Long Lost Shops

[Beekay 2,900]

Thanks CT. It looks like the 40/47 came up Parliament St., turned left down Queen St.,, passed in front of the council house and turned right on to South parade before turning left on to Listergate, then again it gets confusing. When reaching the Sawyers arms and Woolworths, did it continue on to Canal St. and turn right or did it veer right at Woolworths past what was Barry Noble's entertainment?? Somebody will enlighten me. Don't know why but it's driving barmy.  

[katyjay 4,564]

Beekay, somewhere on this forum is a map of all the bus routes. Maybe in a bus thread?

[trogg 1,448]

On WWs link photos 4 and 5 show two of the most remembered places in Nottingham for some people, the Locarno and Palais.

[Cliff Ton 8,985]

1 hour ago, Beekay said:

Thanks CT. It looks like the 40/47 came up Parliament St., turned left down Queen St.,, passed in front of the council house and turned right on to South parade before turning left on to Listergate, then again it gets confusing. When reaching the Sawyers arms and Woolworths, did it continue on to Canal St. and turn right or did it veer right at Woolworths past what was Barry Noble's entertainment?? Somebody will enlighten me. Don't know why but it's driving barmy.  

 

When it passed Sawyers and Woolworths, it veered right at Woolies and went along Greyfriar Gate which lead to the bottom end of Wilford Road; then it went all the way along there up to Wilford Toll Bridge.

[Beekay 2,900]

Thanks again CT. One thing I  do remember was, how dark it always seemed to be  along Wilford Road. Maybe because it so built-up  and confined. It wasn't  a very wide road in those days. I've sung in a few pubs down there.

[BilboroughShirley 1,112]

A very sad day today. The demise of Debenhams. I agree with those who say they did not move with the times and our local Debenhams shop has gone downhill. My sad moment is because I worked in Farmers in Nottingham, a store owned by Debenhams (in addition to Griffin and S) and a very happy workplace with a great staff. Farmers closed and moved to Scan in the Victoria centre, then that closed. The demise of Debenhams is the end of the line and a total disaster for all their workers.

[Cliff Ton 8,985]

The Debenhams store in Nottingham seemed designed to keep customers captive by confusing and disorientating them.  It was just a large number of small rooms and spaces connected by stairs, corridors and passageways. I could never find my way from one department to another; you just went round in circles.

 

One of the best arguments for online shopping you could find.

[philmayfield 4,348]

I think time would have been up for a lot of these high st. retailers over the next few years. The lock down and online buying has just accelerated it. It's very sad for the employees though, especially at this time of year.

[Jill Sparrow 8,547]

I've never been terribly keen on Debenhams as a shop but the premises, which were formerly those of Griffin and Spalding, always fascinated me. I loved wandering around, up and down the many creaking staircases, trying to work out how it might have looked when it was built originally. Farmer's was much the same but on a smaller scale.

[Stuart.C 270]

There are old photos on this link of Market St.

Including picture 3 showing Griffins main corner building and the misalignment by half a floor of the adjacent buildings.

 

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/history/gallery/see-old-photos-one-city-2336760

[philmayfield 4,348]

Shops like Debenhams and H of F have never appealed to me. If I want a department store I go to Boundary Mills on the A1 near Grantham which is readily accessible with free parking.

[mary1947 1,478]

Hi Beeky 

40/47 trolly bus went from the Palais turned up George St top of George st turned right into city centre then after passing Farmer's drapery shop snd exchange walk turned left went past Marks /Spencers  contiued past C/A round the Walter Fountain (which later became a roundabout) then past Woolworths the past Sherwood Rooms turning on to Castle Bol then left down Wilford St then Wilford rd bottom of Wilfred rd turned around the road Island which used to have an ice cream van on then came back into town, The 40 Trolly went to Wilford Rd from top of The Wells road. then went back again The 47 only went half way it would only go back up to St Anns and would turn around at Ransom Rd formely Coppice Rd,   Hope this helps jog your memory B  

just a little question you was not one of those conductors who would see you running to catch the bus and just as you got near would shout "hold tight"  and ring the bell, and no matter how hard you  ran  the bus pulled away befoe you had got on it.    

xx

[Beekay 2,900]

That's what I thought Mary, but couldn't remember if it turned down George St. or Queens st. That bit and the bit around Woolies I was getting stuck on. But with bit of help from the club nottstalgia, I'm OK now. Behave yourself and no mugging blokes.  

