Two photographs of William Johnstones Drapers and Clothiers shop, at 1 Hume Street in Stockton. Photographs taken in the late 1960s, early 1970s.
Photographs donated by William Johnstones grand-daughter, Catharine Thompson.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A good pal when he married lived in this street, he did a very good potent home brew… during the early/mid 1960s.
Looking at the work the local sign-writer has carried out on the premises, Mr Johnstone was certainly a man who evidently knew how to promote his business, particularly as this seems such a relatively small shop-unit in which to carry a dearth of stock. Personal, ‘attentive’ service was usually the ‘key’ to making a success of these small businesses, a system that was gradually eroded by the rise n’ rise of the High St chain-stores and multiples. For a short time in the 60’s and 70’s the privately owned, off-centre, ’boutique’-style shop created a smaller, more fashionable, type of retailing for men….but, possibly unlike Mr Johnstone’s establishment, you couldn’t get a pair of good socks, a quality box of handkerchiefs, or a pair of ‘snazzy’ braces! Donald Carruthers and Grabham’s were probably the last shops of this kind to be seen in Stockton.
Is this the only picture you have of Hume street? My grandad had a motor bike shop there and I’m trying to find some pictures of it. If anyone has any pictures they could send in to Picture Stockton, I’d be very grateful.
This is another view of Hume Street…
http://picturestocktonarchive.wordpress.com/2004/10/10/streets-of-stockton-11/