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Wilkinson & Riddell Ltd, drapers Bull Street & Temple Row

W

Wendy

Guest
I have just purchased a book Wilkinson and Riddell Ltd 1851-1951. The main reason I bought it was because my brother worked there in the 60's. They were drapers in Birmingham they started their first warehouse in 1863 in Temple Row, 1884 Corporation Street, 1896 Cherry Street. I believe my brother worked in Edmund Street. The book looks facinating when I have read it I will post more.
 
MomaP

Did Wilkinson & Ridell also have a warehouse at the top end of Steelhouse Lane near the corner of Priory Circus in the 1960s. I remember going to this place with a friend who had a much coveted card, it was still there in 1976 I just remembered as in a "jumble box" was a china carthorse which my son who was still at school bought me for about £2.00, it had a wobbly leg, and still does, but I will never throw it away.
 
Snap Sylvia...I was about to ask the same question as yourself as one of our neighbours worked there. Were they in the rather modern, for the early l960`s, building on the corner of Steelhouse Lane and Old Square. Loved the bit about the china cart horse:)
 
Hello both, I am sure you are both right I will ask my brother. I am not sure when he left. The book I have only goes to 1951. I also enjoyed the story about the horse. I have one simmilar which I call my wobbley cat!
 
I used to clean the windows at Wilkins and Ridells (Edmund street) in the 60's and that was there only building they had at time.
no sign of W & R in Steelhouse lane in the 60's (Kelly's)
 
could you be thinking of Edward Grey's on the corner of Upper Priory and Steelhouse Lane as they sold similar merchandise
 
Wilkinson & Riddell

No John, the place I recall was as described by JennyAnn newly built in the 1960s and I can see it now with a ramp for vehicles to the left of the entrance and above were solicitors' offices the most prominent Phillip Baker & Co. The only thing I'm not sure of is the name.
 
the only other place with similar merchandising was Bell & Nicolson next to Halfords cycles in the Priory from Kelly's 1965
at this time Steelhouse lane had changed due to the building of the inner ring road there is no listing for a shop of this type in Steelhouse Lane
later there was the Beehive but did they only sell house furniture ?
 
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Wilkinson & Riddell

Thanks for the name of Bell & Nicholson, that may be the name, I will ask my friend to see if this name jogs the memory. I have been trying to recall this warehouse for a couple of months since Michael Ingram posted about a warehouse in town which he went to with his mother. I'm sure we will get the right name eventually.
 
Hi Sylvia and John: Perhaps it was Bell & Nicholson but I am not sure now either.
You can have a look at this web site https://maps.google.com/ and type in
Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham in the search area. You can tweak the zoom on the left hand side of the map screen after hitting "Satellite" on the menu and the area in pictures will come up. If you hit the zoom ladder at the last but one highest level you can see the building very clearly that I think is the one Sylvia and I talking about. It would be on the corner of Steelhouse Lane and what is now known as the Queensway Priory former Old Square.
 
View attachment 11981At last I have found a photo! of Wilkinson and Riddell, Edmund Street 1959.

Wilkinson_and_Riddell~0.jpg


View attachment 11981
 
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I worked for Bell Nicholson & Lunt in Priory Queensway (opp. the Gaumount site) from April 1974. It was taken over by Courtaulds late 60s & so was Wilkinson Riddell & Larkins, who took over premises in Smethwick. WRL was our sister company.

BNL was an old-fashioned wholesaler who would only sell to the 'trade'. Its failure to move with the times caused its closure in 1983. Natwest moved in to the Priory House premises afterwards.

Please ask me any questions you want & I'll see what I can remember.
 
My Nan was a retailer so we all had a card for, Bell and Nicholson, Larkins, Lunts, and Wilkinson and Ridell. My best mate started work at W and R as a commercial trainee and ended up at their cash and Carry at Burnt Tree after working for a branch in Derby. Didnt one of the wholesalers have a place in Livery St????
I had my weddding reception at W and R in the canteen in 1971.
 
John Houghton said:
I used to clean the windows at Wilkins and Ridells (Edmund street) in the 60's and that was there only building they had at time.
no sign of W & R in Steelhouse lane in the 60's (Kelly's)
Click to expand...

