• 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

Lewis's Department Store

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kandor
  • Start date Start date
IMG_1063.jpg
mw0njm said:
lewis's what a great store.i loved the moving stairs and the lifts,with the man telling you what floor you was coming up to,The model trains in the toy dept,and best of all the free samples of food,down in the food hall.
Click to expand...

May 1939...Evening Despatch
 
What a fantastic store! Amazing food hall, Magical Toy Dept. To ride around the miniature roof-top roadway in a Austin Pedal Car is a childhood experience I will never forget. Couldn't believe it when the store closed - it was like losing an old friend, I remember it being reported on the TV news, staff finished work one evening, turned up for work as normal the next day: locked out - doors were never opened again.
Regards,
Peg.
 
My father was the baker at Lewis' during the 70s. He and his team were responsible for that unbelievable array of delicious cakes, pastries and gateaux. He retired early to tend to my mother's ailing health. Shortly after Lewis' closed down. Lewis' was Harrods,Whiteleys and Liberty's all rolled into one. It was Birmingham and Birmingham was Lewis'. SPF4EVER
 
selly park fields forever said:
My father was the baker at Lewis' during the 70s. He and his team were responsible for that unbelievable array of delicious cakes, pastries and gateaux. He retired early to tend to my mother's ailing health. Shortly after Lewis' closed down. Lewis' was Harrods,Whiteleys and Liberty's all rolled into one. It was Birmingham and Birmingham was Lewis'. SPF4EVER
Click to expand...
Hi SPF4,
Absolutely! And not just Birmingham, there was a Lewis's Store in many major cities and towns, including Blackpool.
Just remembered an event of over 60 years ago (I'm now 67): Following an exhaustive day shopping in the city one Saturday, with my mother, we headed for the bus stop to Hockley via Lewis's food hall, there was a lady giving away free samples of Heinz Tomato soup in tiny cardboard cups, she gave me one and then another, and another - it was the end of the day and she had got to clean her equipment so she was happy to give us as much as we could drink, I had so many I don't think I needed any tea that evening, Tomo soup still finds a special place in my heart (or should that be stomach?)
Regards,
Peg.
 
Last edited:
Whenever I go into a deli the smell (or should it be aroma) always takes me back to Lewis's food hall. Strong cheese, fresh ground coffee, bacon and ham all mingled with fresh baked bread. I close my eyes and I'm there!
 
Hi Folks, shot of The Minories herewith, slightly unusual in that the traffic flow is opposite to normal due to a diversion, old car enthusiasts - how many models can you name - no prizes for winner, just respect - what's that guy doing up the ladder lower left? Bit early for Christmas decorations?
Regards,
Peg.
PS I wonder what that patch of water is right hand foreground - can't be the horse, he hasn't reached it yet.
Minories.jpg
 
That peg monkey is not water it is a bucket chaff horse feed that in those days of our yester years
is what the trades people used to do
when they are stationry at the pavements and the man does is busines what ever he may be
ie , baker. milkman ,coalman etc, what ever is trade ,if he his delivering is goods to personal
they would stick the leather bucket over the hosses head and leave him he would not walk off
await his return, Astonian,, of is driver Astonian,,,,,,
 
I think Peg Monkey is referring to the liquid splashed on the roadway. Another horse may have recently passed that way, not uncommon at the time, or some poor devils radiator has boiled over, again not uncommon in pre WW2 cars.
That is two explanations, I am sure others may have more. :D
 
john said:
This is not quite right, Kevin Dallow ran the engraving and key cutting bar next door! He was there for 16 years and learned the shoe repair trade during that time. The heel bar was run by Ray Jefferies. Ray went on to run his own shoe repair business in the Minories itself, and later moved to another shop near the Oasis. Kevin was promoted and worked as area manager for Mr Minit for a number of years, and then branched out on his own in 1985. He now runs his own shoe repair, key cutting and engraving business with his wife in Chasetown High Street.
Click to expand...
Hi from reading your posts about chasetown, I was wondering if you could help. I am looking to trace a family that used to live there durin the 50s with the surname Turner. The mother was Nora and I believe she had 2 girls Gillian and Elaine. They also had connections with harborne. Any info would be brilliant as I have family connections
 
I used to work in the travel bureau at Lewis’s from around 1967 to 1970 and loved the building. I remember the basement which was a series of corridors and storage areas and the 6th Floor with the offices and Staff Canteen. I don’t remember the roof garden so it may have been closed by then.

