RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: westher on Saturday 20 February 16 16:52 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to find a photograph of a drapery shop whose address is shown as 164 & 166 Medlock Street, Hulme, Manchester in the 1891 census. The business was owned by William Gee but I do not know the actual name of the company. Can you suggest where I search for such a photograph? The business continued until at least the 1930's.
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Hello, try Manchester Photographic Archives. You used to be able to just click and view but the last time I tried you have to register. Have a go and you will see there are categories such as street scenes etc.
Warning ! it is addictive . Viktoria.
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The 1895 street directory listing for the address just says
Gee, William, Darper and outfitter
so presumably he was the shop proprietor.
The directory also places 164/166 Medlock St at the junction of Medlock St and Devonshire St; that might help you locate a photograph.
You can still view photographs without registering here on the Local Image collection:
http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php
Still addictive though!
:) Barbara
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Thank you Barbara & Victoria. I have looked again at the Manchester Photographic Archives with the knowledge of the address being a corner site with Devonshire Street where Wm. Gee lived in 1881 but the only Upper Medlock Street appears not Medlock Street.
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Here's a photo of Gee's drapers after bomb damage in 1940; found on google books
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01h3z/
:) Barbara
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Thank you so much for the photograph Barbara.
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Hi,
I have stumbled across this with amazement. William Gee was my GGrandfather and I have quite a bit of knowledge about the business and William's sons who took it on after his death in 1896
I also have a copy of the bombed street.
Do you have any information or interest in the Gees?
Regards
J
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It looks like the person asking the original question hasn’t been around since August 2016 but, assuming they have the same email address, they may well get a notification of your post.
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Hello
I do have Gee information and would appreciate more connected with Gees business until its closure which was I believe due to the building of the Mancunian Way?
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Great.
How would you like to proceed?
J
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I have very little information about George Frederick Gee and his two sons. My interest has been with William Ernest’s family after his death. I would be grateful for any information you have about Gees Drapery. All I know is that it was started by William Gee and his wife Martha Yarker who was a formidable lady.
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Hello Westher.
I wonder if you are related to the Gees?
My information is that Fred (GF Gee) took over the business with his brother Ernest and ran it for some time. There was a parting of the ways at some stage and Ernest went into business on his own - something similar I suspect as he described himself as a retail draper.
Sons of both families continued to run their separate family businesses; Gees on Medlock Street closed in the 1960s when the site was acquired for the building of the Mancunian Way and Ernest's sons ran their (bedding) business in Altrincham until the 1970s.
The original Gees business expanded into manufacturing and, I understand, had contracts to supply uniforms etc to many local businesses including Kelloggs, Morris Motors, Mother's Pride bakery.
I too gather Martha was quite a driving force in the early days of the business and deduce that Fred Gee drove the later expansion (and profitability) into manufacturing. The 1901 census demonstrates to me the energy and focus that went into the business as all the family are living at home and working for Martha.
I have struggled to find traces of William Gee prior to the 1871 census and wonder where he was brought up; relatives tell me that his parents were Samuel Gee (1821-1871) and Elizabeth Owen (b1821) but with so many Gees in the Manchester area I have been unable to satisfactorily link William to them nor to his grandparents assumed to be William Gee of Latchford (1770-1822) and Martha Stockton (1775-1841).
Anything you can add would be appreciated.
Regards
Jeremy
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Hello J
Thank you for your information re the manufacturing of uniforms. I must look at the 1901 census.
Samuel and Elizabeth Gee are the Parents of William Gee. Samuel was born in Latchford so your relatives may well be right.