Edit. Never rang the bell on a runner but once, on 39 Carlton to Western boulevard, I had an occasion to jump off at Faraday Road and told the driver I was just nipping in public toilet. While there some bastard rang the bell and the bus left without me. I caught the next trolley following and caught up with mine at the terminus. My driver thought I'd finished and rang the bell !

[HSR 248]

3 hours ago, Cliff Ton said:

The Debenhams store in Nottingham seemed designed to keep customers captive by confusing and disorientating them.  It was just a large number of small rooms and spaces connected by stairs, corridors and passageways. I could never find my way from one department to another; you just went round in circles.

 

One of the best arguments for online shopping you could find.

 

Recall a lovely wooden panelled staircase, resulting in an exit halfway up Market St! Freedom at last!

[HSR 248]

2 hours ago, Stuart.C said:

There are old photos on this link of Market St.

Including picture 3 showing Griffins main corner building and the misalignment by half a floor of the adjacent buildings.

 

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/history/gallery/see-old-photos-one-city-2336760

 

Stuart, I can't view the link you posted, but you mention misalignment, I remember the building directly facing main Selectadisc, a restaurant, always struck me as odd, the windows seemed to be partially below street level.

[radfordred 5,456]

So 3 days in looks like we are all sorted on the route of this 40/47 trolley bus? 

 

Anyone still got their wires crossed? Or indeed a bit loose? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trogg 1,448]

The power of Nottstalgia a member has a query of a memory from years ago and ask fellow nottstalgians for help, it takes time for them to resolve it , but together they do. What a great bunch of friends you are, long may it continue.

[Beekay 2,900]

Totally agree with you Trogg 100%. (until some Neolithic moron comes up with a sarcastic comment).

The link to the video slide show was brilliant. Took me right back to the 60s.

[benjamin1945 13,941]

15 hours ago, Cliff Ton said:

The Debenhams store in Nottingham seemed designed to keep customers captive by confusing and disorientating them.  It was just a large number of small rooms and spaces connected by stairs, corridors and passageways. I could never find my way from one department to another; you just went round in circles.

 

One of the best arguments for online shopping you could find.

 

Catching shoplifters was easy........some had to ask the WAY OUT     ?

 

[Cliff Ton 8,985]

11 hours ago, HSR said:

Stuart, I can't view the link you posted, but you mention misalignment, I remember the building directly facing main Selectadisc, a restaurant, always struck me as odd, the windows seemed to be partially below street level.

 

The link works ok for me. 

 

I'd never thought before about the gradient of Market Street relative to Debenhams. It means when you enter the front entrance at ground level, once further inside, you're below ground level.

[philmayfield 4,348]

Back in the 50’s didn’t Griffins have commissionaires out front who would assist you with car parking?

[Beekay 2,900]

Once when delivering Birds Eye, had to go to Griffin & Spalding staff canteen which was on the top floor. This was accessed via a passageway on Long Row up to their back entrance, using a small lift. I hated doing this delivery because the lift was operated manually with a small lever and was very easy to overshoot /underreach your desired floor. Sometimes spent ages trying to get it right. I believe the alleyway went all the way up to Parliament Street. Parked the B.E. van on the Long row bus stops, much to the annoyance of the bus drivers. From there, across to Burton's.

Is that still there?

[philmayfield 4,348]

I've just discovered that Griffin & Spalding were sold to Debenhams in 1944 but continued to trade under their old name for many years.

[Jill Sparrow 8,547]

 Burton's? Closed decades ago. It was my father's favourite shop. The premises are still there.

[philmayfield 4,348]

At Burton's fish counter you had to pay for you purchase at a desk so you never got fishy smelling change. Very genteel.