My aunt worked there pre and post WWII for many years in the materials and haberdashery department and as a child, I remember the system they had of sending customers money to the counting house by a system of compressed air pipes. Other memories: the rubber blocked road in The Minories, the gold grid lift gates, the white marble staircases, 5th floor toy department.

Other than Marshall & Snellgeove (?), Lewis’s was THE store in the city followed by Grey’s opposite until Rackham’s opened in Corporation Street.
 
Ah! the toy department. That was, I am sure, the area where Father Christmas could be found. :D
Pet Corner was a favourite haunt, especially when other folk wanted to shop for unmentionables most likely. ;)
I never made it into the hairdressing salon, maybe our local guy was preferred/cheaper? The basements were of course a place of refuge for shoppers during air raids. The area was probably less filled then with products due to austerity and unavailability of so much.
 
Malc Toy said:
I used to work in the travel bureau at Lewis’s from around 1967 to 1970 and loved the building. I remember the basement which was a series of corridors and storage areas and the 6th Floor with the offices and Staff Canteen. I don’t remember the roof garden so it may have been closed by then.

My aunt worked there pre and post WWII for many years in the materials and haberdashery department and as a child, I remember the system they had of sending customers money to the counting house by a system of compressed air pipes. Other memories: the rubber blocked road in The Minories, the gold grid lift gates, the white marble staircases, 5th floor toy department.

Other than Marshall & Snellgeove (?), Lewis’s was THE store in the city followed by Grey’s opposite until Rackham’s opened in Corporation Street.
Click to expand...

smashing post and lovely memories malc...what a shame we no longer have those wonderful visions

lyn
 
Not only Cheshire but Cheddar, Stilton, Gorgonzola and New Zealand. Notable is Cheddar is described as English - which it is - and the New Zealand doesn't have an extended description. The unwrapped British, Cheshire and Cheddar, cheeses are in the traditional waxed hessian skins.
 
Remember going there on late Saturday afternoons to get cottage cheese in the 1950s/60s. That and a lovely crusty loaf from the bread section. What a delicious joy it was ! Viv.
 
Around Xmas time Lewis and Greys had Xmas displays in the window, Great stuff loved walking around in the cold with my wollies on looking at all the toys
 
To me, what is amazing, is that most of us have spent years away from Brum and the times in the posts. BUT we still remember the little things about our past. In fact, I often remember those times, more than what happened a month ago!!!
 
Vivienne14 said:
Remember going there on late Saturday afternoons to get cottage cheese in the 1950s/60s. That and a lovely crusty loaf from the bread section. What a delicious joy it was ! Viv.
Click to expand...

And those large round loaves of soda bread they used to sell (Scofa Scone??). They were sold a quarter at a time.
 
Dried fruit it appears probably for making plum puddings (note the prunes ticket) and Christmas cakes.
 
Last edited:
The construction of Lewis's in Birmingham, photograph taken on 25th April, 1932.

e4df335cc4ff9597642e94b3fbcb1625.jpg
 
Another image of Lewis's being remodeled after they took over the Newbury Department Store and Scotland House.What I find interesting about this photo is that it shows the stone griffins still adorning the roof before tey were removed and donated to Yorkswood scout camp in 1920. Nobody seems to know from where they came originally other than a rumour that they were donated to the people of Birmingham by the Tsar of Russia c1885. They still reside in the Yorkswood area since the scout camp closed in 1972.

City Corporation St - Bull St New Lewis being built and removal of Newburys Griffins.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top