Tailors and Outfitters (bespoke and other)

Thanks for that, H Sir Frederick already appears in our own list of "Famous Coventrians"

You were uncertain in your post that it was Batts - a few years earlier (when my uniform was needed) there was no alternative to Gibberds in the Lower Precinct Additional : Batts appear in the 1921 Telephone Directory at 7 White Street - same address in 1939 Postwar, they traded from 1 Corporation Street (not certain of start date) until their last appearance in the 1958 Directory, after which their address became 55 The Precinct (later amended to 55 Lower Precinct) Prewar, Gibberds were in Earl Street, and appear in 1953 at 50 Earl Street and 3 Victoria Street - still there in 1960 By 1963 their address changed to 60 Precinct (later 60 Lower Precinct) only

Yes, I had forgotten Batts. My rugger shirts and socks definitely came from there and maybe the uniform in the early days, but as I got older I am sure shirts, ties, blazers (for a badge to be sewn on) and finally grey suit came from Hammon's. I think my cap came from Batts and I wore it through all my school years. By the time I left, it was so small on me that it must have resembled a kippah perched on the back of my head.

MR: No, I was quite certain my uniform, and all sports kit, came from Batts. My mother never took me anywhere else for it. I even had things like socks with the green & black tops when I wore shorts in the juniors. I wasn't aware then that Gibberds also sold KHVIII uniform, and I didn't know until this thread that Hammons did so. I do recall the shop moving from the left hand side, near City Pram, across to the other side to a much bigger shop, but not sure when that was. Pallmall: I'm sure I only had two caps. One in the juniors and a new one when I went to the senior school. My second one was in a sorry state but we didn't have to wear them in the 6th form.

Another gents tailor, Syd Walton, Far Gosford St. The shop is now the cats protection league. I remember buying my made to measure wedding suit from there for £20.00 in 19??

Gibberds moved to Earlsdon Street but closed the family business a few years ago Telegraph Report

Gibberds' post-war premises on the corner fo Earl Street was just a prefab but it had gone by Easter 1960 so I suspect their Lower Precinct premises had already opened by then.

From that Telegraph Report: "John Gibberd, opened the first shop "a grocers" in Bedworth in 1811. By 1845 the business had also become a Drapers, and in 1883 it moved to Earl Street in Coventry. John said of the WW2 "There was total destruction. The accounts read "stock destroyed by enemy action, and the same for fixtures and fittings, and the building." The store re-opened when their father, David, was demobbed in 1946. Charles Gibberd started in the family business in 1960, the year before the store moved to the Lower Precinct. He has worked at Earl Street, Victoria Street, Lower Precinct and Earlsdon Street"

Was the store on the outside of the market John Cheadle?

Well done Mick - it was actually John Cheatle

Thanks again. Were they a tailors or just an outfitters?

Outfitters - still going according to their website

Foster Bros anyone??? 1961 advert

What about Willoughbys? I think they had a shop in the arcade at the side of Owens.

I remember Foster Brothers, but am struggling to recall exactly where their shop was. I seem to think that it was in King William Street, on the opposite side of the road to Phillips Ironmongers. I hope that someone can remember exactly where.