bring their own every Bank Holiday for shaving combs, much needed in those days, side bottles to be filled. customers. combs, fancy and plain hair nets, soap, The copper gas hair dryer was given to the In 1925 a shave cost threepence- safety perfumes, sbamJ2:00S, curlers, leather goods Ironbridge Gorge Museum by Mr Ronald razors came in in the 1920's and electric and toys of all JCinds. Barlow when the premises were sold in 1962. razors near the end of the second world war. Wben the employees were not cutting hair they were kept busy covering and repairing umbrellas. This was a custom in most barber's shops years ago. An advertisement in the Wellington Directory in 1916 read as follows:

A. Barlow. 40 New Street, (from Harrods, London) Certificate of Merit from London Academy. Ladles' a.nd Gentlemens Hairdressing Saloons. Private room for ladies and children. WavinR and Dressing 1/ -. Dyeing and Tinting a speciality, Switches of Hair 2/ · to 21 1·. Combings made up:- loz 1/6, 2 ozs 216. Umbrellas recovered and repaired.

Ladies kept their hair long up to about 1919 and Mr Barlow had a copper gas hair dryer for drying long hair. In shape .this was an adjustable cylinder three feet high and about four inches wide standing on three legs. There was a gas ring at the bottom and threequarters of the way up there was a piece of wire mesh to catch any loose hairs. At the top there was a curved cover about 26

2 www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com Published in Shropshire Magazine, January 1983

When chemists dispense grains of paradise and Jesuits Bark .. . by Marjorie McCrea JAMES BATES began business as a freely sold over the counter and, it appears, used for their skins to make tonics. again chemist and grocer in Wellington about in some quantity. choice was paramount for flavour and oil 1850 - the joint business must have been Mr James Bates eventually took Mr content. fascinating. Re.lics of those days still remain Joshua Hunt into partnership, and be was Pills were made on the premises- plain. in the New Street premises - one room in succeeded by his son, Mr Frederick Hunr. uncoatcd were the cheapest, then came the old building is sti ll referred to as the tea Over the years advertisements in local sugatcoated ro mask an unpleasant room, with its huge wooden beams and papers offered the services of Bates and ingredient, silver coated for the gentry and supporting pillars, while dotted around are Hunt as photograph chemists. agriculture occasionally they were even coated with gold labels showing the price of items like chemists. "first class dispensing- qualified leaf. candles and jellies. men using the fmest drugs obtainable". When the chumists were making up pills As well as carrying on these trades. They also claimed that 'Our golden corn and their lunch break. was due before they dental extractions were also performed. cure makes walking once more a pleasure.' had completed the task they would wrap the Some of the dental fortoeps arc still there, Before the National Henlth Act of 1947 material in grecrseproof paper and put it in used only occasionally to persuade a there was the 19 11 Insurance Act fur which their trouser pockets to keep it soft. Other­ difficult nail or screw to release its hold in Lloyd George was principally responsible. wise the material would harden and be the wood. Under the J9 Lt Act, often referred to as the unusable. Bates and Hunt's firsllady assist­ James Bates, a bachelor, was a church Uoyd George. it was the man who was the ant overcame the problem of not wearing warden at All Saints' Church in 1866. and insured person, the wife and children were trousers by putting the packet in her bosom. played a part in the freeing of pew rents in cateredfor. though totally inadequately. by Animal medicines were similarly com­ that church. On the stone lintel above the voluntary savings through friendly societies. pounded, horse blisters, cough electuaries church door is engraved "The seats in this with black treacle, horse balls, hound balls. Church are free and unappropriated for ever worming powders - a whole host of -J. Bates a nd E. L. Lawrence, Church remedies, some the chemists' own recipes or Wardens. April 23. 1866". those of the owner. groom or gamekeeper. He lived alone above the shop before The chemist was the natural person tO moving to Cluddley. near Wrockwardine. compound photographic formulae using The original building dates back to tbe early metollydroguinone etc. He understood their 19th century. On the right hand side of the function and could modify the formula for a double-fronted shop there is a passage developer or fixer to suit the needs of the which led into a kitchen (now a storeroom). professional studjo photographer or lt once had a bay windnw overlooking a amateur who processed hiS own films. glass garden. and there is also a cellar. plates and paper. In the passage there Is a flight of stairs At Bates and Hunt this photographic le.ading to several rooms which had been business was conducted at the rear of the used as livi ng rooms. For many years the premises and with the advent of popular shop was heated by a gas fire and there was cameras and films. processing was under­ a coal stove at the rear but no other heat was taken for the public.. then fot other chemists provided, and many an errand boy in the area and today is a very advanced complained about ha vi ng to wash bottles in business in colour photography covering cold water. several cou nries and a large part of the El~tricity was eventually installed by Mr i=rederiok Hunc. Welsh coast. Messrs. G. H. York of New Street but some Nursjng assoctattons and doctors lt is difficult to believe that New Street of the gas fittings still remain. Outside at organised their own clubs, hospitals were was once open to two-way traffic. One the back there is a large drug warehouse in supported by philanthropic patronage and particu lar customer would drive up New which there is one of the original wells in the li11en guilds - these latter were run by Street on the wrong side, stop outside the tow n. ladies in the town who collected the sheets shop and shout his ocder from the car. A Jn the warehouse there was also an and pillow cases for use in the hospitals. new assistant thought tlte gentleman ammunition. box from 1J1e Pirst World War. The role of the chemist was then a shouted "Bronco''. a toilet roll. and This was a large steel container inside a supplier of drugs and medicines to the state delivered it to his hand to be met with a very wooden crate with rope handles each side. and to flU the needs of home nursing - colourful comment and to learn that Blanco These were used by chemists for storing steam kettles, bed pans, rubber sheeting, Pomade Hongroise Blac. for a white linseed meal and shell ac for french polishing cotton wool. thermometers, bed rests etc. moustache. was required. etc. This role has now been assumed by the Alcohol was much in use for the At the rear of the drug store another state. preparation of medicines by maceration, separate building, now used as a store. was Jt was also the period prjor to the and a good store of straw was necessary, not once a blacksmith's forge. This forge was discovery of the sulphonomide drugs and only for packing the wicker hampers but adjacent to the Shakespeare Inn (now antibiotics. when medicine consisted mainly also for providing a quiet resting place to Sidoli's) and to the Glebe Meadow where of vegetable preparations and other sleep otf the effects of partaking an occa· the horses could be turned out and where naturally occurring substances after suitable sional libation. the Tan Bank car park is now. treatment and purification. This meant that On Saturday night there was the rirual of Probably the smith shod the horses while the chemist needed an uteosive knowledge covering the windows outside with a ~ ail the owners or grooms were taking refresh· of botany and pharmacognosy. cloth ready for Sunday - the hooks and ments either in the nearby Shakespeare Inn Digitalis needed to be bought :111d to be loops still remain. Following rain over Lhe or Bulls Head (now Fine Fare). The Bulls identified correctly to avoid purchasing a lot weekend the covers ot' course had to be Head yard was also handy with its stabling. adulterated with primrose leaves which they dried. Since most of the medicines had to be closely resembled. Arsenic and strychnine For many years one of the windows was made on the premises the crude drugs were common in!lredjeots, Lhe purity of dressed with four carbQys. These had bel!n arrived packed in straw in wicker hampers. which needed to be tested with great care. used by the old apothecaries to store liquids Some of the names sound most odd - Lard (unsalted) was often the base for and medicine. and they later adopted these grains of paradise, devils dung (asafoetida), ointments, its consistency and texture had a~ their sign, In later days the carboys were wine of upium. Jesuits Bark (Cinchona) to be examined so as to melt at body jus! decorative, containing only t'Oioured while laudanum (tincture of opium) was temperature. Oranges and lemons were water.

