More memories as trip stall brings down shutters

This little stall is another part of old Dewsbury which we thought would always be there but is now waving goodbye.

There are many more we thought would always be with us which have gone the same way, some of them big names which our children will never have heard of.

Weaver to Wearer, where most men in Dewsbury bought their suits, was one of these. It came to Dewsbury in 1938 bringing with it a touch of Clark Gable glamour, something our menfolk had never known.

It took over premises in the new and rather grand Broadway House where Val’s Cafe now is, and was given a great welcome by Dewsbury people.

Thousands turned up for the opening of this new store which was offering made-to-measure all-wool serge suits for only thirty shillings.

Their artificial silk-lined woollen overcoats, selling at the same price, were at that time making tailoring history.

Their adverts in the Reporter boasted their thirty shilling suits were faultlessly tailored to individual measurements.

They also had a ready-to wear department with row upon row of stylishly cut overcoats in every up-to-date style and in all new materials.

These included informal coats, such as the belted model, or a closer fitting style for town wear.

Every garment had a luxurious artificial silk lining, and their triple proofed raincoats were only 16/9d. Other bargains were their all wool sports coats at 17/6d, and their worsted flannels only 7/11d, Weaver to Wearer also guaranteed that if any garment failed to please, they would remake or alter it, or refund the customer’s money, provided it was returned within seven days of purchase. How was that for service?

The message given out by Weaver to Wearer to the people of Dewsbury was that the customer ran no risk whatsoever when they purchased from them.

Sadly, Weaver to Wearer is no longer with us, but if you ask me what year they went, I wouldn’t even hazard a guess. I might say 20 years, and it could turn out to be 30 years, or even longer.

So many things have changed in Dewsbury during my lifetime that I find it difficult to put a date on anything.

DEWSBURY people I’m sure were always used to shops closing down but they were confident that they would always be replaced by spanking new ones.

I often wonder what happened to the shops which were there before Broadway House was built and did the people of Dewsbury bemoan their loss.

It is only when looking at the advertisements in the Reporter, even those from my era, that you realise just how many well-known names have disappeared.

Some shops and businesses have remained but have changed their names, either completely or just by a word or two, like the Yorkshire Penny Bank which is now just plain Yorkshire Bank, and the Dewsbury West Riding Building Society which was renamed Yorkshire Building Society.

Nearly all the banks in Dewsbury have had name changes, some are now just initials like the HSBC, but we have got used to them now.

It is good, I think, to now and again test our memory about which shops have gone and what have they been replaced by.

Do you remember Martin’s Cleaners, Woods Sports Shop, Craven’s Leather shop, Jack Ridley, shoe repairer and Leon Cooper’s, where my mother bought her first tiled fireplace?

It is only while looking at advertisements in the Reporter placed by local businesses that you realise not only is it the town which is changing, but so are we.

George Wilkinson’s, drapers, were proud to claim that their woollen blankets were locally produced and cost only 33/11 each.

We don’t use blankets these days, just duvets, and the mill which produced them has shut down.

Wilkinson’s also did a good trade in ladies’ nylon stockings, ‘Ladies Pride’ and Pex at 5/11 a pair, and maternity smocks, 10/11 each. Today we don’t wear either, well not on the grand scale we once did.

• If you have any memories of old Dewsbury or any old photographs you wish to share with us, please ring 01924 468282 or e-mail me, Margaret Watson at [email protected].