| Leyland Cross |
| dampslad | I think my brother Frank in the USA ("Anacortesdamp") started the Old Business correspondence. That and a recent visit to the splendid new Tesco set my memory off.
I was brought up just a few yeards from the Cross at No 7 Curch Road (we sold it to Drs Raven, McDowell and Hall for a surgery in about 1960). In the 50s the area was still very much the old village centre. I wonder who can remember the shops I was sent on errands to as a kid? Try these - in order as far as I can remember:-
Jimmy Lord's butcher's at the top of Fox Lane behind what was then the Bay Horse. Next to the Bay Horse in Towngate a newsagent's - Threlfall's in the 50s then later Dobon's and Penswick's - Harry Threlfall's printer's; a grocer's run in the 50s by Prudence Threlfall and later for many years by Bob Bentham; Edna Noon's gown shop (later Tudor House); a tiny front-room sub branch of the Midland Bank; Harold Baron's saleroom and estate agent's office; The District Bank (later NatWest) on the corner of Cow Lane; Frank Singleton's grocer's; the Express Cleaners; the Electricity Showrooms; Robinson's florist's; Waring's outfitters. Then on the other side of the Public Hall and council yard, the Co-op; Shorrock's butcher's and Melia's grocer's on the corner of Spring Gardens.
Turning round and coming ack - if you can stand it - John Tomlinson's woodyard offices on the corner of William Street; a tiny front room harberdashery; Chisnall's baby shop; Mrs Knight's sweetshop (delicious ice cream from a recipe by her predecessor Mr Corcoran); Clarkson's butcher's; Frank Parr's paint and wallpaper shop; Booth Moss (later Mosscrop's) barber's; a chip shop run by a dapper little man called Davidson; Pickup's furnishers; Radio Relay (later Littlewood's optician's); a ladies' outfitters (Wilsons?); Dick Holme's greengrocers; the redoubtable Ronald H Baker's chemists and post office; J C Brindle's toy and cycle shop; Arthur Wood's cobbler's and shoe shop; Jimmy Walker's butchers; Bolan's paint and wallpaper shop and Heaton's ironmongers on the corner of Church Road.
On the other side of Church Road before The Roebuck, Pincock's pottery shop (later Pamela Coulton's hairdresser's) and a sweet shop run by Theresa Dalton.
The only one I know I've left out was another grocer's next door to Pickup's which we kids only knew by what Grandma sent us there for - The Tripe Shop!
The whole lot from Tomlison's to Heaton's went in the 1960s redevelopment which gave us the new market and Co-op. The other side of the road was demolished piecemeal after the Public (later Civic) Hall went.
There'd been an alternative plan to by-pass and ultimately pedestrianise the area, keeping the old village feel. But I can't help thinking that as one small shop after another fell prey to competition from supermarkets and national chains we'd only have been left with picturesque dereliction.
But I do like the new development and especially the restoration of he remaining shops around the Cross. I only hope tey can let them.
COLIN DAMP
Plymouth |
| William R | Hello Colin and welcome. I just typed a reply and its got lost in the ether.So again, I found your list of shops very interesting as it was at the time I left Leyland. We used to go rouynd the back of John Lords shop to watch them slaughtering cows. blood all over the place. Threlfalls was where I got my first Woodies (shame on him). Most of the other names ring bells, the bike shop belonged to Mr.Ball then, (first bike there). haircuts at the Demon Barbers, Booth Moss, five minute turnround there.Wasn`t there a deli shop near the Cross, we used to get meat moulds there. Harry Warings Outfitters was where you joined the Home Guard, Captain Waring, no less. 12th.Battalion, Railway Platoon, Sir. The Roebuck was our starting point on Saturdays en route for the Motors Club much later. Ah! happy days long gone. Keep up the good work, Colin, Regards from William R aka Bill. |
| Caroline | Hello Colin!An interesting trip back in time . Had my first perm at Edna Noon's- sent by my Mum because that's what you had when you got to be 13. First New Bike from Brindle's . Lovely ice cream lollies from Singletons. Fell off the bike down Cow Lane when some lads asked me for a light and I jammed on the brakes.. will print out your bit and send it to the old folks back home !
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| anacortesdamp | On my last Leyland visit, I picked up a book of old photos. In it there's a photo, dated 1950, which was taken on the footpath just south of Pickups' furniture store. I shows the shop just south of the arched alleyway next to Pickpus with a sign board reading "Arthur Cocker and". The rest of the logo is out of frame, but I believe it said "And Sons". The smaller lettering on the sign isn't legible.
I contacted Anne Aspinall (nee Cocker), who was in my class at Fox Lane Junior School, to ask about ownership. She says it was her grandfather's business, a plumbing/painting/decorating business. Her dad, George, was the plumber and his brother Tom was the painter. Joe Bolan bought them out in late 1952/early'53. Anne says she was 12 at the time and didn't really know what was going on.
I think it subsequently became Lynn Trafford's interior design shop. Lynn moved down Hough Lane (across from the Post Office) after the premises were demolished.
Frank Damp
Anacortes, WA, USa |
| William R | My wife used to speak of Doreen Cocker, she always called her Dorry Cocker, I believe her dad was the painter and decorator, wasn`t the shop opposite the Ship Inn on the corner? Cheers Bill. |
| anacortesdamp | Bill:
The shop I was referring to was across from the Public Hall, immediately south of Pickup's Furniture. There was an alleyway with an arched wall between Pickup's and Cocker's shops.
The Cockers lived on Balcarres Road at the bottom of Broadway, at least at the time Anne and I were going to junior school. They moved to Dunkirk Lane after selling out the Towngate business to Joe Bolan.
I'm expecting Anne and her brother and sister to join this forum shortly.
Frank Damp |
| magicman | Frank - I seem to remember there being a shop owned by Cockers on Dunkirk Lane. I guess it would have been the same people - I remember a son, George, and I think that there was also a daughter, but don't remember her name (unless it was the Anne of which you speak!).
They used to go to St. James C of E School (School Lane/Slater Lane) |
| bigdave | Was mosscrops the barbers across the road from the eagle and child car park. I rember my dad taking me there for shot back and sides. |
| rocketmanjohn | Yes, it was 'Mosscrop', what a great name for a barber. He always seemed to nick one of my ears, blood everywhere, for which I got a free hair cut and pocketed the 1/6 it cost my mum.
John |