Wellington History Group: Special Paper 3 3 Published in Shropshire Magazine, June 1982

Life in a Wellington shop in 1900 by Marjorie McCrea

A later advertisement was put in a 7d. E-8d. R-9d, X-IOd and D0-12d. Wellington Guide:- Assistants selling these garments would have the amount shown by the mark on the Thirty·flve years ago we set out to ticket. They picked up quite a good bonus in build up a reputBtion for sound value this way. but the head assistant always took and fair dealing. We succeeded and the best sales. are now known throughout a large All customers were Riven a bill which was surrounding district as the best shop put on a flle by the rill as they paid for the for everything a draper usually stocks article. nnd for many things the ordinary One customer who spent quite a lot of drtlper doe~n't stock. money but was 1.1lso rotfter dltllcult, always coming Into the shop at 6.50 on a Saturday Materlols of 1111 kinds were kept, among night nnd was usually still there at 7.JOpm. them cashmere and cashmerette for babies No one wanted to serve her as they all knew dre5$0S, very 1\ne nalnsook and cambric: for how lute they would \.le and Mr. Baxtcr often underwear. spotted muslin, black shiny went to the rescue by saying he would HENRY Bnxtct stnrte

Henry Baxtcr, Ready Money Draper Stores. now begs to announce that all deparm1ents are now well sorted up v.ith new household goods and novelities of every description, ho~iery. jackets. mantles. capes. dresses. skirts. underskirts. blouses. mackintoshes. umbrellas. gloves. belt~. costumes. sheets. quilts. blankets. aprons. pinas and overalls. Try our celebrated " Randsonia Corsets" fitted with unbreakable Market Street, Wellington, er the tum of the century. Baxters, so far BS we cttn steels 1/11'/ld, 2/lld, 3/6d. tell is right at the end of tha street. 14

4 www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com Published in Shropshire Magazine, January 1984

All apprenticed staff bad to live in. They had a housekeeper and there was a Outfitters large dining room and drawing room for their use. About 1906 he came to Wellington to work for Mr Owen. After a of few years Mr Bean went into business on his own at 2 Crown Street, where be and his family lived over the shop. old Wishing to extend his business he moved to New Street into a property which was by Marjorie McCrea then owned by Sir Thomas Meyrick. The TWO prominent business men in shop had two large windows which Mr Wellington in the early 1900's were Mr Bean himself dressed - be was considered Jack Owen and Mr Fred Bean. Both were top of the class in window dressing. He men's outritlers. Mr Owen served his was also able to guess accurately a cus­ apprenticeship at Venables, a large shop tomer's size simply by looking at him. on the corner of Walker Street (now the in those days everything possible was Halifax Building Society). displayed in the windows indicating what He was a very keen businessman and was for sale inside. If the article you re­ always smartly dressed. Clients would quired was not in the shop window you admire his clothing and give orders for rarely went inside. similar items - it was often said of him Mr Bean aJ.so sold gentlemen's jewellery that he could sell the clothes off his back! such as cuff links and tiepins. New stock His first shop was a black and white was ordered from travellers who brought building in The Square but he later moved samples of their wares with them. to Duke Street. He had a pony and trap For lhe last five years before he retired which he stabled with Mr Martin, the vet Mr Bean's sister in law, Miss Winifred on the corner of Queen Street, and be Frost, managed the business. After being would travel round the countryside calling in business for 50 years, Mr Bean sold his MrJackOwen on farmers for orders. shop in 1962. Their accounts were only paid quarterly after the sale of stock, or the hay or corn harvest. He bad a staff of special assistants in the shop to help with the cutting, measuring and fitting- Mr George Wem, Mr Fred Bean, Mr Jack Kearton and Mr Joe Dickenson. Later the last three gentlemen opened their own businesses in Wellington. Mr Owen trained appremices and bad several outdoor staff of tailors who took their work home to do. No one did a full suit - one man would make the trousers, another jackets and another waistcoats, and so on. At one period Mr Owen supplied the boys of Wellington (now Wrekin) College with their blazers, ties, caps and straw boaters. Mr Bean was born at Hack Green in Cheshire. He attended Broomhill School and was the first boy to win a scholar­ ship from there to Nantwich Grammar SchooL After leaving school he was apprenticed for about seven years to Stretch & Harleck who had a large men's outfitters in Nantwich.

Wellington History Group: Special Paper 3 5 Published in Shropshire Magazine, November 1982

