Braddy 160 Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 I remember my mam working at Griffin & Spalding in the restaurant, they had to wear white coat and a white peak cap with hair tucked under the cap. the food they served was top notch, sometimes I used to pick my mam up from work and park outside the staff entrance on market street and did not pay for parking not like nowadays. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
siddha 825 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 It was a childrens home of some kind in the 50s and 60s, nearby is the house John Player lived in now a Hospice. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,681 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 William Griffin was from a farming family in Rempstone and can be seen below living at home in 1851 , with his father, also called William . His grandfather was also called William . In fact although the article above says his son was called Perry , looking at the 1901 Census it appears his first name was another William . The middle name Perry seems to come about after the married surname of his aunt ? What seems unusual is that on the 1881 Census , William Griffin was living above the shop at 4 Market Street, together with at least 15 of the shop staff ! At least they shouldn't have been late ! Amazing that the majority of the workers were from out of the county . It would appear that William married Sarah Widdowson Musham , daughter of William Musham of Nottingham after the 1881 Census , actually August 20th 1881. She died at Riseholme ,aged 85 in 1937 . 1901 CENSUS 29 ARBORETUM ST. Nottingham GRIFFIN, William Head Married M 58 1843 Draper (Shop Keeper) Rempstone, Nottinghamshire VIEW GRIFFIN, Sarah W Wife Married F 48 1853 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire VIEW GRIFFIN, Dorothy G Daughter F 13 1888 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire VIEW GRIFFIN, William P Son Single M 9 1892 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire VIEW PAUL, Elizabeth L Visitor Widow F 58 1843 Salford, Lancashire 1881 CENSUS 4 MARKET ST NOTTINGHAM GRIFFIN, Wm Head Single M 38 1843 Draper (Employing 63 Hands) Rempstone, Nottinghamshire DISELLEY, Mucas A Servant Single F 33 1848 Saleswoman (Drapers) Plymouth, Devon BATSON, Agnes Servant Single F 29 1852 Saleswoman (Drapers) Leeds, Kent NICHOLSON, Mary A Servant Single F 29 1852 Saleswoman (Drapers) Ripon, Yorkshire DOUGLAS, Lina Servant Single F 29 1852 Drapers Assistant Madras, India DAVEY, Janet Servant Single F 30 1851 Drapers Assistant Shaftsbury, Dorset BABAKER, Catherine Servant Single F 4 1877 Drapers Saleswoman Middlesex SMITH, Edward Servant Single M 20 1861 Drapers Salesman Boston VIEW BLACKFORD, Thos E Servant Single M 24 1857 Drapers Salesman Jersey, Channel Islands SAVAGE, Jno E Servant Single M 18 1863 Drapers Salesman Syston, Leicestershire COOPER, Ed A Servant Single M 19 1862 Drapers Apprentice Salisbury, Wiltshire BOOTH, J F Servant Single M 18 1863 Drapers Apprentice Nottingham BACON, Thos S Servant Single M 16 1865 Drapers Apprentice Manchester, Lancashire THORNTON, Harriett Servant Single F 47 1834 Housekeeper (Dom) Nottingham LITTA, Charlotte Servant Single F 21 1860 Servant Domestic Lincoln, Middlesex HALLAM, Ann Servant Single F 21 1860 Servant Domestic Sla?, Nottinghamshire 1851 CENSUS REMPSTONE LOUGHBOROUGH LEICS GRIFFIN, William Head Married M 36 1815 Farmer 118 Acres Employg 2 Lab Rempstone Hill, Nottinghamshire GRIFFIN, Sarah Martha Wife Married F 33 1818 Nottingham GRIFFIN, William Son M 8 1843 Scholar At Home Rempstone, Nottinghamshire GRIFFIN, Thomas Son M 5 1846 Scholar At Home Rempstone, Nottinghamshire GRIFFIN, Henry Son M 4 1847 Scholar At Home Rempstone, Nottinghamshire GRIFFIN, Lucy Daughter F 2 1849 Rempstone, Nottinghamshire GRIFFIN, Robert Son M 1 1850 Rempstone, Nottinghamshire PERRY, Hannah Wife's Sister Unmarried F 26 1825 Governess Nottingham PERRY, Joseph Brother-In-Law Unmarried M 21 1830 Draper Nottingham DEATHS 28/02.1851 ANNE GRIFFIN AGE 76 WIFE OF THE LATE WILLIAM GRIFFIN OF REMPSTONE HILL NOTTS 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,681 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Just to complete the duo this is John Tricks Spalding Census entries. As you can see he was born into a retailing family that had a business selling lace goods in Exeter . John Tricks Spalding was more outgoing than his partner and was an alderman and Justice of the Peace . From the news archives he presided over dozens of court cases . 