Shops of yore

How very interesting JW. I expect you may remember the Rectory oppposite Crescent Avenue and corner of Church Lane. The Rector's daughter was in my class at Stoke National. My elder brother's friend also at King Henry Vlll Kindergarten was just next door on Binley Road. I was invited to play with Rosemary Ashcroft in their large hall and staircase. The first time ever as a six year old to see a Library in a Victorian house.

I remember the Rectory very well - it seemed a mysterious, dark and forbidding place to four year old me!

Can anyone tell me when Phyllis Butler moved her shop from the Foleshill Road to Primrose Hill Street please? I've found an old advertisement from 1962, that shows she was in Hillfields by then. I'm wondering if she would have been there in 1958?

Looking through the newspaper archives, she moved from 12 Foleshill Road to number 17. She was in Primrose Hill Street in at least 1960 but for some reason there is no mention of her shop from 1950 to 1959. If you search in the search box Phyllis Butler has been discussed quite a few times for many years on here so I think you will get help from one on them.

Hello, Phyllis Butler supplied Pam's bridesmaids dresses. That was in Primrose Hill St, 1968. I'm scratching at straws here, but she may have had a shop in Stoney Stanton Rd, near to the junction of Cross Rds but on the opposite side. The left side facing the city.

Hi Michelle, welcome to the forum She was at 43 Primrose Hill Street in 1955 and 1957 Phyllis Butler ladies' gowns. She's not mentioned as a gown maker in 1953 but there is a Helen Francis gown maker in Primrose Hill Street, so it might have been her shop she moved to. There is a P Butler in Thomas Street in 1953 Court 2 House 5. In 1937 she was a milliner at 12 Foleshill Road. In 1938 they were asking for a power machinist at 43, so Phyllis moved to an existing business.

'She was at 43 Primrose Hill Street in 1955 and 1957 Phyllis Butler ladies' gowns.' I think this answers my question. If the shop was there in 1957, and 1962 (from my research), then it must have been there in 1958. I'm trying to piece together where my mum got her wedding dress from. My Dad said he thought it was somewhere in Ball Hill, but I can't find any bridal shops in that area in 1958. Mum was working at the GEC in Ford Street at the time, and Phyllis Butler's shop would have been a short walk from there. I'm never going to know for sure, but I can have a good idea. Thank you to the folk that answered. I love this forum.

We're happy to help This is the list of businesses in 1953. Without a road, it's hard to look for a business in later years.

Hello, Mercia Gowns was my mum's. The council had it listed as Marcia Gowns in error.

Hello Mick (knew you as Michael) Should this read - uncle Sid's shop ?- run mainly by his wife Auntie Florrie in her front room, a small but very energetic lady indeed

Hello. D Di Mascio's had also had an Ice Cream manufacturing unit on the Stoney Stanton Road and I managed to get a part time job at school holidays helping out on one of their retail vans complete with 'Jingles'. which I believe went out of town towards Birmingham ? (Well it was 75+ years ago)

stpauls, same Jingle here too in Perth - still Greensleeves. One day we may hear all of it and I wonder why it was so popular.