Three generations ran Brittains' family business

by Marjorie McCrea

THE FIRM of Richard Brittain Lrd. They wo uld buy the fat from the local containers for the interchange of cash ~rocer and provision merchant, was markers and melt and reline it on their own between counter and ca~h desk. founded in 1826 l>y William Brittajn. He premises. There was a head man on each counter was succeeded about 1860 by his nephew, When Richard Brittain died he left two who dressed the windows and looked after Richard Brittain. sons. William and Henry. lo and I7 the stock. There was always freshly-ground Mr Richard Brittain was one of the first, respectively. Their father's executors carried cofl'ee and Brittain's had their own special if not the fir1.1, multiple shop proprietors of on the businesses tor eight years before blended tea. packed in dark blue and white his time. When he died in 1888 he owned William became manager of the Newport packets; the trade mark was Kapakowrie. shops in Newport. Wellington. Oakengates shop and Henry took charge of the shop in The tea was blended by a firm in and Shifnal. the Market Square, Wellington. Liverpool, to whom samples of the watel'li of le is interesting to note that George When Henry Brittain first came to Wellington and Newport were sent. Mason. wJ10 worked in the Newport shop WeiJington. he lived over the shop. Lnter the Greengrocery was supplied by Messrs and Inter was made manager of the family moved to Westbourne, Haygate McGowan. who had a wholesale business in Oakengates shop. established the George Road. The dining room at the shop premises Shrewsbury and a large warehouse and a Mason Multiple Stores. was then made into an office and the other special room for ripen.ing bananas at the A report in the Newport Journal of the rooms used tor stores. North Western goods yard at Bridge Road. time says that: "In the early days the The shop was double-fronred. long and Travellers called weekly. business at Newport dealt in commodities narrow. As you entered. on the right-ha11d Merchandise in those days was sent by that would seem odd in a grocery store side was the grocery counter behind which goods trains and arrived at the LMS and today. A doctor was a regular customer for were shelves and fiXtures sbowing the GWR railways at Bridge Road where it wa~ leeches at fourpence each. He also bought different types of merchandise. unloaded into drays drawn by horses and large quantities of snuff at five shillings a On the front of the counter were mounted brought to lhe warehouses at the back of the pound... glass display cases about eight inches high shop in Market Street. Another business sideline was the showing special items and new products. On The staff who delivered lhc bread during manufacture of tallow candles for the tar the \eft-hand side was the provision counter the period of horse-drawn vehicles lived pits around Ketley. Brittain's sent the behind which was a long marble slab tilled above the shop. They had to be up at Sam ro caodles out to small grocers in '!he Ketley with different joints of bacon. shoulder. feed the horses stabled in Haygate Road: area. middle cut. belly, gammon, ham and they then had tlleir breakfast and began Mioers at the time refused to use wax tongue. large rou.nds of New Zealand and their rounds at 8am. The shop hours were candles so the demand for them in the days Danish butter. margarine, lard and cheese from Sam to 7pm with a half day on a betore the introduction of the Davey lamp of every type. Friday. must have been ex-tensive. Although people At the back of the shop was the cash desk Brittain's had a very good delivery service sometimes made the candles for themselves. connected to the counters by a cash railway, and customers would call in weekly with Brittain's were tbe only commercial a mechanical device of a series of overhead lists of groceries they required. Bacon was maiUifacturers in the area. wires on which ran small cup-shaped freshly cut for each customer; one pound or half a pound pieces of butter or margarine would be cut from the main mounds and patted into shape with decoratively marked !.>utter pats. These were wooden instruments for working the butter into shape. When Mr Brittain went to live at Westboume he bought the large piece of land behind tlte house, running down to West Road. He employed a gardener to grow fruit and vegetables and eventually made him manager of the fruit and vegetable shop he opened in Market Street. About 191.3 Brittain's Model Bakery was built in Haygate Road in front of the stables (where Furrows is now). Brirrain's were the first to wrap bread by machinery. They charged a .halfpenny more and called it "Untouched Bread by Hand". A free sample loaf was sent to customers. Between 1914- I 5 tltey had motor vans. dark green in colour with gold lettering lined in black. The slogan on the vans was "QuaJity''. In 1924 the tirm began using a-generator to provide electricity and also in 1924 Mr Brirtain opened a cafe and cake shop next door to the grocery business; morning coffee wtlS served and there were tea rooms up­ stairs. Richard Brittain's business was operated by three generations of the family before being sold in October 1943 to Morris's of Shrewsbury.

6 www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com Published in Shropshire Magazine, September 1982

The life and times of a Wellington jeweller and clockmaker

by Marjorie McCrea

THE Fl RM of G W. Haney was In 1935 the following advertisement was man must have been watching the shop for established at 4 Market Street, Wellington put in the Wellington. Shropshire Official some days. in 1860. John Ha ney, who was born in Guide: Later Mr Harvcy acted as consultant with Kirkwall, Orkney Isles. learned his trade as his daughter in charge. He allended a clpck and watchmaker in Edinburgh and G. W. Harvey, Watchmaker. Jeweller. business daily until two weeks before he died came to Wellington with his wife Janet. who Silversmith - Established for three on December 26, 1939 in his Sist year. was also born in the Orkneys, and one quarters of a century. One of the Mr Harvey was a Freeman or the City of daughter about 1858. Their son George largest assorted stocks in the County of London. a member of Wellington U.O.C. William Harve)' wa' born in 1859. watches, clocks, jewellery. silver, since its inception, a member of Shropshire The watch and clock business was started electro plate. etc. Your own inte~sts County Council, JuSlice of the Peace, in 1860 and later developed as a jeweller's will ben be served by utilising our long Governor of Wellington High School and experience when buying a watch or and silversmith\. The ~hop was double Governor of several local elementary fronted and the~ were se,•eral glass cases in clock. schools. the shop lilled with clocks, watches, Beside.\ Mr Harvcy's daughter, who had In October, 1940, the coke tired stove in silverware and glu~~ware. A large glas~ case been taught the business, there were two the cellar for the central heating had been lit in the centre contained cur glass, and there other assi~ta nts in the shop and upstairs in for the first time. At about 3pm Helen was a counter case where the jewellery was the repair shops there was a watchmaker. a Harvey came out of a first floor office to find displayed. je"eller and clockwinder. the whole stafT downs1airs on the floor or In 1898 son George. who by then had One morning when the assistants arrived crawling up the stairs. overcome by the followed in the business. qualified as an they found a burglar had taken all the fumes. Fortunately. with treatment. they all optician and set up ~•ght testing rooms at jewellery from the main window. It was reeo,·ered in ~ever:tl hours. but they could the Market Street \hop over the jewellery ~urmised that he had got through a small have been killed. The heating was depanment. At that time and for many window in the repair shop upstairs. After immediately ehnnged to gas. years later there was an iron ~piral staircase that all jewellery was locked up in the safe at Helen Harvey <.'Ontinued with the business from the shop to the firsl noor. night. The burglar was never traced. and the same staiT. In (I short time her two Communication from the ground floor to Another time a man came into rhe shop younger sisters joined the business and all the upstair~ room~ wa~ made by speaking during the tea break when there were fewer ca rried on until 1966 when the busine.u was tube. The staircase was replaced later when a~si~tants about. He slashed the counter ~old to W. A. Henn and Son Limited of the shop was enlarged. ca~e from top to bottom. The girl in the Wolverhampton. A new shop front was put Until the First World War much jewellery shop shouted for help and this startled the in, the property remaining in the Harvey wa\ manufactured on the premises - rings. mnn and he ran ou t of the shop. family. brooches. pendant\, etc., in gold and The assistant went after him and Nut month Mat;lorle McCrea record• the precious stones. and customers' own fortunately there was a policeman in the story of a watchmaker who was apprenticed Jewellery wn~ remounted. mad who arrested him. They thought the to Mr l:larvey In the early 1920's. In 1918 Geor!(e Hurvey, owing to ill henlrh due to shock and sadness at the loss ol his only son William who was killed in action on the Somme in July 1916 (and 1\hom he had hoped would folio" in the family businen), decided to put a manager in the jewellel')· busene~~ in Market Street. He himself would continue only as an optician. for which purpose he bought a double fronted ~hop in Crown Street. Both businesse~ continued in this way for several years. In 1924 the following ad1•ertisernents were put in All Saints' Church parish maga:cine:· Harveys - cash jewellery stores. 4 Market Street, Wellington. 9ct IS jev.el lever watch with expanding br:Jcelet £3 - S\. G. W. Harvey F.S.M.C .. B.O.A., F.I.O.. 7 Crown Street. Wellington. Eyesight i~ a blcs~ing which is not appreciated as it should be. At the tir~t indication of di~comfort one should at once consult an eyesight specialist In due course Mr Harvey's daughter Helen took an interest in the jewellery and ~ilvc r~mith bu~ines~ and Mr Harvey, when his health recovered. put a qualified manager at Crown Street (the optical business was eventuall) \Old to J. Lueking and Company, Birmingham) and he returned to Market Street. Harvey's shop front et 4 Market Street 11bour 1912. 16

