This 3 storey building has stood on the corner of the High Street since c1834, it wasn’t until 1890 that the building was reported to have had glass windows fitted. Throughout the years there has been many different types of businesses from Board and Lodgings to Hosiers and Grocers to Printers. Jackson the tailors shown in this photograph occupied the building from 1914 to 1971.
I worked in Jackson the tailors as a junior salesman in 1970, the cheapest made to measure suit was £12.19.6d pre decimal.
Does anyone know about what no’s 159-160 was before it became the supermarket/carpet shop, early 1940s- 1950s? Was demolished etc before it became one building?
From a less classy era… wasn’t this at one time the “Mad World” shop? which sold a huge variety of household/electrical/jewelery/just about anything really. A bit like an early version of the current “cheap shops” in town. It is a pharmacy today and actually looks like it’s from an older period than in this photo as the first floor windows have been replaced to match those in the 2nd floor and there’s added detail just below the gutter line. Was there an effort to restore buildings at this end of town at some point or just some conscientious owners?
Talking about the Mad World shop, I have a colour slide of that shop, taken around about 1994. I will have to put it on here some time.
Yes please put it on I used to love that shop
Jackson the Tailor, became established in over 550 branches across the Uk in the period after WWI, when the demand for ‘off-the-peg clothing for men, became more popular. The company eventually went into receivership in 1978. Along with Weaver to Wearer, Burtons, John Temple, Hepworths, Alexanders etc, these shops all offered made-to-measure suits too. I recall that back in the 1960’s you could get a suit made this way for about £20-25, with two ‘fittings’, just to make sure it was perfect! In fact, if you could get your hands on a bolt or suit-length of wool-worsted or fine mohair they’d even make that up too, under a ‘C.O.M’. order = Customers own material.
Once the preserve of every apprentice who’d finished his ‘time’, a good made to measure suit, from a specialist tailor with fitting sessions, will today start at around £700-£800.