John you will remember those wooden triple extension ladders that went up to about 60 ft.took three people to put them up and the whip you got when you climbed them you had to have nerves of steel. Dek
 
My Mom worked for W&R but when the babies came along she left, in 1929 the year i was born with 7 kids and Dad out of work she borrowed £1 went to W&R and as a former employee sold her some items at wholesale prices Mom sold these from the front room of our terrace house made a small profit went back bought more, had a shop counter & shelves made by an out of work carpenter (no dole in those years) and went on to expand in to a general store aka a hucksters shop in the front room of the house, she closed in 1966 because the Swan island and Coventry Rd alterations, established for 37 yrs and looked after our family Mom was a real hard worker & we loved her, RIP Jessie Emma. Len.
 
Here is another wonderful photo from John Ball's collection. Wilkinson and Riddell taken in 1964 from Barwick Street looking towards Great Charles Street. Willkinson and Riddell is the building directly in front.

Wilkinson_and_Riddell_1.jpg
 
Re: MomaP

This was Bell & Nicholson who were located on Priory Circus they were wholesale textile merchants as well,there were 4 main companies in this field.
1 Wilkinson & Riddell. 2 Bell & Nicholson .3 Lunts. 4 Larkins. all within a square mile in Birmingham city centre.
 
Hello, this brings back fond memories for me. I worked at W.R&L in 1963-64, in the drapery department on the ground floor. The staff entrance was at the rear of the building, next to Phillip Harris Medicals, where I also worked for a couple of weeks, prior to joining W.R.& L. The money was poor, but it was a lovely place to work. There was a staff canteen on the top floor. I remember leaving one evening with colleagues, on the way home via the station inn, for a few pints, and it was the day Kennedy has been assassinated. We were discussing about what might happen next. I returned to work for the company again in 1970-71, working at their new 'cash & carry warehouses in Derby, Northampton and Burnt Tree. The money was still poor, but at least I got a company car this time!........Steve Harpur
 
I had my first suite fron there in the 60's very trendy corner one and stair carpet, Wendy wasn't right by the hairdressing warehoue I think it was called Ellisions?
 
I think you are right Patty forgot about Ellisons..I mostly went to Aston and Fincher. I will check with my brother Bob Jennings he worked at Wilkinson and Riddell in the 60's.
 
I started my working life at Wilkinson & Riddell aged 15 back in April 1960 as a Trainee Salesman. I remember Maurice and Tony (sales), Norman (stores), Jenny (packer?), Annie Austin (packer?) and Albert, the dear old fella who used to operate the goods lift.

I was only there for 3 months but have happy memories of the ladies in the packing department teaching me how to wrap the myriad of products properly for despatch, the salesmen taking every opportunity to wind us youngsters up and extended lunch breaks with Norman playing table tennis. I also recall, delivering a load of ladies hats to Lewis's in Corporation Street one morning.

The salesmen all had Morris Oxford saloons and used to park in an underground car park just along from our premises.

I also remember playing cricket for the firm's team (the 'Arcadians') - we played opposite the York Pub in Moor Green near the Dog Track.

Another fond memory from my short stay is the firm's Bank Holiday Excursion to Llandudno. Had lots of fun that day!
 
Wendy said:
I have just purchased a book Wilkinson and Riddell Ltd 1851-1951. The main reason I bought it was because my brother worked there in the 60's. They were drapers in Birmingham they started their first warehouse in 1863 in Temple Row, 1884 Corporation Street, 1896 Cherry Street. I believe my brother worked in Edmund Street. The book looks facinating when I have read it I will post more.
Click to expand...

I have just found a bill from this company where my parents bought curtains for their first home in July 1955! Would anyone like to see it?
 
would be great to see the bill as it will add a bit of history to the thread....thank you

lyn
 
Hi, my first job after leaving high school, was at WR&L in Smethwick around 1979-80. I worked in the warehouse as an order packer. WR&L sold haberdashery. My manager's name was Dotty, or Dot. She worked like a horse, but was very nice. Her son worked there too and he would always walk by my area (can't remember his name). Dot hated that...lol I had fond memories there. I was promoted to secretary/ receptionist in the main office. They loved when I spoke on the speaker "calling Mr. Stark" he was never around and we would always have to call for him. So funny, fond memories x
 
leonardjob said:
Steven, my best mate worked there and at Derby and at Burntree...Mike Parkes..did you know him??
Click to expand...
Hello Leonard, it's been quite a while since iv'e been on here. Yes, I do remember Mike Parkes, I think he was area manager, a nice bloke as I remember. He always seemed to arrive with a bunch of paperwork under his arms. Nice times. Best wishes....Steve
 
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