Wellington History Group: Special Paper 3 7 Published in Shropshire Magazine, October 1982

Recollections of a watchmaker's apprentice in 1921 as told to Marjorie McCrea

I LEFT school at the age of I 5 and went winding up their clocks and settmg them the 25 guests at the Hall they wanted the clock to G. W. HarYey, at 4 Market Street. right time. going. Wellington. to learn the watch, clock and The jeweller used to do this but it soon Two of us were sent out on the Saturday jeweiJery repair trade in September. 1921. I became my job. I used to set out early on a afternoon. When we arrived the key to the was not a bound apprentice in the ordinary Saturday morning to be at Orleton Hall door of the stairs which led up to the clock way. I worked without pay until Christmas before Barn so that I could go through the could not be found. Peter Herbert came of that year. after which I was paid 2s. 6d. house before the residents were about. along with a bunch of keys but none would (12V, p) per week, increasing from time to There were six or seven clocks to wi nd tit. time to SSs. (£2. 75) when I left in I 93 1 to including a Ycry Ya luable grandfather Apparently the head gardener had gone start a business. of my own. month dock made by the famous clock­ to the football match with the key in his ln 1921 there were other workmen em­ maker. Thomas Tom pion. This stood at the pocket, so we had to wait until he came ployed - a fulltime watchmaker. a watch top of the stairs on the first landing. Nearby back, spending the time in the large kit· and clock repairer and a jeweller. These was a large oak chest on which Colonel chen, sampling mince pies and other men could do each other's job if necessary. I Herbert used to leave his gold watch and goodies the cook was preparing for was put with the jeweller who could also carriage clock to be wound and set at the Christmas Day. stand in as cloclcmaker. The first job I right time. High Ercall Church clock often stopped teamed wa.~ putting (>ins on brooches. We There was also the clock OYer the lychgate in the SJ!ring_ because birds got in the tower did all sorts of repalfs to rings. necklets. arch with an outside dial facing tl1e house. and bui.lt nests in the works, so stopping brooches. also large silverware such as jugs In the lychgate were two or three small the clock. We were taken to Waters Upton and teapots. silver backed brushes and rooms where the apples and pears were Church clock on one fine summer day. mirrors. stored from the garden. The temptation to We took the clock to pieces and laid all We also made and fitted silver bands for help oneself on occasions was irresistible. tne parts on one of the Oat grave stones and walking sticks a nd presentation plates for From here I had to walk through Wrock· set about cleaning them with paraffin. fixing on clocks etc. There were three wardine to Admaston to wind one at Clock Eventually we ran out of paraffin and as workshops. one for each trade. About six House. This was also over an archway. there was no supply in the vtll age we helped months after I started . the clock man left so At that time there was an avenue of ourselves to paraffin from the church oil clock repairs were done by the jeweller and walnut trees along the drive so in season I lamps. I never heard if the lamps went out myself. ot\en came home with a bag of walnuts. during the evening service. later on the jeweller left and as there was After Admaston I would walk back to Ooe often had to improvise on these jobs. a recession about that time. no more staff Wellington. nipping home for a coffee and At li ttle Wentock the hands of the church were taken on. This left just two of us. the then on to the Holyhead Road to the Old clock had got caught up together. We fulltime watchmaker and myself. Hall School. They also had a clock with an searched the village for a ladder but the only I had to dodge about the three workshops outside dial. After lunch I finished up at the one we could fi nd did not reach quite high as the different repairs came in so getting a Hiart ladies College. enough. so we borrowed a hoe from a nearby good grounding in all departments. As clockmakers we had other journeys garden and standing on top of the ladder The watches we repaired at that time were out to church clocks. I can recall several of prised the hands apart. mostly silver and gold pocket watches. We these visits. One story concerns the Orleton One other journey which comes to mind often had to turn balance staffs and make Hall lychgate clock. Christmas EYe that year was to Wroxetcr Church clock. The Har· parts for watches and clocks. An interesting was on a Saturday. The jeweller had done vey's car was out of order so the problem side was the outside work. We had church the round that morning. At lunchtime came was how to get there. I was a keen cyclist at clocks to look after and a winding round a telephone call from the Hall saying the the rime and owned a tandem. The result which consisted of visiting various houses. lychgate clock had stopped and as they had was that two of us set out for Wroxeter on the tandem. Thi~ musr have been the only time two clockmakers were sent out tO a church on a tandem. At one time the Wellington Parish Church clock had to be wound up every day. This was done by the verger and at one Jl4:riod when they were without a verger the JOb fell to me. Another memory of Harveys was the four hanging gas lamps outside the shop which were lit every night The shop was heated by hot water from a boiler in the cellar fed with coke. From time to time a load of coke was tipped in the street in ftont of the shop and had to be shovelled in through a hole under the shop window. Imagine a load of coke dropped into tne middle of Market Street today. There were no radio time signals in those days and on a Monday morning at ten o'clock all the watchmakers in the to"n congregated outside the telegraph office on Wellington Station to hear the IOnm time signal come through. This apparently went through to all stations. We then set our watches and this was the standard time for the rest of the week.

