James Brewer was a Master Harness Maker. Sometime around 1852 he moved his business from a location on Smallgate Street (as listed in the 1851 census) to Sheepgate Street, a location right on Exchange Square and more than likely a larger place of business. The residence was located above the shop. Sometime in the early 1850s he was approached by traveling Mormon missionaries and was converted to the church. He was baptized in October of 1854.
 |
| James Brewer, Harness Maker/Saddler |
 |
| Probably the type of harness, collar, and saddle Ben made. (This photo was taken in Beccles, so if was early enough he may have even made these!) |
James Brewer left Beccles bound for Utah in October 1862 having sold his business to Ben. An advertisement in the Beccles Weekly News dated 6 May 1862 was transcribed to read:
Another add in the same edition of the Beccles Weekly News read:
But Ben soon found that the road to success was not without its challenges. In the same edition of the Beccles Weekly News was an advertisement for his brand new competition which read:
Benjamin Brown
having succeeded to the
Old Established business of
Saddler & Harness Maker
carried on for many years in Sheepgate
Another add in the same edition of the Beccles Weekly News read:
Benjamin Brown
Saddler and Harness Makers
Everything for the use and comfort of the horse
supplied on the shortest notice
But Ben soon found that the road to success was not without its challenges. In the same edition of the Beccles Weekly News was an advertisement for his brand new competition which read:
J Branford & Sons
Saddler, Collar & Harness Maker
in consequence of Mr Brewer's leaving Beccles
have hired a Shop in Blyburgate
where they intend carrying on the same business
One thing that was of great interest to me, especially since my blog is called "Rootstrek" was trying to locate Ben's shop and see if it still exists today. As luck would have it, and with the amazing resources now available online, I was able to do just that.
I first looked at the census records to verify that the Brown family did, in fact, live on Sheepgate Street. Lucky for me, a website exists (here) which includes lots of historical and genealogical information related to the area. Beccles Historian David Lindley had researched the historic shops and buildings in Beccles and posted his findings on the website (here). Sure enough, he listed Ben Brown as the resident in what he referred to as #1 Sheepgate. Seeing that the bank was 4 buildings away from Ben's harness shop and residence, and that the Children's Society was right next door, it was very easy to find a current view of the building on Google maps. After doing a little more digging, I found a Facebook group called "Views of old Beccles" and asked if anyone knew of any older images of the building. A local resident named Rosemary totally came through for me. Although I don't have an image of Ben's residence and shop when he lived there, I do have images of it after 1904 when it became a drapery shop. David Lindley's research backed that up as well.
 |
| 1884 map of Ben Brown's harness shop and residence on Exchange Square |
 |
| Ben's shop would have been next to the building on the far left of the photo. |
 |
| Another view of the bank building with Ben's shop just outside the shot. |
 |
| The building on the left appears to be the Post Office (compare to above photos). |
 |
| "Looking up (south) from the start of Smallgate through Exchange Square to the start of Blyburgate going off to the left and Hungate straight on, the Cycle Shop being beside your right shoulder." |
Just to expound on the history of Ben's shop and residence a bit, the building was owned by George Grigson. When he moved out he leased it to James Brewer and later his heirs leased it to Ben. John Barnby purchased the building from the Grigson family. Ben occupied it from 1862 until 1881.
By 1888 it was occupied by Richard Price, a draper. He ultimately purchased the building and leased it to George Bond, also a draper, in 1904. George Bond purchased the building around 1933. Bond Drapery was in business in the same location until the 1970s under the ownership and management of George Bond's descendants.
 |
| George Bond's Drapery Shop probably soon after it opened in 1904, formerly Ben Brown's shop and residence. |
When this photo was initially posted on the Views of old Beccles Facebook group in February of 2016 it got 44 comments. It was so great as they reminisced over their memories related to this building and this business. Here's a few of their comments:
Ann R Bought
some material for curtains and chair seat covers for our flat when we got
married
Sandra C I think
that's where I had to have my school summer dresses made. (we were not allowed
to go anywhere). In fact if I remember correctly the whole uniform had to come
from there. (unless I have the wrong shop...it was a long long time ago!!!!!)
Beryl F Loved
going in there when I was small and later worked above for Hartmann after it
was a news agents underneath, always sad to see those lovely old shops go.
Joan H I used
to work upstairs in the dressmaking department,about 1949, till that department
closed
Sandra C Hey
Joan you may have sorted out my dresses. lol
Joan H Yes
that’s quite possible
Anastasia M I
remember from my childhood
Freda H My
aunt worked there too. Dress making.
Anastasia M My
mother had some dresses made there
Irene C I work there from when I left school. Mr
& Mrs Bond were good people to work for. Made some good friends.
Christine C Remember going in to Bonds with my mum. If a
farthing change was needed they gave the customer some pins or something
similar instead of the money. Lovely shop. Definitely where the book shop is
now.
Ann C The Bonds
were lovely people. Lived in hospital lane. Went to school with their daughter.
One of the dressmakers was Toots - she used to come to my mums for dinner.
Joan H When I
worked there it was Nolan Bond who ran the shop. There was no chatting around
then. You were there to work and you were polite to people. My first wages were
1 pound and 6 pence and l had to cycle from Barnby every day.
Irene C Yes
remember it well. We had to be seen to be busy all the time. Was like "Are
you being served." That was when you got good service. If you wanted a 1/4
yard of ribbon was just as important as something costing much more. At the end
of the day we had to cover everything with white dust sheets. I left when Chads
took over round about 1977-1978. Happy days!
Joan H Yes
remember that Irene. Mr Bond used to stand near his office with his hands
behind his back watching every move you made. l used to come down from the
workroom upstairs after cotton so you never hung around to talk to anyone. You
dare not. Sadly today you go in some of the shops they couldn’t care less whether
you are there or not.
Emma B My mum
worked there early to mid sixties before I was born. She was downstairs in
curtain material.
Irene C Yes I know your mum well. She had left just
before I started.
When I posted my inquiry it generated a little more discussion:
Rosemary H Must
have had a complete rebuild at some time as those windows are nothing like.
Rosemary H To
think, your ancestors might have known my ancestors. I can remember the upstairs
of Bonds, it used to have a big open circle in the middle of the floor so you
could look down to the floor below.
Joan
H The dressmaking rooms were up the very top
dull old place. We were on the third floor with Miss Read & Miss Balls. There
were 2 rooms. Mr Nolan Bond was in charge then.
 |
| From the look of the women's clothing, this photo was probably taken in the 1920s. |
 |
| Ben's shop as it looks today. |
I had a bit of a hard time convincing my Structural Engineer husband, Brent, that the building in all the images were one in the same. The 2nd floor windows are much closer to the 3rd floor windows in the earlier photo and the shape/size of the building just doesn't seem to match up. I get it. But I suggested that possibly the roof was raised at some point as well as the floor beneath the 3rd level to accommodate modern HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. When he noticed the jog in the exterior wall on the right-hand side, suggesting that was the initial height of the building, he figured a new structural wall was added to handle the load of the additional height and confirmed that the images were of the same structure.
The upper floors are now office spaces. (Note the drop ceiling indicating the added space needed between the 2nd and 3rd floors.)
 |
| 2nd Floor |
 |
| 3rd Floor |
Comments
Post a Comment