MRS B 490 Posted April 11, 2022 Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 Oh and I had my ears pierced there too, think that was in the same area as the wig dept! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 483 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 It's dis-jointed as it's several buildings built on a slope all joined together, plus alterations. The Historic England listing below describes the array of buildings and internal features presumably most of which are covered by the listing. The listing is probably going to add more headaches to the nightmare job the architects for the the current owners will have been having over recent years trying to find an economic solution. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1477986?section=official-list-entry It's not going to be such an easy solution as was found for the Queen St Post Office building, the back of which is visible in the picture below. Google image from above showing the array of buildings that make up the complex. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 It also had a makeover in the 1920s and previously looked quite different. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRS B 490 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 Stuart. C that explains all the higgledy piggledy little bits of staircases in the building if additions were made by purchase of other businesses on higher ground when the Debenhams/Griffin &Spalding business was good. It all makes sense now thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 What a shame the frontage was altered. I much prefer the original. Whoever was responsible for that made it look very Bauhaus and it's a shame they were permitted to ruin it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 There was a young lady from Wantage of whom the town clerk took advantage. The borough surveyor said, 'you really must pay her, because you have damaged her frontage! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 I only went in to Debenhams occasionally, but one thing I remember was that the Men's Clothing Dept was in the basement, below ground level, and had no windows or daylight. Not the best surroundings to encourage someone to buy anything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Meeseeks 51 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 Did Debenhams store in the Market Square have any lifts? Can't ever remember seeing any. (Argument arose after seeing an announcement that it gained a Grade 2 listed building) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 In the 1980s, the coffee shop was down in the basement. It began to look a bit shabby and daylight would have made it appear worse. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 483 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 In answer to the lifts question; Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 I was going to say I don't remember seeing any lifts in the place, but that obviously proves my memory wrong. It's also proof that everything was hidden round one of the hundreds of corners and nooks and crannies, so no-one could ever find lifts even if they wanted one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRS B 490 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 Jill Sparrow, I can remember the coffee shop being in the basement too. I also remember a metal sliding door lift. My dad used to always call in at G&S to get mothers Xmas presents before collecting the turkey from Burtons Arcade on Xmas Eve. Little could he afford either of these, he just used to blow the budget and then answer to Smiths Bank branch (latterly NatWest ) round the corner in the New Year. Of course we never knew any of this at the time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha 176 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 I remember the restaurant on the top floor of G&S where teas, coffee and light meals were served by waitresses dressed in white pinafors. I often enjoyed the view over slab square from the window tables. It was a large carpeted lounge and the waitresses had an enlosed cubicle in which to sit and for orders taken from the menue and for bills to be written before being brought to the tables. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 Been thinking about this topic of lifts in G & S. I vaguely seem to remember, when working at SPD and delivering on the Birds Eye side. To deliver to G&S staff canteen, (usually Florida frozen orange juice among others) one parked outside, on long row, where the Arnold buses started from. There was a little alley/entry, which I believe ran all the way up to Parliament Street. About half way up there was a small staff lift which went all the way up to the top floor and was manually controlled by a lever which you threw over to operate and was quite easy to overshoot your stop and had to coax it back to your level. On the few occasions I delivered there, I was terrified of that lift. Next drop was across the road to Burtons store, at the side of the Council House, (usually 25 to 30 bags of frozen foods) all delivered to the freezers inside of the shop. Please, can anybody tell me I wasn't imagining this lift. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 1 hour ago, Beekay said: There was a little alley/entry, which I believe ran all the way up to Parliament Street. Norfolk Place fits that description; and it's still there today https://goo.gl/maps/QdHMAwNeN3jXEdnRA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 483 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 The alley is Norfolk Place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,085 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 Sorry, can't help you there BK. I only ever went in G & S once. It was not a shop I could afford on my measly wages, plus I wanted cheap trendy clothing, as you did during the 60's. But before I married, I toyed with the idea of renting a wedding dress. It was about £20 to do this. So I decided before renting to look in Griffin's at their selection. Found one I liked at the princely sum of £22. Not a bad price even in those days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 483 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 Doesn't look like it was meant for passengers, however I suspect there were many small lifts serving all the different levels behind the Sales areas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stuart.C 483 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 As above I've found another one closer to the Square Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 That certainly looks like it CT and StuartC. What I do remember was, the lift controller simply marked up and down, (looked like it was cast brass), Thank you both, for your input. Ps. The lift opened straight I to the kitchens on top floor. Kath I didn't buy my wedding dress there either. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 You can actually click your way up and down it on Streetview. https://goo.gl/maps/fQiDidsY51Nku8EE8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beekay 5,094 Posted April 13, 2022 Report Share Posted April 13, 2022 This certainly looks like the lift door, but bear in mind, I've not seen this for about 50 years, incredible though that is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 Reading this I've realised I've never been up or down Norfolk Place. Looking at where it comes out on Parliament Street, I never knew it was a through-route and you could go down there and come out on Long Row. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 You've not missed anything @Cliff Ton it's always been know as piss alley Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.L 1,084 Posted April 14, 2022 Report Share Posted April 14, 2022 When BT occupied 47 Upper Parliament Street, above the Post Office, there was a small underground car park underneath the building, accessed from Norfolk Place through a shutter door next to the PO’s back yard. The spiral access down from the gate was very tight. With some users, you could tell what the colour of their car was by the paint they left on the wall. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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