Quote:
Originally Posted by capell56
Hi Folks. My Mother used to work at J L Haworths in the Steinway building back in 1950 to 1954. It was a record shop. Does anyone have any photos of it and also any other photos of interest around that time.
Many thanks...John.
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Hi John, I've just come across this website after typing a Google search for "Steinway House Whalley Road Accrington"
J L (John Luther) Haworth was my Great Grandfather, with my Grandfather being Fred Haworth. My Grandparents (Fred and Alma) and father (Ken) emigrated to Australia in the late 40's. Dad had been a Merchant seaman during the war. They moved to Tasmania and purchased several properties at the township of Paper Beach, on the banks of the Tamar River, about 30kms from Launceston (lots of familiar place names for you guys no doubt).
Regrettably, we never talked much about the family history, nor the business history, although I was aware of the business name etc. I do have a newspaper clipping of the 1888 - 1938 Jubilee of the business that was from The Observer, Saturday March 26 1938. This has photos of the 3 JL Haworth & Co premises, with 11 Whalley Rd being the last. I found this in dad's effects after he passed away quite a few years ago. The other thing I can recall was an HMV wall plaque , which I understand was presented to them as the first HMV dealer outside of London. Unfortunately this was destroyed in an arson fire attack at my grandparents's old house at Paper Beach, which had become our holiday home.
From your comment that your mother worked there in the 50's, I presume the business must have been sold when my grandparents emigrated to Australia.
Dad never wanted to go back to the UK, so after he passed away my wife and I used some of the funds from my inheritance to have a trip to the UK in the late 90's. I specifically wanted to visit Accrington, and to try to trace the house where dad grew up, and to see whether Steinway house was still there, after seeing the shop Jubilee Newspaper clipping. The shop was still there, but at the time occupied by (from memory) David Sprent (or Spruce?) Shoes. I think the Steinway House facade may have been removed by then. With some help from the historian at the local library and the old census details we were able to work out the address of the house in Union Street I think it was - The house was called Rosador, and there was still a carving of this name at the front entrance gate. What impressed us more was the fact that there was a "Haworth Street" quite close by.
cheers
Peter