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In the novel Hester (1883), by Margaret Oliphant, a visit is made to “Kaley’s, the great shop of Redborough” (Chapter VII; pages 61-62 of the Oxford World’s Classics edition by Philip Davis and Brian Nellist, 2003/2009). Mrs Oliphant was herself a resident of Windsor; perhaps “Kaley’s” may represent Caleys.
The fountain was always our meeting point if any of us kids became separated from our parents. I miss the old 70s décor but Brent Cross will always remain my favourite shopping centre. So many good ‘shopping’ memories spent with family members that are sadly no longer with us.
When I was expecting my first baby in 1963 I went to Daniel Neal for advice as to which pram to buy. As I had an uphill walk from the shops, the advice given was superb They also made a horse-hair mattress for the baby’s beautiful bassinet that we had bought in Madeira while on a cruise. A great store !!
I’ve found a receipt for my parents Grandmother Clock (“Model” 67001″ bought from the Jones Brothers Holloway Store. Must have been at 1985 or so. The clock still works to this day!
Hi Karen,
What an interesting find! Unfortunately we don’t have anything similar in our archives so I am not able to shed any more light on this for you i’m afraid.
Kind regards, Imogen
Hi Katy,
Thank you for commenting, if you drop the team an email at heritage.centre@johnlewis.co.uk with the information that you require, we can see whether we are able to help you with your research.
All the best, Imogen
I am researching a book and am desperately looking for some information regarding John Barnes shop in the 1950s, And also about charity dances that were held on the first floor above the shop. If anyone has any information I would be so grateful
I’ve recently found a Jones brothers box lid in my loft and wondered if you could tell me more about it, it’s a burgundy brown colour and says Costumes, dinner dresses, walking dresses, evening dresses, bridal dresses down the left side and mourning dresses, children’s dresses, washing dresses and travelling dresses down the right side
A full page advert for Blinkhorn’s ran in the Gloucester City FC match day programme throughout the 1936/7 football season. The advert promoted Blinkhorn’s as “Gloucester’s Cycle Headquarters” and included a mention of Blinkhorn’s “Famous Gents’ Light Roadster Cycle” (Yours for 5/- and 14 payments of 5/- or £3/15/0 cash) The Gloucester shop was in Eastgate and the Stroud branch at Kendrick Street.
my parents met at a charity dance in John Barnes in the 1950s, Does anyone have any information for me to go on
John Trewin is my long lost cousin. My father Henry Gordon Trewin (known as Gordon) and John’s father Lesley Trewin were brothers. Gordon Trewin emigrated to South Africa as a young man, married, had 2 daughters, Beverley and Amanda, and died in SA aged 60 years. I would really like to contact John Trewin again after losing contact with him many years ago.
i love going shopping at peter jones when i was staying in london.
Such wonderful memories of this department store i went to York House private School Stony Stratford Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire from the age of 4 years 1942 My mother twice a year took me to this store to buy the uniform then lunch As one can imagine in those days a treat to enjoy later years in 1959 my mother and myself made a special trip buying my pram “A Mar-met coach built pram in Bottle Green inside and outside , i remember well to match the pram a beautiful bottle green cover sheep wool one side . other items of clothing for baby , This pram was delivered by train then by road to our house The pram was used for all 3 children with love Rosalie Osborne 04-06-2021 i can still conjure up this magical department store
I was born in 1951. I guess my earliest memory is about 5yrs old arriving in a taxi, blue leather upholstery, outside Daniel Neal Baker Street. I think the shoe department was downstairs. I so well remember the X-ray machines. Looking through that eye shaped box at out green lit up feet! Couldn’t drag me away from it. Otherwise, clothes came from Harrods and some fancy shop in Bond Street that clothed Prince Charles and Anne.
I think of Heelas very fondly (myself and everyone I’ve known refers to it still as Heelas). My granny used to work there, and it’s one of the parts of Reading town centre I miss the most since moving away. I hope they never remove the ‘Heelas’ from the brickwork!
Hi Paul,
Apologies for taking so long to reply, That’s a great find! The tokens were issued in the 1930s and were given out to customers when they made a purchase, they provided the customer with a 1d discount on purchases made on Thursday mornings. Hope this helps!
My aunt was general manager of Pratts, I think in the 70’s? would love to know if anyone remembers her? Irene, she met her husband at Pratts 🙂
It would be lovely to have more information about Sheffield’s Cole Brothers. I still remember (just) when it was on Coles Corner – but we were blown away when the new Coles opened in 1963 – it was such a fantastic looking building (still could be) and the lovely green carpets and wooden fittings were a perfect cohesion of modern but special.
My paternal grandfather, David Rees, was sent by Mr John Spedan Lewis to be the first General Manager at Jessops. My grandfather held this position until he retired and his obituary and photograph appeared in The Gazette when he died at the age of 80. As a young child I visited the store at least once a week with my mother. I made friends with Stan the lift man, who had an artificial hand in the most shiny leather glove, which he used to open and close the concertina lift gate. The ladies in the office became my aunties, especially Miss Hollis and Ruth. The fur buyer, Miss Griffiths used to let me try on the coats when she wasn’t busy, and Miss Farrah the dress buyer, became a very great friend of my parents, apart from choosing always perfect outfits for my mother, who was one of the best dressed ladies in Nottingham.
I started my JL career in the Ticket Factory at Clearings in May 1987, before transferring to JL Nottingham.
Today I found a Jones Bros [Holloway) aluminium token in a field in Great Hallingbury, Essex which was issued to get more business on Thursdays. Do you know what period these would have been issued?
Hi Averil,
Unfortunately we don’t hold a detailed enough record of the building timeline to be able to date your visit unfortunately, but what a great memory to have!
My first paid employment, working as a waiter in the cafe there in 1979. I was atrociously bad at it, could never remember who’d ordered what, or which things I’d already served. Luckily the customers, mostly ladies of a certain age, were very tolerant! I left the same year, to find something more suitable to my lack of organisational talent.
Hi Cathy, Apologies for taking so long to reply to your question.
Their names were: Owen Owen, William P Jones of Jones Brothers, John P Jones of Dickins and Jones, Edwin Jones who had saved Bon Marche from collapse in 1892 and John Francis of Brixton grocers Francis and Sons.
Hope this helps, Imogen
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