Fire at Williams
- Thread starter jimmieg
- Start date
The shop was still open at 9.45pm. One of the lamps in the front windows 'arced', igniting a display. The fire spread rapidly. The horse-drawn Fire Brigade turned out from the nearby Market Hall fire Station. The officer in charge was told that everyone had been accounted for and concentrated on stopping the fire spreading. Sadly, this was not the case, and an hour later a roll-call was initiated. On enetering the building, the brigade found 5 ladies bodies. 3 shop assistants and 2 customers
I got this from an essay on Accrington Fire Brigade by John Kelly in the book 'An accrington Mixture' which I edited.
The shop was in Church street corner of Holme St
Yep, previously Toymaster.
I think it was called Baileys in the 40s when it was a ladies wear/haberdashery store.
It was the place where the shop assistants sent your money on an overhead cable system to a cashier , who put your change and reciept in the 'screw mugsized thingy' and zoomed it back to the shop assistant on the cable.
It is difficult to describe to those who never saw it - fascinated me as a child, and makes that shop so memorable.
It was the place where the shop assistants sent your money on an overhead cable system to a cashier , who put your change and reciept in the 'screw mugsized thingy' and zoomed it back to the shop assistant on the cable.
It is difficult to describe to those who never saw it - fascinated me as a child, and makes that shop so memorable.
remember seeing that vaugely, thought it was "Sauls" up black abbey,but obviously not.
Is it "milliners" ? Thats the old name for hat makers .
If I'm not mistaken Baileys was on Church St next door to William's,
you used to be able to see the sign on there from the Library steps.
I have a photo somewhere.
Saul's in Black Abbey St also had the system of sending your money
and purchase order on a cable to the cashier.
He got rid of it in the early 1960's.
There were three shops that still had the system in the 1940's
Bailey's and Sauls were two of them.
Seem to remember some of the Co-ops had them as well, Warner St ?.
Retlaw.
you used to be able to see the sign on there from the Library steps.
I have a photo somewhere.
Saul's in Black Abbey St also had the system of sending your money
and purchase order on a cable to the cashier.
He got rid of it in the early 1960's.
There were three shops that still had the system in the 1940's
Bailey's and Sauls were two of them.
Seem to remember some of the Co-ops had them as well, Warner St ?.
Retlaw.
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Where was Saul's on Black abbey St ? I have nevr heard of it, I went to school with a lad who had the surname Saul , were they Jewish?
Found two more pictures. One is an aerial view of the gable end in Church St. The other is Church St showing Penny Wise where Bridges Tool shop was, and the restaurant next door was Moffit's, & Baileys occupied the premises where Williams had been.
Retlaw.
Retlaw.
Attachments
On the left hand side going down Black Abbey St from Abbey St, the block before Jacob St. Saul was Jewish, he lived in Blackpool took over the shop from Bob Holt, the lad you knew, I don't thing he was Sauls son Saul was an old man in the 1960's looked about 90.
Retlaw
Retlaw
Where was Saul's on Black abbey St ? I have nevr heard of it, I went to school with a lad who had the surname Saul , were they Jewish?
see linds every buggar ignores me.
