Shops of yore

Photo taken Jan 2010

During the period mentioned - late 1950s to 1960s - that building was a collection of small shops, none of which were connected with the electrical business. The building was also more symetrical than it is now, the far right-hand side having been lopped-off since then.

Were they Mattersons, Huxley and Watson? There are barns around here built by them-one in Hawkes Mill Lane

One of the shops there was an electrical retailer called Bonham & Wilson. They had some sort of connection with GEC. My father ran the factory shop at GEC Helen Street for many years, and I believe things they couldn't supply directly were sourced through Bonham & Wilson with an employee discount.

Thinking about it again, did they used to sell record turntables?

I was about to reply to the original post, then I saw the edit. I'm sure they would have sold them. I can recall us buying radios, televisions and all sorts of electrical goods there. The shop was there well beyond the early 60s, possibly well into the 70s. I know the name of the shop was correct, although there seemed to only be a Mr Wilson there, who my father knew. No idea what happened to Mr Bonham.

I do remember a television shop tucked away in the corner there but it was late 1960s onwards. Before that it had been a secondhand bookstore and before that a shop selling brass templates for sign painters.

The name "Bonham" certainly rings a bell from the early-to-mid sixties. The Mr Bonham that I know of ran an "entertainment" business - taking sound equipment, (turntable, amp and speakers) and playing records at private parties help in pubs etc. and acting as MC (although far removed from the current usage of the term!). I seem to remember my parents referring to the name "Bonham Sounds". Could this be the same person?

1953 GPO Directory - 9a Far Gosford Street 1977 BT Directory - 312 Walsgrave Road

1963 Telephone Directory - 143 Lower Ford Street Currently, 19 Far Gosford Street

9a was opposite Astley's main office and has long since gone. It wasn't part of the building shown in the photo which is further East. I don't remember it being used as a shop during the period I lived in Gosford Street which was 1960-1967.

1968 Telephone Directory : Bonham Sound Systems Ltd, 103 Oldfield Road Bonham & Wilson, Radio, TV, 9a Far Gosford Street

Okay, I'm convinced there was a shop at 9a but I still have no memory of it!

I think the Max Buch shop in the photo must be more recent, the shop I remember was smaller amongst the other shops, he probably got re-located to there maybe because of ring-road development....

My mum and dad had a grocery shop on the Stoney Stanton Road, at the end of the war. I'm not sure whereabouts, but was wondering if anyone remembers it. They were Joe and Grace Woodford and, at the time, they had one little boy, Geoff. Would love to know where it was and any memories anyone can dredge up! Thanks! Anne