8 www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com Published in Shropshire Magazine, December 1982

Marjorie McCrea talks to Joseph Profit Millichap and teams about

The life and times of a I remarkable' gardener

Mr Joseph Profit Millichap was born on The Wellin~on Urban District Council March 1. 1892, at Nannerch. near Mold. the agreed provtded an alternative road was youngest or eight children- three girls and made. Mr Millichap, that remarkable man, five boys. with the help of his gardeners. created the He began his gardening career at the age present sweep of road that linked of 14 at Penbedw Hall where he stayed for Sutherland Avenue and Prospect and three years. He had to walk one mile and Waterloo Roads. usually took his lunch with him: later he " This doubled the extent of the 'home' had a bicycle and was able to get home for ground and the laying down of the Bayley lunch. Walk with its herbaceous borders followed, He began work at 7a.m, finished at and the dream of Wrekin as a school in a 5.30pm and had a half-day on Saturday. garden had begun." There were eight gardeners at the RaU ; the Most of the work wa.~ done in the old­ grounds were large with several lawns and fashioned way with spades and forks. with nower gardens. no mechanical tools except mowers. ln 1930 Mr MiJJichap worked mosl..ly in the the school was in need of new playing fields. greenhouses and orchard house potting the Mr Millichap was appointed landscape differenl fruit trees. Then one of the gar­ gardener, clerk of the works and head deners left Penbedw Hall to take up the foreman. position of head gardener at Cloverley Hall The field covered nine acres. and the drop near Whitchurch, and he asked Mr Mr Joseph Profit MJJricll•sp. from the school to the east end was 20ft. It Millichap to go with him. Pitford House, Newcastle-under- as was a gigantic task moving tons of earth, Ar Cloverley Mr Millichap lived on the head gardener, and from there to Apley draining, levelling and sowing grass, which estate in a bothy. This was a row of rooms Castle as head gardener to Sir Thomas was completed in a year. on the level with bedrooms and a living Meyrick. When Mr Millichap retired he moved to a room. There was a woman to clean and In 1918 after war work on the rajJways. he house from which he can sti ll see the school make the beds and get the mid-day meal. was appointed head gardener at Wreltin he served so long and faithfully. For breakfast and tea there was a duty College by Mr John Bayley (later Sir John On his 90th birthday he was entertained rota fo r the gardeners and the senior Bayley). where he stayed for 45 years, by the headmaster and staff of Wrekin gardener would buy in the food which each servin$ under five headmasters. College. man would pay for. Mr Millichap rose at Dunng this period the college grew Mr Millichap was at one time a member 6am and worked to Spm, except when he numerically and needed new buildings, so or the Shropshire Horticultural Society was on late duties, to see to the fires in the Mr Millichap became responsible for the Committee and is now a vice-president. He greenhou.~es. layin$ out of the grounds. The form this has judged village gardens, taken part in Entertainment included soci.als held in took 1s described ln this extract from A Brief garden quiz programmes, and helped the school, visits to other estates. and Mr History of Wrekin College. by B. C. W. decorate various churches for Easter and Millichap also sang in the church choir. Johnson: "In 1927 Stanley Road, which ran harvest festivals. In 1959 he was awarded From Cloverley he went to Shavington from Sutherland Road to Waterloo Road, the long service medal of the Royal Hor­ Hall, the home of Col Herwood-IAnsdale. was incorporated into the school ~rounds. ticultural Society. who regularly exhibited fruJt and vegetables at Shrewsbury Flower Show. His next appointment was as second gardener at Bedstone Court. Bucknall (now a school). He was still living on the estate in bothies, but here he met his first wife. Miss Alice FJeUs. Her family Jived in Wellington, her mother being employed at Apley Casl..le. After he was married. in 1913, he went to

Wellington History Group: Special Paper 3 9 Published in Shropshire Magazine, June 1983

A draper's record - at Wellington by M arjorie McCre a

ERNEST MYNETT was born on a small They wore black dresses and black farm in Worcestershire in 1865 and died in aorons which they bought themselves and 1945 aged 80. He served his apprenticeship each had a pencil and a pair of draper's in London and for a time was an assistant scissors which they bung round their waists at a drapers in Bristol. or1 black tape. Brass measures were screwed ln 1904 Mr Mynet1 had a shop in Crown on t.he counters and they had wooden yard Street, Wellington. Between 1905 and 1907 sticks which were checked by the weights he moved to 27 New Street, a property and measures inspectors. owned by the Meynck family of Apley An errand boy was employed to work Castle. each day after school hours and all day For a time he and his wife lived over the Saturday. A large black hat box with a shop, then in 1916 Mr Mynett bought the strap on top was kept for him to deliver the property, the family having moved to hats which the milliner had made; he also Oreystones,, a house in Victoria Avenue. dclivered parcels and bills locally. Between Eventually they had a house build at 97 errands he would tidy up the paper a nd Haygate Road which t.hey called Abberley. cardboard boxes. No. 27 New Street was a double fronted Customers could have goods on appro shop. Inside were long counters containing and bills were sent o ut monlhly. Mr heavy drawers, running down either side of Mvnett tendered to supply clothes to the the shop, and two showrooms. Just before children at the Preston Trust Homes. the first showroom there was a flight of When t.he children were going to their first stairs to the upper floor; the second show­ job in service each child was given a case room had a large French window which led containing two of everything - boots, into the station path. stockings, underwear, gloves, morning and As you came into the shop the right afternoon dresses, aprons, capes and a coat hand side was called tbe Manchester and best dress. Department where they sold the Oxford During stocktaking all the large rolls of cotton shirting, blue and white flannel. material would have to be unrolled and union shining which was a mixture or measured, and the ribbons, too, of which cotton and wool, bed li.nen, white and there were very many in those davs. unbleached calico, towels and tarantulle for Commercial travellers came train and underwear. by the goods they brought with them were The opposite counter was for ribbon and laces, tauchion and valentine lace, gloves packed in skips and put in the luggage vans. On arrival at the station the porters wheeled and stockings. All the stockings and gloves bad to have price tickets on them and they the skips on truck$ to the shops. were lied up in their different sizes in a There were blue linen blinds on the dark cream paper; the staff had to ensure windows and these were drawn every night. that the string was tied in a special slip knot The senior assistant called at Mr Mynett's so that the packets could be opened easily. house every morning for the key and There were rods at ceiling height from opened the shop. wall to wall from which different goods On a Saturday evening as the shop was were hung; moire waist pettiCoats in all open until9pm Mrs Mynett would send the different colours, camisoles, knickers, maid down from Victoria Avenue with a combinations etc. These were changed large jug of cocoa for the staff and one of weekly and were all covered at night before the shop closed. the staff would go round to Heaths for The first showroom had rails of coats, some cakes. dresses, jackets and all kinds of materials One Saturday there was a hospital for dresses and skirts. The second show­ carnival in the town and Mr MyneU room was fQr milline.ry. A milliner was proposed that one of the staff should go as employed to make hats from buckram a nurse and suggested that if her father, shapes and alter and trim hats. ln this who owned a bicycle shop, would lend him showroom there was a gas fire and gas ring a bicycle he would dress it as a hospital for the heating of the Oat irons which the ward. miUiner required to press the buckram into Mr Mynett covered the wheels with shape. material and the spokes with different Mr Mynett always dressed the windows coloured wools. The seat was removed and himself, and dealt with the accounts. The a wooden frame put round which was shop was open from 8.30am until ?pm covered with yellow satin; the •noor' of the except on Friday which was halfday closing. ward was covered with black and white On Saturday it stayed open until 9pm. Mr check paper. Mynett employed between four and six assistants, and two apprentices who did not Dolls were used as patients and nurses receive any wages for three years and were were dressed accordingly. Miniature bottles not allowed to work after 8pm. For the first and pills and other items you would f'md in month they did not serve customers but a ward were added. Jt carried a notice tidied up and dusted the shelves. saying ''Help the Hospital". The errand The staff had an hour for lunch and three boy wheeled it round the town and it won quarters of an hour for tea for which they first prize. used one of the rooms on the upper floor; WhGIO Mr Mynett retired in 193 1 he let ten days' holiday and were allowed a the shop at first to Mr Knowles and then discount when they bought anything out of to Mr Daffern to whom he eventually sold the shop. it. 11 is now the Paint and Tool Shop. 21

