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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Battie99 on Sunday 15 November 15 18:58 GMT (UK)
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Hello, i am looking for anything regarding the shops in Waterloo 1914, in the vain hope it may lead me to a photo of my great grandfathers shop. Laird, Alex & Co, Pawnbrokers. 6 Bowe Street. Ty. X
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Northumberland Communities web site has a few old photo's of Blyth
you may be lucky and find one on there,
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I haven't managed to locate an original photo but the property is empty and up for rent at the moment so you can see what it looks like now
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-to-let/property-32032527.html
I know it says Regent Street but that is wrong as verified in the write up on the property
No. 6 is the one on your right.
Christine
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This photo is dated 1928. You came to the right place Battie99.
Enjoy.
And a cheery wave to c-side from me ;D
P
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If you also want to see a number of other interesting posts about Blyth here on Rootschat, just Google search "Rootschat Blyth" and you will be amazed how much shows up along with lots of pictures and additional information. The people of Blyth and ex-pats of the town are really helpful and informative when it comes to asking questions about Blyth, so feel free to fire away with questions and we will do our best to help.
P
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I looked Laird's up in my 1929 Kelly's Directory and all it says is,
"Laird Alex. & Co. drapers, 6,8 & 10 Bowes Street, Blyth, telephone no. 132"
I had hoped it might have said a little more than that, but no.
P
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Waving back ;D
I did think that if anyone had a pic it would be you.
I also said to Helen on another thread that if she put Blyth in the title she'd get a response.
Also wondering whether he advertised in the Blyth News
Christine
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At the time of the 1911 census, Alexander a widower, was living with his family at 13 Coomassie Road, Blyth, and it would have been 0.3 miles to walk along Coomassie Road, and then Wanley Street to his shop, just a five minute walk. His wife's sister was helping keep the household straight and in good order. Alex's oldest son, also Alex, and age just 16, was working with his father at the shop. The other children were of school age.
The house they lived in still stands and can be seen by following this link;
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.1239514,-1.5098469,3a,75y,48.74h,87.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0AeeVgkXo0MAiDgDdf0ukg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
Perhaps you already did that research?
Interesting for other locals to get a bit of the background information.
P
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Laird's looks to have been established in Blyth in 1890, at least that is the date I think I can make out on the lamps outside the shop. The son Alex, was born in 1895, and at the time of the photo he would have been age 33. So I am wondering if that is Alex in the background of the people in the picture. Does he look like a 33 year old gentleman? It'd be great to be able to put a name to that face in the picture.
P
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Here's an interesting Laird tidbit;
http://www.inverclydeww1.org/honour-roll/john-laird
P
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Superb response, I was in Blyth only last week on a flying visit,
to visit friends
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hello all.
As far as the family knows, Lairds was a pawnbroker, jeweller and fabric sewing shop.
Alec was at sea in 1901
Applied for the pawnbroking licence in 1906.
Alex moved from Scotland to Jarrow to Blyth so the date on the shop is a bit of a mystery, so i'll keep working on that one.
At first glance I dont think the man in the photo is Alex Jnr but again some further investigation required.
Thank you so much Philip and everyone else, what a find indeed. Am delighted.
Just out of interest I am doing a photobook on John Laird as a bit of a project for my step daughter. John was born in Cimmassie Road but went to Canada when he was 16, he returned at 18 with the WW1 CEF recruits but tragically shot himself by accident in training.
Does anyone have any idea why in 1912 a young man if 16 might have gone off alone to Canada to farm?
Thanksbso much.
Helen
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I wonder with the Scottish connection if the family were somehow involved with Church and this. It would explain a lot;
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Qs3uIWGetJAC&pg=PA197&lpg=PA197&dq=went+to+canada+age+16+in+1912+to+be+a+farmer?&source=bl&ots=TBhme5J1XS&sig=CsrUGjzFFJRW4Dnwa-gHQUFklhU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAWoVChMIg-v4x6SXyQIVjFsUCh2Vnwdb#v=onepage&q=went%20to%20canada%20age%2016%20in%201912%20to%20be%20a%20farmer%3F&f=false
P
PS I'm glad you are so thrilled with the picture Helen. Glad to be able to assist. It is a joy when such gems come to light and can be added to a family tree. Makes it come alive.
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British children off to farming in Canada/Australia !
There existed several government supported schemes to help prepare
children for the new life.
I have seen old photos of children in classroom being taught how to
milk cows. Wooden cows were used.
