Waterloo Shops - Blyth

[Battie99]

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

[Radcliff]

Northumberland Communities web site has a few old photo's of Blyth
you may be lucky and find one on there,

[c-side]

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

[Phodgetts]

This photo is dated 1928. You came to the right place Battie99.

Enjoy.

And a cheery wave to c-side from me 

P

[Phodgetts]

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

[Phodgetts]

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

[c-side]

Waving back 

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

[Phodgetts]

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

[Phodgetts]

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