10 www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com Published in Shropshire Magazine, August 1983

When sirloin was a shilling a pound • • •

by Marjorie McCrea

Frank Onions .was a well known Factory was built many Germans were butcher in Wellington for 58 years. He employed to do the work, who did not was born at Milford in Staffordshire but speak English. When they needed meat his family later moved to Moretoo, near from Mr Onions ordering was done by, Newport, where his father was the local sign language - amusing at times when policeman. they pointed to different parts of their Mr Onions served his apprenticeship at b~y. ' Newport, completing the course with Food, of course, was rationed during W. H. Mason - it was there he met his the war and the meat ration for each wife who was working in the office. About person was a shilling (five pence) per 1910 Mr Onions moved to Wellington week. This was often made up of ten­ to manage a shop in New Street for pence of meat and twopence of corned W. H. Mason (it is now J. Jeffries & beef. Son cake shop). At that time brisket of beef was six­ In 1914 the business moved to 30 New pence a pound,' topside one and twopence Street. During the first world war, while a pound and sirloin a shilling a pound; hip Mr Onions was in the services, his wife bone steak was one and sixpence a pound. managed tbe shop and on his return from The main difference in cutting meat the war he bought the business from then was that most of it was sold on the W. H. Mason. bone and cut to the customers• require· In 1865 30 New Street had been a ments. baker's shop and in the photograph The sbop had many errand boys over accompanying this article is shown the the years who de)jvered orders by bicycle; authoress Hesba Stretton visiting it. Her there was aJso a pony and cart with which father had a bookshop combined with a to deliver lhe bulk of the weekend orders. post office in New Street in J 832. The top of the cart was taken off when Alterations to the shop had taken th~y needed to transport carcases from place previously, but the office in the the slaughter house to the shop. corner with the curved roof bad been a Shop opening hours were long - from stick-oven where the bread was baked. 8am until 7 and IOpm, depending on The walls were of wattle and daub and demand. Housewives who did not receive Mr Onions completely tiled them and their husbands' wages until Saturday 30 New St1eet, Wellington, in the days installed a wi.ndow and marble .slab. evening would travel by train from Hadley when it was a baker's shop. The Before, there had been a three-sectional to Wellington to do their shopping then. authotess Hesbs Strerron is about to window which was taken out on market Mr Onions, whose son Stanley joined enter the shop. days to enable him to seU meat f.rom the the business in 1934, worked in the shop front of the shop. until he died in 1968, and the business From 1930 to 1950 the family lived on was sold in 1973. a smaUholding at Haybridge where Mr Onions reared pigs. He al$o bought animals at the srnithfield in Bridge Road and had to drive them from there, aJong WaJker Street and up Tan Bank to his slaughter house which was situated behind what is now the Information Bureau. On one occasion a young heifer went up the YMCA stairs in WaJker Street, through the billiard room while games were in progress, and down the stairs into Tan Bank. Another time 20 sheep called on Percy Potts who bad a shoe repairing shop in WaJker Street. At first Mr Onions bad to use a pole­ axe in his slaughter house, but in 1934 the humane killer was introduced. This was not electric but activated by a cart­ ridge. The only lighting was provided by candles and hurricane lamps. They made sausages with a machine which was belt driven. by a petrol engine, and prepared their own seasoning. The large blocks of saJt were crushed with a rolling pin, and pepper and spice added. The refrigerator in the early days was not electric but an ice box, and the big blocks of ioe had to be collected from the railway station, broken up and put in a cylinder in the ice box. A decidedly different shop frontage for 30 New Street - and a before and after view In 1927 when the Allscott Sugar Beet ofMr Onions' produce/ 39

Wellington Hiastory Group Special Paper 3 11 Published in Shropshire Magazine, July 1982

