• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Norton's of Key Hill

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
  • Start date Start date
I remember the Nortons' store in Key Hill. I never went in, being in my early teens I had no shopping interests. But I frequently saw the place from a no. 8 bus. The store had a prime position in a busy, well populated part of the city.
 
A bit more on 'By-Way'. It looks, basically, to be about value for money. Norton's philosophy was to buy in at good prices, keep profits, rents etc under control, thereby passing on some benefits to customers without compromising quality. . Must admit I was sceptical at first, but whatever effect it had, it kept them in business for a very long time. (Think they started out around 1851). Some examples of adverts illustrate the 'By-Way' Value principle.


Source of all extracts : British Newspaper Archive

Screenshot_20240807_214648_Chrome.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20240807_222447_Chrome.jpg
    Screenshot_20240807_222447_Chrome.jpg
    383.9 KB · Views: 6
  • Screenshot_20240807_222227_Chrome.jpg
    Screenshot_20240807_222227_Chrome.jpg
    427 KB · Views: 6
  • Screenshot_20240807_214648_Chrome.jpg
    Screenshot_20240807_214648_Chrome.jpg
    284.7 KB · Views: 6
  • Screenshot_20240807_215403_Chrome.jpg
    Screenshot_20240807_215403_Chrome.jpg
    121.9 KB · Views: 5
  • Screenshot_20240807_215612_Chrome.jpg
    Screenshot_20240807_215612_Chrome.jpg
    135.9 KB · Views: 7
  • Screenshot_20240807_220444_Chrome.jpg
    Screenshot_20240807_220444_Chrome.jpg
    111.4 KB · Views: 7
Last edited:
Radiorails said:
I remember the Nortons' store in Key Hill. I never went in, being in my early teens I had no shopping interests. But I frequently saw the place from a no. 8 bus. The store had a prime position in a busy, well populated part of the city.
Click to expand...
I too vaguely remember Nortons but like Alan at my age early teens had little interest in such a place.
 
carolina said:
I have this photo which showed another company being there before Nortons.
Click to expand...

what a fabulous photo carolina never seen it before so i have posted it on the key hill thread as well..however i cant see the name of another company..it still says a j nortons

lyn
 
Vivienne14 said:
Good to see the Gem Building at the top of Key Hill. The photo just be post-1913. Great photo Carolina.
Click to expand...

i agree viv photo certainly post 1911 which is when the post office at hockley hill was built...i think those 4 postmen would have been walking back to the post office with empty bags..

lyn
 
AJ Nortons was started by Arthur James mother, Caroline Harrison. Her husband, John, a glass cutter from Osler's, was sick so she started repairing and making clothes and doing boot repairs at home. Her son William Thomas developed the business and did the move to Key Hill, starting with one shop, later expanded to the next door unit and a warehouse. WT had a younger brother Arthur James who developed the business with the help of his wife Emma Yates, following WT's early death from pneumonia after a visit to Snowdonia. Emma would sell in the shop right up to the day she gave birth to each of her 7 children.
Business thrived hence the semi-detached villa in Handsworth Wood and later to the Grange at Stoke Prior, travelling in by train.
AJ died of a stroke in 1917 with the business carried on by his four sons.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top