Shopping In Borough Road

Victoria Road was one of the four original roads of Poulton-cum-Seacombe, and became the main shopping area for the small village of Seacombe until Liscard was built up between the two World Wars. The fire brigade requested a change in name to avoid confusion with Victoria Road, New Brighton. The road was re-named Borough Road in 1918.

Looking at Borough Road in the 1920s we begin right down at the bottom of the road which was the railway station. T.F Williams and Son's, coal merchants were once on the site. Mrs. Louise Jackson had the Queen's Arms public house at No. 2. Coming up the road on the left-hand side there were a number of businesses. The 'Wallasey and Wirral Chronicle' was established in 1888 and was published on Wednesdays (a halfpenny) and Saturdays (one penny). They later moved to the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Brighton Street.

Next door was the old tea rooms which were run by Mr. Atkinson which were later taken over by Tony Ecceo. The 'Leasowe Castle' Hotel was in the hands of Bill Bryan and a few years later Bob Crawford became the landlord, followed by Charlie Canner. Bill Ferney was the pawnbroker and coming up the road were the 'Echo', 'Daily Post' and 'Mercury' offices and Mrs. Owen was a 'tallow chandler' at No. 53. The 'Wallasey News' (Wallasey Printers) were next door. The first issue appeared in the newsagent at 3rd November 1899. They, too, published twice-weekly. On Saturday there were twelve pages for a penny and on Wednesday it was halfpenny with four pages. This firm eventually moved to Church Road.

'The Wallasey News' was established by Messrs Willmer Brothers of Birkenhead to replace the Wallasey edition of the 'Birkenhead News'. In 1918 it was bought by the Wallasey Printers. Ernest Keel was the managing director and Edwin Peace was his associate. Mr. Peace was a solicitor in Liverpool and served the town as Mayor of Wallasey in 1916/1917.

William Clarke, printer and plumber was at No. 57. The business was established in 1846 by John James Clarke. He came to Wallasey from Bentham in Yorkshire and was the father of nine children. Garrick Studios were at Nos. 77 and 79, where Bert Cooper was the photographer. he carried out a wide variety of work was a specialist in marine, legal and survey photography. He also produced the 'Anchor' picture postcard series. Next door was the Imperial Penny Bazaar, which was run by J.H Burrows and Sons. There were a collection of shops including boot shops. Pegrams. the grocers, Johnsons, the dyers, the Misses Ellen and Rose Smith had their confectioners shop at No. 95 and Jack Holdsworth was the butcher. Woodson's Stores (grocers) and Lockley's baker shop on the corner of Stanley Street, which later became Boot's the Chemists.

At the bottom of Stanley Street was the blacksmith's, Harding and Son, later Tom Dunnicliffe had the smithy. On the other corner of Stanley Street in Borough Road was the Maypole at No. 103 and next door was Waterworth's (later John Skirrow) the greengrocers, followed by Oliver's the fishmongers. This business was originally owned by George Turtle. One advertisement ran "If you want to buy a rabbit go to Teddy Turtle's". A rabbit cost no more than sixpence in those days.

Next to Shepherd's Dairy/Grocery was Bertie Moore, the butcher, who had taken over from Eastman's. Lunt's the bakers were next; Brown's became the Shoe Warehouse and Ted Evans' became Dick's Family Boot Stores, which was owned by G. & W. Morton. In later years this business moved towards the bottom of the road to Nos. 73 and 79. Tom Parker was a baker at No. 121, with the butchers next door. Arthur Stretch had the drapers and Mrs. John's the tobacconist/stationer's next to the chandler was Jim Marl, the grocer, who had taken over the shop from Jack O'Brien on the corner of Hatherley Street. When W. Singleton and Son's the bakers gave up the premises they were taken over by the Co-operative Society on the opposite corner.

Among the other shopkeepers in the road was Chris Curry, the butcher which were later bought out by Guest's, Israel Soloman, the draper, McCarthy and Elliot the grocers which became John Newall's grocery. Maxwell's dairy, Bennett's chemist and Mrs. Hart's laundry and when this shop closed Mrs. Graham opened up an ironmonger's shop. Then Foster's took over John Simpson's greengrocery at No. 139.

Alf Derbyshire had the butchers and Scott's the bakers. Mr. Albert Tatler had the druggist.