1924 - when a perm cost £1 and a haircut a shilling

by Marjorie McCrea

IN 1868 Mr F. Rkhards, who had been son Bert bought the business from his 6 Church Street. The leading hair­ living in Godleigh, Devon, came to mother. There wer-e two men on the staff dresser and tobacconist. Agent for Wellington and opened a hairdresser and and their working hours were from 8am to Sprok. Auto strop, Gillette and tobacconist shop at No. 6 Church Streetj 9pm. Clemak razors. Toilet requisites, which was situated where the Nationa At this time the business was mostly for fringe nets. side and back combs. All Westminster Bank now stands. cutting men's and boys' hair and shaving. kinds of hairwork made to order. State In those days the patch of land in front, Many men went to their barbers to be cigarettes. Umbrellas recovered and now a car park, was called The Green and shaved then and this was one of the reasons repaired. was often used for an open market, allowing for opening the shop so early in the Mr Bert Richards was hairdresser to Sir vendors to put up their stalls for all k iods of morning. I n 1916 the following advertise­ Thomas Meyrick and his family, who lived wares. ment was put in the Wetlington Directory - at Apley Castle, and visited them on a About 1910 Mr Richards died and his B. Richards - Established 1868, regular basis. Sir Thomas often sent peaches and grapes to the Richards' family when they had illness. Mr Richards also had a contrac1 to cut the boys' hair at the Wrekin College. While the business was at No. 6 Church Street, the family Jived over the shop and strangely enough Mr Richards reared pigs at the back. a butcher from Oakengates coming to kiU them when required. Mr Richards divided the spoil among his neighbours. In 1920 Mr Richards moved to No. 9 Market Square as he needed larger premises and the family then went to live in Vineyard Road. Mr Richards opened the shop at No. 9 Market Square as a ladies' and gentlemen's hairdresser with modern salons and equipment and more staff were engaged. There was only gas In shops then and waving was done by heating tongs on gas jets. Shaving was still very much a part of the barber's job and many of the shop owners around would be on the doorstep early in a morning waiting for their first shave. The hours of working changed to 8.JOam to 7pm. During the 1930's the charges were Jd for a shave. 6d (2'/lp) for a man's haircut and Is. (five p) for a lady's haircut. Mr Richards made special cigarettes on a machine for some of his customers. When Mr Roland Meyrick came into town in his car he would stop outside Richards' and call until someone came out of the shop to serve him. The hairdressing salon was upstairs and to keep the younger children quiet while having their hair cut, they would be put in tall chairs facing the windows and told to watch the trains passing through Wellington station. About 1924 Mr Richards and the owners of other shops adjacent to No. 9 Market Square decided to buy an engine and generator to make their own electricity. The apparatus was installed in a shed at the rear of Richard Brittain's shop. With elec1ricity in the shop, customers were able to have a perm for 21s. (£I. Sp) and shampoo and set for Js. (15p). They were also able to have high frequency treatment for loss of hair. On Mondays, cattle market day, they were always very busy, the farmers and their wives coming in for haircuts and perms. Also the farmers bought walking sticks and their weekly supply of tobacco.

12 www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com Published in Shropshire Magazine, January 1983 How a Wellington man moved with the times from shoeing horses to engineering

by Marjorie McCrea

Mr George Ernest Turner first became for the COD, Donnington, eleclricity, gas acquainted with the blacksmith's shop in and water boards. ln the early days steel Market Street, Wellington, in 1944, when bolts etc. were very difficult to obtain so he on being medically discharged from the bad to make several visits to scrap metal RAF he got a job as fitter welder with John yards for material. Bromley and Company, agricultural New springs for lorries and cars were engineers, who owned the site which is now unobtainable for some years after the war Hall, Wateridge and Owen. so he specialise-d in setting up and He had always cherished an ambition to retempering car and lorry road springs. To have a business of his own and was cope with the volume of work he built continually looking for somewhere suitable. another forge. In 1948 the blacksmith, M.r Harry Ralphs, The Tronbridge Power Station provided died suddenly leaving Ercall Works at 21 work for many years and he was obliged to Market Street with no one to carry on the buy another mobile welding plant. business of shoeing and general smith and At one time there were several firms who wheelwright. serviced lawn mowers but as these dis­ As there were already two men employed appeared he installed the necessary there this was rather a bigger undertaking machinery and provided a lawn mower than he was really looking for but he took Mr George Ernest Turner - retired repair service. the plunge and went to see Mr Edward engineer and gunsmith. From earJy childhood Mr TUrner had Turner of Turners Corn Stores to whom the always been fascinated by guns, cartridges property belonged. and shooting. He can remember as a youth Mr Turner had bought the property equipment - his first electric welding acquiring all sorts of old guns and air intending to enlarge the corn stores at a plant. rifles which he would take to pieces, clean future date, but as building restrictions Thus equipped he could himself cut and and reassemble and if there was a part were very difficult at that time, he agreed reweld a tyre in less time than it used to missing design and make it. This often to rent the premises to him but on an take by the old method where two men had involved weeks of experimental work but annual basis only. This George Turner to do it on the forge. Gradually all vehicles the success was worth it. agreed to and began his tenancy on were fitted with pneumatic tyres and so H e acquired a reputation as a gunsmith December 12, 1948. re-hooping became extinct. and for some years beore the war he was Ercall Works occupied a site of 5,000 There was a considerable amount of being entrusted with various repairs. square feet between what was Turners Corn horse shoeing still to be done up to 1955, During his service in the RAF most of his Stores and the Wrekin Brewery, which is in Wellington alone. There were horses time was spent in the Armoury which gave now demolished. The blacksmith's shop used by British Rail, Grooms Timber Yard him valuable experience. was simply some old two-up and rwo-down (now closed), Wellil:\gton Urban District ln tlle 1950s be decided to try to use the cottages with most of the internal walls Council and several others for local experience he had gained as a gunsmith removed and had formerly been known as deliveries. In addition horses were used for and displayed one or two guns and air rifles Butcher's Row. most of the work on farms, until, gradually, in the shop window, and undertook gun There were some lean-to sheds open at mechanisation replaced them all. repairs. This side of the business grew over the front along one side which comprised Mr Turner moved with the times and the years. the shoeing shed and wheelwright shop. devloped a considerable welding and steel On several occasions he had to extend There was provision for ~ horses to be tied fabrication and general engineering busi­ the gun shop until the whole of the road up so one can imagine the amount of ness. This called for new equipment and frontage that had been the blacksmith's shoeing that was carried out there. soon there we re tWo oxygen-acetylene shop was full of guns, ri fles and air rifles. During the next few years of his occupation plants, three electric welding plants in full He was interested in clay pigeon shooting of the site, considerable changes took place use and also an engine driven electric and made eouioment for the West Midlands in many ways - horses giving way to welding mobile plant for use on open coal Show and other events. His interest in shoot­ tractors and to various types ot mechanised sites which were then busy in the area. ing encouraged him to develop a school for machinery. The old iron tyred carts and The change in agricullural machinery the purpose of teaching orhers to shoot wagons were gradually being replaced by also provided much work converting horse­ properly. pneumatic tyred vehicles, more and more drawn implements for tractor use and for A few years before Mr Turned retired he p~ople were replacing the horse and trap three point linkage removing the horse was able lo buy the premises. and after he wtth a motor car. shafts from carts and drays and fitting them retired he sold them to Wase and Wedge, M.r Turner recalled that 1949 was a very with drawbars, scrapping tlte old wheels heating engineers and plumbers. dry year, consequently the wooden wheels and axles and fitting old motor wheels and For most of the time that Mr Turner dried out and so the iron tyres became axles. had. the business, he lived in Bridge Road loose. This involved a lot of rehooping, All this extra work was too much for the in a house called Norbury, nearly opposite i.e. cutting tbe tyre and cutting an inch or premises in their original state and so the Clifton Cinema. In days gone by more out of it to make it smaller than the the landlord agreed to le t Mr Turner have Norbury was a public house called the wbeel, welding it up again and then heating them on lease which made it worthwhile for Travellers' Rest. to red bot and shrinking on to the wheel htm to bUild a new work shop with a M.r Turner said he could well believe that again. concrete floor. was so because of the unusual amount of Mr Turner was able to save much hard As a result of his fabrication work be cellarage and steps leading to the cellars work on this particular job because when was approached by Salop County Council from inside the house and from the pave­ he took over the business he had installed to supply and fit ironwork for school ment outside. Norbury and the adjoining oxygen-acetylene cutting and welding buildings. Mr Turner also carried out work cottages have now been demolished. 25

