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S Rose & Co

Rosesgirl

New Member
S Rose & Co was a clothing and fancy goods warehouse located in Lionel street next to the post office tower .
My cousin Gail started there in 1972 in the Ladies and Children’s department. Mr Wesson was the department manager.
I started in 1974 my first job (same dept) - what an experience. The work ethic was so different back then but has stayed with me for life. Junior staff had to sweep up at the end of every day - taught us good discipline and respect.
Some really funny events happened though - I’m researching now about workplace pranks in 70s blimey the stuff we used to do would be unthinkable now.
Be great to hear if any of you either worked there ( not when it moved to Bordesley Typhoo tea former factory) or knew any one or you’ve 1970s pranks ( clean ones)
Ta very much
 
I started back end of the 70s just before the fire so I didn't get to know anyone much in the various departments (I started as accounts) until the move to the new building. After the fire a lot of departments moved into the building across the road for around a year before we moved to Digbeth.
 
Hi Wam, thank you for your reply.
Nice to connect with a former employee
Even though you weren’t there long - it be interesting to hear any thoughts on what it was like for you . Any funny things - even processes you’d have done in accounts -
I’ve found an old payslip in what’s feels looks/ like tracing paper I’ll post later so funny - I bet your department wrote those .
 
S Rose & Co was a clothing and fancy goods warehouse located in Lionel street next to the post office tower .
My cousin Gail started there in 1972 in the Ladies and Children’s department. Mr Wesson was the department manager.
I started in 1974 my first job (same dept) - what an experience. The work ethic was so different back then but has stayed with me for life. Junior staff had to sweep up at the end of every day - taught us good discipline and respect.
Some really funny events happened though - I’m researching now about workplace pranks in 70s blimey the stuff we used to do would be unthinkable now.
Be great to hear if any of you either worked there ( not when it moved to Bordesley Typhoo tea former factory) or knew any one or you’ve 1970s pranks ( clean ones)
Ta very much
do you know what number lionel st

lyn
 
After the fire the company mo
I think this was the building in 2020 prior to demolition.
After the fire, the company moved into the Ludgate Hill building for a few months. The photo looks a bit like that building. The Lionel St building was much larger than that and went fairly far back. It's possible that the company moved before I started at the end of the 70s because I remember the address as 90 Lionel street. It was between the Post Office Tower and Ludgate Hill then. That building had the Mens & Boys Deoartment and the offices at that time. There was also a building around the corner on Ludgate Hill on the other side of the road that housed the other departments (Ladies, Household linens, Footwear, Fancy Goods). Since the Mens department did most of the business They took more space than all of the others combined.
 
Aah thank you - yes that’s the building .
I went in there some years ago just into reception . The company pre 2020 changed front which had been cleaned up -
Yes you’re right about the departments in the main building- ladies and childrens when I worked there was on first floor next to the other gents floor .
That’s the name too - was that in Kelly’s directory .Ive attached one of my first payslips from August 1974 £12:50p wow I was rich .
Paid my mom £5 for keep and new dress £6 from Chelsea girl and bus fares and I was skint happy days
 

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wow that wage slip took me back..my first wage for office junior in 70/71 was £7.50p..mom let me keep all of my first weeks wage then i think it was £3 a week for keep...boy did i feel all grown up..luckily i did not need bus fare money as i could walk to work

lyn
 
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