On the right-hand side, coming up from the bottom were several businesses; Mr. George Longworth had his cycle shop at No. 30. Mr Byrom took over the premises in the 1930s. John Abraham had the butchers next door. E.H. Wright, the bakers was at No. 38. This firm went ont to be one of the town's leading confectioners who had their bakery at 12 Demesne Street. They specialised in supplying the shops and functions, etc., with small cakes of every description. Bill McQuire was a wheelwright and blacksmith in Smithy Lane. The 'Griffin' Hotel was on the corner of Smithy Lane where Bill Donnelly was landlord. Arthur Dodwell took over from him a few years later. Mary S. Davies had the public house at one time. Labouchere had a book shop and next door was the chemist (Budden's) when Mrs. Charles Richards was the manager. Mrs. E. Durden had the 'Hat Box' at 48a. Franklin Jones had the dairy and after a couple of more shops there was George Burrows, the leather goods shop. He also sold clogs and boots. Boots sold from 3s. 10d. to 18s. 0d. a pair. The shop was on the corner of Brighton Street. Mr. Maurice Thomas was the manager of the Joint City and Midland Bank. Mr. John Greenwell became manager in the 1930s. Among the other businesses in this part of the road were the fish and chip shop run by Archie Chippendale, Arthur White the stationer and Joe Scott, the butcher. Bob Leenam was landlord of the 'Stanley Arms' hotel and in the 1920s Reg Prichard took over, followed by Jim Horsley. The hotel once had a balcony and next door was 'Belle Vue', with steps leading up to the front door. The hotel once boated a bowling green, On the opposite side of the road there were strawberry fields in the days long before the shops were there. Morris Davis was the proprietor of the Strand Tailoring Company. They had a little ditty on the back of the tramway and bus tickets which went like this:

"When I was a lad
I went with my Dad
and always got clad
at Davies 78 Borough Road
Now I'm a Dad
and have many a lad
we all get clad
at Davies 78 Borough Road"

and at No, 82, George Williams had a top shop called the "Wallasey Grotto", which became the Doll's Hospital where one could take a broken doll and have it repaired. Next door, Miss Ogden always had a nice selection of ladies' blouses in her window and the housewives would stop and see the latest fashions. Mrs. Williams had the Water Lilly hand Laundry, with William Lawrence's outfitters at No. 90. Next came Grosvenor Place and Grosvenor Square. Prince's Dairies were by by the theatre.

Still standing today was the former Irving Theatre. Opened in 1899, today it is the Embassy Bingo & Social Club. Continuing up Borough Road, Mrs. Dickinson had the florists and Jack Dobbing was the barber at No. 144. The business was later taken over by Mr. Daniels who was demobbed from the army after World War II and opened the shop on the 18th December 1945.

Jim Hyett ran a cabinet-making and upholstery business next to Dobbings' (Mrs. Dobbings was a milliner) and Leyland's, the pawnbrokers, had two shops one being on the corner of Florence Road. On the opposite corner was Devine's grocery business. There were drapers and bakers, butchers and confectioners - all doing well in the 1920's. Near the top of the road was a cooked meat and pork butchers, which was run by the two Tushingham brothers. This was the same family as Rita Tushingham - the well-known film actress and star of 'A Taste of Honey'.

View of Five Bars Rest, 1905	Scott Butchers, 1908	1904	1904
North Wales Bank, 1905	Blitz Damage, 1941	1987	1994