But I don't remember name of book. Maybe Philip's archives can help!
Michael
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I knew about Barnardo and many orphaned boys being trained up and sent abroad to Canada and other places to farm, but I wasn't aware of Cossar. I have no idea how or why John Laird might have got caught up with that excepting one of his parents had died, but his mother's sister came to help out with the family and his father was still alive, so an interesting story is to be told there I think.
P
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Once again well done P Hodgetts, your a walking book of knowledge, knew you'd come along and keep us right, thank's as ever, Dolly
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Hello Dolly........ there's a song about that you know! ;D
P
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Hi Philip
I've been in contact with family members and the photo is in the book 'The archive photographs series BLYTH' compiled by blyth local studies group, published by the chalford publishing company limited.
The photo indicates that the man in the picture is captain laird (that will be the young alex laird) and that it was taken circa 1920. So identity confirmed :-)
You previously said 1928, do we know for certainty that it was 1928?
The established date of 1890 is a real mystery though as alex senior was at sea (as far as we know), and the family didn't move to Blyth until after 1895, so i wondered if we had any rootschatters that can find a listing for the shop prior to 1914?
Thank you so much.
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The image I have is 'dated' 1928. There is no evidence to support the date, and yes, in the Blyth book it is dated circa 1920. So lots of room for maneuvering. More research needed.
I am still curious about William Laird of Blyth. He and his wife were both born Scotland.
1891 census age 34, he was living with his family at 12 Crofton Terrace, Blyth. His occupation was Miner, and his family consisted of wife Mary age 27, daughter Janet age 9, Elizabeth age 6, Charles age 4 and Margaret age 1.
1901 census of the same family gives the following information, living at 9 Richard Street, Cowpen, William age 43 and a General Dealer (Shop) which I think is possibly the shop on Bowes Street. His wife Mary age 37, Elizabeth age 16, Margaret age 11, William age 8, Alexander age 5, John age 2 and a one month old baby.
If the above William and your Alex senior were brothers, that might be how the shop was established in 1890. Perhaps something happened that brought Alex back from the sea to keep the shop and it's businesses going. Speculation I know, but plausible, and in need of further investigation. I hope your research provides answers. Please keep us informed.
P
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Well, they don't appear in Kelly's Directory for 1894. I've tried to look at Wards for 1910 but my computer and the website concerned are not co-operating with each other :-\
Christine
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I spent ages last night going through the 1891 census and checking each of the buildings on Bowes Street for the shop. Laird's as a Pawn Broker's or General Dealer's was not there in 1891! However, having a lamp outside their shop in later years with a business established date of 1890 only means that the business was established in that year, but not necessarily at that location by anyone with the name Laird. Perhaps he bought the business which was already a 'going concern' from someone in the town or a town nearby and relocated it to Blyth. Lots of possibilities.
P
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Thankyou Philip, it certainly is time consuming.
I am pretty convinced he must have bought a going concern when his wife died as he was a marine engineer in 1901. His wife died in 1906 and he applies for a pawnbrokers licence in 1907.
Also Alex jnr was born in Jarrow in 1895.
So no shop in Blyth in 1890. He was strangely married in Cardiff in 1894??? And the family have photos from a Swansea photographer, the suggestion he was in Wales prior to Jarrow (maybeish)
Xx
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Thank you Christine. Perhaps we are looking for a jewellers not called Lairds.
I was surprised not to find anything at company house either, at least under Laird or Alexander Laird.
X
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Philip, when you looked at the 1891 census, did you find any other jewellers in Bowes Street? X
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No, no Jeweller.
Sorry.
P
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Snippets from directories.............
KELLY'S 1921
1921 Laird, Alexander and Co, Pawnbroker,
Queen St, Amble
KELLYs 1938
Lairds, Alexander and Co, Drapers,
6 8 10 Bowes St.
Newcastle area telephone directory 1951
Captn Laird, A M.C., 7 Winchester Ave, Blyth, 572
-ditto-
Lairds, jwlrs, drprs, Bowesst, Blyth 132
Michael,
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Another dimension to Alex Laird was the school he went to which was also on Bowes Street, and you can see pictures of it in this thread, from thread page 22, reply no. 197 asking about the building which stood on the site of the Argos shop. There are aerial photos and street pictures too that will be of interest to you in filling out some of Alex's life details. The building was originally the National School, and then was used as St Mary's Church Hall.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=488089.189
Enjoy
P