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Haberdashers in the Great Western Arcade.

lynne webb

lynne webb

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Can anyone remember the name of the haberdashers in the Great Western arcade please. It's driving me mad trying to remember. I thought it could be Hardwicks, but I'm not sure. Thanks
Lynne.
 
Lynne, you're right Kelly's 1969 gives Hardwicks Ltd (The Ladies Shop) at 25 to 29, and on the balcony 65 to 71 Great Western Arcade.

Colin
 
Lynne, I remember going into Hardwicks as a child with my great aunts, it used to fascinate me - but the old wheel backed wooden chair they hd was really uncomfortable!!!!!!!
Sue
 
Hi Lynne: I remembered it as Hardwicks. I bought two large bath towels from there before I left Brum the first time in 1963. They lasted for years and years. I loved going into that shop. Now I would like to know what the name of the elegant shoe store in the Arcade practically next door to Hardwicks
 
Hi Sue, it was more the reels of cotton, every colour, and knicker elastic, they were a dressmakers dream.
 
jennyann, Could it be A.M.Ashmore (Birmingham) Ltd. Ladies shoes 32, Great Western Arcade.

Colin
 
That's the one Colin. Thanks. It was there for years and seemed very different to any of the other shoe shops in town.
 
There was also a very nice dress shop in there as well it was on the right handside on the way to Colmore Row and the windows slighty bent round a corner
 
Ashmores sold very expensive bespoke shoes "for the discerning lady" as their posh saleswoman used to say - again, my great aunts were the ones who introduced me to the shop as a child. they were both spinsters and whilst Aunty Cis was very down to earth Aunty Molly was very elegant and smart, loved nice clothes and jewellry and was always made up and she loved this shop for her shoes. Guess they must have all been ditched when they moved from Station Road to the small flat in Acocks Green as her feet would have been too swollen to wear them then, pity because they would have been fashionable now!
Sue
 
Sue, can you remember the restaurant opposite Hardwicks, I cant remember the name of that either. We used to call it the ''posh cafe''.
 
Remember the restaurant, have a feeling it was called somenoes Tea Rooms at one point, but don't ever remember going there - the aunts used to use Druckers or Lewises.Mom will probably know, but it's a bit late to ring her now, will ask tomorrow.
But, looking on Google have found a lovely photo site, I'm sure it's probably been on here before but I haven't seen it

https://www.oldukphotos.com/warwickshire-birmingham.htm

and another one about great western arcade https://www.greatwesternarcade.co.uk/historical.php which has lovely photos from before and after the recent renovation
Sue
 
Thanks Sue, I must have walked up that Arcade hundreds of times, but I remember very few of the names of the shops.
 
Gosh, I remember Hardwicks, used to go in there with my mother as she did alot of sewing.

I remember the cafe/ tearoom too but I can't think of the name at the moment. You could go upstairs and sit on the balcony part that looked down into the Arcade,

Druckers was on the end - is it still there?
 
Mom says the Victorian too and yes Druckers is still there, but the cakes are only half the size and twice the price - the chocolate is still good tho lol
Sue
 
I agree about Druckers these days. I used to go to another Druckers shop in an arcade off New Street every time I made a visit to Brum. It's gone now. A couple of years ago I went to the Drucjkers in Temple Row and was very disappointed with the coffee and cake. Same with the Sutton Coldfield branch. Shame because the original Druckers were excellent. I can remember a Maynards Sweet Shop in the Great Western Arcade circa 1953. I used to attend school in Corporation Street and would often go there with my meagre pocket money to buy sweets.
 
Yes, definately the Victorian Tea Rooms. My office was on St Philips Place and I used the Restaurant several time a week. It was run by two chaps who were friends - a really nice couple. One used to be Maitre d' or something similar at the Holiday Inn. I think they sold up, not sure.
 
Thanks all for the Victorian Tea Rooms, I doubt that it would have come back to me and it was really bugging me.
 
And don't forget the jewellers by the back entrance to Debenhams, Spencers we think, where mom got her engagement ring. And hubby says Hollingsworth tobacconists, but I think that is newer?
Sue
 
Oh Sue, dont start me off again. I think there was a shoe repairers near Druckers, Paynes I think, and my husband said there was a camera shop but can't remember the name. I can't remember Jennyanns sweet shop though.
 
I don't remember the sweet shop but dad does, do recall Paynes shoe repairers though, our namesakes no relation unfortunately and vague memories of a photography shop, but not what it was called.
Do love the forum for all these memories though!!
Sue
 
lynne webb said:
Oh Sue, dont start me off again. I think there was a shoe repairers near Druckers, Paynes I think, and my husband said there was a camera shop but can't remember the name. I can't remember Jennyanns sweet shop though.
Click to expand...

Yes, I remember the camera shop, I think it might have been Jessops (or taken over by them) and the shoe repairers.

Hollingsworths I remember very well as I used to work in Windsor House and our entrance was next door. It was a proper tobacco shop - you don't find many of those anymore!
 
I used to go to a hairdressers in the GWA. It was where the trainees for Raymonds practised. I think it was called the Budget Room. I also used the haberdashery shop, when I had my first baby I bought wool in every different pastel colour and knitted little cardigans and matinee coats. Good job it was a girl! I really enjoyed working in town back then, there were so many shops to choose from. The office where I work now is soon relocating to Newhall Street from Henley in Arden but I won't be going, I don't fancy the travelling and the crowds. Anne
 
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