1909

1925
No.	Name	No.	Name
	Seacombe Station	Mersey Street
	Railway Refreshment Room	14	Ernest Downes Wholesale Newsagent
Fell Street		16	Edward Noreross Ironmonger & Chandlery
25	The Queens Arms Mrs Louisa Jackson	18-20	John Pearson, Herbert & Louisa Harriet
Abottsford Street		22	Elizabeth Green Tobacconist
31	Arthur Hempshaw	24	John George East Confectioner
33	Liberal Club	26	W.H Smith & Son Wholesale Newsagents
35	William Robert Smith	28	John Keegan
35-37	Leasowe Castle Hotel Robert Crawford	28a	Ben Ellis Printer
39	William Purves Ferney Pawnbroker & Jeweller	30	George Longworth Cycle Dealer
41	Joseph Brown	Demesne Street
43	William Leonard Burrows	32	John Abraham Butcher
45	Emily & Minnie Kean Tobacconist & Stationers	34	Mrs Sarah Ann Bobbitt Stationer & Tobacconist
47	Willmer Bros. & Co. Ltd Printers & Publishers	36	Frederick Probert Greengrocer
49	Liverpool Daily Post and Echo (Seacombe)	38	Edward Harold Wright Baker & Confectioner
51	James Bethel	40	David Freeman Furniture Dealer
53	Ann Owens Chandler	40a	The Griffin Hotel William John Donnelly
57	William C. Clarke Plumber & Painter	Smithy Lane
59	Liverpool Courier, Weekly Courier & L'pool Express	44	Charles Richards (house) Budden & Co - Chemist
61	Five Bars Rest Hotel	46	Evan Franklin Jones Grocer & Dairyman
Church Road		48a	Mrs Florence Durden Ladies Tailor
69-71	Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd	48	James Bernfield Wardrobe Dealer
73-75	Peter Gray Boot Factor	50	S. Levine Clothier
75	Albert Needham	52	William Thomas Key Tobacconist
79	Maurice Williams Estate Agent & Auctioneer	54-56	George Edward S. Burrow Leather Merchant
81	John Jones, Ann Thompson Imperial Bazaar J.H. Burrows	Brighton Street
83	James Moore Saddler & Harness Maker		London Joint City & Midland Bank Ltd.
85	Tinney's - Ladies & Children's Outfitters		Percy Martindale Estate Agent & Valuer
87	John Robert Evans Herbalist		Gordon W. Little Sheriff's Officer
87a	Arthur Worship		Britannic Assurance Co.
89	Thomas Tickle - Cash Draper. John Gudgeon Mary Buchanan Lee		The Provident Clothing And Supply Co. Ltd - Manager: J. McGill
91	Frederick Lee, Ann Jane Lee, Dora Male Green, Joseph Thomas Henderson, Ethel Parsons	60	Lilliam Martindale
93	Pegrams Stores Ltd.	64	Ellen Roberts
95	Johnson's The Dyers	66	Sidney & Nelson Mann Metal Hardware Dealers
95a	Ellen Smith - Confectioner Miss Rose Anne Smith T.R. Nickson - General Carrier & Forward. Agent	68	Archibald Chippendale Fish And Chips
97	John William Holdsworth Family Butcher	70	Arthur St. Clair White Tobacconist & Stationer
99	Woodson's Stores Cash Grocers	72	George Wilson Sweets
101	George Lockley Barker & Confectioner	74	J.H Scott Butcher
Stanley Street		74a	Henry / Elizabeth Donohue
103	Maypole Dairy Co. Ltd	76	'Stanley Arms' Joseph Ball
105	Waterworth's Fruit Stores	78	The Strand Tailoring Co.
107	Ollier & Sons Fishmarket	80	Edward Gleasby Boro Confectionery Stores
109	The Home & Colonial Stores Ltd.	82	George Frederick Williams The Wallasey Grotto
111	Bertie Thomas Moore Family Butcher	84	Charles Ogden Charles Greenlees
113	George Lunt & Sons Bakers & Confectioners	86	William Parry & Sons Paint & Glass Merchants
115	J.N Browne & Sons The Shoe Warehouse	88	Thomas Albert Williams Waterlily Hand Laundry
Waverley Street		90	William Alfred Lawrence Clothier
119	Dick's Boot & Shoe Dealers	92	Elizabeth Wells, Albert Armitage, Richard Hughes
121	Thomas Henry Parker Baker & Confectioner	136	Harry Gouldson Princes Dairies Ltd.
123	British & Argentine Meat. Co Ltd - Family Butchers	138	Dougal Livingstone Sweets & Confectionery
125	Arthur Stretch Draper	140	Irving Repertory Theatre
127	Elsie Drysdale Newsagent/Tobacconist	142	James Gill Dickinson
129	Charles William Davey Chandler & General Dealer	144	John Robert Dobbing Hairdresser
131	J. Marl - Grocer And Provision Merchant	146	James Hyett - Upholsterer Edith Hyett
Hatherley Street		148	Williams & Co. Wine & Spirit
133	Co-operative Stores	150	Robert Leyland Pawnbroker & Jeweller
135	David Corry Family Butcher	Florence Road
137	Glover's Sweet Shop	152	Louis Devine Grocer & Provision
139	John Simpson Greengrocer	154	Toll & Tuner Drapers William Turtle (house part)
141	Archibald Maxwell Dairyman	156	Albert Middleton Joiner
143	Israel Soloman Tailor	158	Godfrey Bertie Hine Confectioner
Byerley Street		160	Mossman & Yates Ironmongers
Jubilee Grove		162-164	Morgan James Evans & Sons Drapers
145	McCaffrey & Elliot Grocers & Provisions	Edith Road
147	Herbert Andrew Choyce Fishmonger	166	George Lockley Baker & Confectioner
149	Edward Bennett Chemist	168	Robert Leyland Pawnbroker & Jeweller
151-153	J.W Horne Gents Outfitters	170	Charles E. Davies Pork Butcher
151	Rebecca Minna Hall	172	James Williams Sweet Store / Tobacconist
155	Robert Frederick Roberts Fish & Chip Saloon	174	William Henry Roberts Medical Herbalist
157	George Graham Chandler	176	British & Argentine Meat Co. Ltd.
159	S. Jones Confectioner	178	R.G Morgan Tobacconist
169	Charles Greenhalgh & John Wealthy - Newsagents	180	W. Rowlands Chandler
171	Alfred Derbyshire Family Butcher	184	Thomas & Frank Tushingham Pork Butchers
173	Banninster's Ale & Stout Stores	186	Mrs Ada Marion Highton Milliner / Ladies Outfitters
175	Robert Scott - Baker & Confectioner	188	Mary Ellen Haw Greengrocer
Gladstone Road		190	Brough & Wright Wholesale Confectioners
179	Albert Edward Tatler Chemist	192	Bank of Liverpool & Martin's Ltd.

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