DISCLAIMER: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication is correct at the time of going to press. Wellington History Group cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor do opinions expressed necessarily reflect the official view of the Group. All articles and photographs are copyright of the authors or members of the Group and must not be reproduced without prior permission and due credit being given. Please address correspondence to: Joy Rebello, Secretary, Wellington History Group, 6 Barnfield Crescent, Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 2ES.

Wellington History Group: Special Paper 3 13 ADDITIONAL NOTES BY GEORGE EVANS

hen I first met Marjorie now there’d be armed police, the SAS who later set up on his own in McCrea, she was in and I’d be arrested for terrorism. Walker Street and sold out to Bill charge of the filing There’s progress! Thorley. George Harvey’s daughters, W Ashley Walters was manager at who managed the jeweller’s, were system at Joseph Sankey and Sons’ Hadley Castle Works. It was in New Street when I challenged him to almost always called ‘the Miss 1941 and I was sent to her with an cure my cold. ‘You have a shop full of Harveys’ instead of ‘the Misses inquiry from our office. Afterwards cold remedies,’ I said, ‘you give me Harvey’. one and I will take it exactly as you Page 8: JRL, the apprentice it became clear that they had sent say. If it cures me in two days I’ll pay watchmaker reminds us of the the office junior because the others double. If not I won’t pay.’ ‘No deal,’ amount of ‘outwork’ that used to be didn’t dare go. She was known he replied. The glass carboys and done and the time it would have officially as MISS McCrea and several other parts of the New Street taken without transport except for behind her back as Mother McCrea. shop’s furniture are on display in ‘Shanks’ Pony’. Work is far less She had a reputation for Blists Hill Museum. I seem to physical now. What a pity we still precision, accuracy and not suffering remember ‘Huntvita’ as a trade name don’t know the origin of the strange fools at all; certainly not gladly. The for their involvement in Africa. clockface on the south side of All required information was produced Page 4: Henry Baxter, as well as Saints. and handed over quickly and I was being all the things Marjorie says, Page 9: Joseph Profit Millichap; I shooed out before I had a chance to wrote a history of Wellington which did not know him. chat up any of the girls. he had bound and kept for reference Page 10: Ernest Mynett; All I Much later I was to admire her in the library; perhaps it’s the first of remember of Mynett is the name. My accuracy and ability to write its kind. He was famous for greeting second cousin Jeffrey Daffern had succinctly for the Shropshire his customers and calling over his that shop later with his father Magazine on many local topics. shoulder for an assistant with the Orlando. Later, as her eyesight deteriorated, word, ‘Forward!’ Page 11: Frank Onions the she often rang and I occasionally Page 5: Fred Bean is remembered butcher was one of the best of the visited her at home in Albert Road, in his New Street shop as a many butchers in Wellington before the house in which John Bayley had ‘gentlemen’s outfitter’ selling supermarkets took so much of the started his school. She was fifteen everything a smart gentleman food trade. One wonders how the years older than me and was having needed. At his closing down sale in few remaining butchers survive so great difficulty moving and seeing. 1962, I tried to buy a bowler hat but well. Mason’s shop later became Her mind and memory, however, he did not have my size and shape. Jefferies, bakers as Marjorie says, and were just as sharp as ever and I was Jack Kearton’s shop was similar. Joe is now a smart, traditional sweet surprised to find she had a keen Dickenson set up at the bottom of shop. Stray, frightened animals sense of humour. Tan Bank and his daughter, Peggy wandering the streets used to be Here are a few of my own took over later. common and small herds driven memories of the Wellington Page 6: Richard Brittain and his through town quite usual, especially tradesmen mentioned in Miss family built up a business empire on Mondays when the cattle market McCrea’s articles . . . over the years, which many of us (where Morrisons supermarket is Page 2: Barlow’s Hairdressers were sorry to learn had been sold to now) was trading. was most remarkable for its scents; the Shrewsbury firm of Morris. Their Page 12: Richards, hairdresser, walking past there was a very strong bakery in Haygate Road was very tobacconist, etc. When I was about 15 odour of brilliantine, soap, shampoo modern though my family preferred I remember moving my custom from and various perfumes. It was a bit Frost’s bread. The grocery shop had the sweet shop next door to Richards too ‘High Class’ (expensive) for us the most wonderful collection of and buying a pipe and some tobacco. but as a boy and later a father, I had smells including roast coffee beans, It seemed part of growing up. They to admire the range of toys – cheeses (some quite pungent), bacon, also sold Turkish cigarettes, oval especially cars. tea, soap and newly baked bread. ones with a special scent, and Page 3: Bates and Hunt, chemists The next door café had morning menthol ones that were ‘healthy’ and when I remember them, had shops in coffee, which I remember drinking cured colds. Walking sticks were 1s Market Square and New Street. Some with my father on ‘D’ Day while on 6d though you could get one for 1s of us think the Market Square shop embarkation leave. 3d in other shops. was William Withering’s birthplace Page 7: G W Harvey the jeweller, Page 13: George Ernest Turner although we cannot prove it. Before watchmaker and optician, while was certainly a remarkably talented the Last World War I had a chemistry making a good living with his family man who was able to do a great set consisting of various chemicals business, also contributed to his variety of jobs – and do them all very which could be mixed for town as a councillor for Wellington well. He repaired my father’s old ‘experiments’. I used to go to the Urban District, which accounts for shot gun, with which he defended chemist for refills of sulphuric, Harvey Crescent in Arleston being Admaston from the whole might of hydrochloric or nitric acid, iron named after him. His optician’s shop Hitler’s Third Reich (please see page filings, copper sulphate, saltpetre in Crown Street was, during the Last 2 of Wellingtonia issue 7 for further and such things. If I asked for them World War, managed by John Hall, details.)

14 www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com