1911 Census SPALDING, John Tricks Address: 22 Villa Road Nottingham SPALDING, John Tricks Head Married 68 1843 Draper Devonshire Exeter SPALDING, Kathleen Chambers Wife Married42 years 68 1843 Cambridgeshire Whittlesea SPALDING, Edward Harold Son Single M 38 1873 Draper London St Pancras SPALDING, Ethel Margaret Daughter Single 41 1870 London St Pancras SPALDING, Katherine Alice Daughter Single 28 1883 Nottinghamshire 1881 Census SPALDING, John T Address: 4, Wellington Circus, Nottingham St Mary SPALDING, John T Head Married 38 1843 Draper Employs 63 Hands Exeter, Devon SPALDING, Katherine C Wife Married 38 1843 Whittlesea, Cambridgeshire SPALDING, Ethel M Daughte Single F 11 1870 Scholar London, Middlesex SPALDING, William A Son Single M 9 1872 Scholar London, Middlesex SPALDING, Edward H Son Single M 7 1874 Scholar London, Middlesex SPALDING, Margaret A Visitor Widow F 72 1809 Exeter, Devon JONES, Mary Ann Visitor Widow F 48 1833 Ely, Cambridgeshire 1871 Census Somerton Terrace Islington London SPALDING, John F Head M 28 1843 Draper Exeter Devon SPALDING, Catherine Wife F 28 1843 Cambridgeshire SPALDING, Margaret A Mother F 61 1810 exeter Devon 1851 Census 32 High Street St. Stephen Exeter SPALDING, John Married 35 1816 Laceman Hosier & Glover 6 Assistts Cambridge, Cambridgeshire SPALDING, John 8 1843 Scholar Exeter, Devonshire SPALDING, Margaret Wife 40 1811 Lace Man Hosier & Glover Assistt In Shop Exeter, Devonshire SPALDING, William H Son 6 1845 Scholar Exeter, Devonshire SPALDING, Margaret A Daughter 3 1848 Exeter, 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Commo 1,292 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Come on DAVID W, stop messing about and get some research done !! Your posts really put flesh on the bones of this Nottingham institution. 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,681 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Actually Commo you are right , I completely missed that the firm was originally called Fazakerley , Griffin and Spalding , funny that wasnt mentioned in the obituaries above . Mr Fazakerley was a partner with the Dickinsons that sold out their share of their drapery business to Messrs Griffin and Spalding. More when I can get time to scan some photos . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Fazakerley, Griffin and Spalding was dissolved in 1886. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,681 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Timeline ---------------- 1846 Robert and Edward Dickinson commence trading as a drapers shop on Long Row 01/04/1858 MESSRS. R. & E. DICKINSON have pleasure in announcing that they have taken as a Partner Mr. EDWARD FAZAKERLEY, who has been in their house from the time they commenced business. Nottinghamshire Guardian 1860 Sketch of Dickinsons in the centre , the buildings to the left , later demolished to make way for Market St . 1865 Premises altered and enlarged and Market Street created which gave them an important corner site together with extra passing trade . 1875 Edward Fazakerley dies 1875 aged 47 (so born 1828) . From the above that Littlebro provided , looks like his wife Elizabeth Jane Fazakerley inherited his share . 1878 Messrs Griffin and Spalding purchased the majority of shares of the Fazakerley family (but presume they remained partners (see below)) 1881 Elizabeth Fazakerley living at 10 Mapperley Rd , a widow with her children. 1883 Spot the spelling mistake ! 1886 Partnership of Fazakerley , Griffin and Spalding dissolved as above . Griffin and Spalding decided to rebuild the store . 1890 Photo of new store 1912 Store further enlarged 1924 J.T. Spalding dies aged 82 1932 Mr William Griffin dies aged 90 The sons of the above , Mr Perry Griffin , Messrs Harold and William Spalding carry on the business as directors . 1944 Griffin and Spalding are taken over by Debenhams ???? Name changed to Debenhams ????? 2 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Love the cows grazing on Market Square 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Merthyr Imp 729 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Regarding Market Street, it's interesting to note that it was originally called Theatre Street due to the siting of the newly-built - in 1865 - Theatre Royal at the top of it. (That's according to the book in the Victorian Nottingham series dealing with the Theatre Royal). Why or when it was renamed Market Street is not clear, but seems not to have been long afterwards. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poohbear 1,360 Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 It never got to be called Theatre Street...the Gentry thought it was going to be...but got conned out of it by the market traders. It was previously Sheep Lane Read it on here.... http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;NTGM015576&pos=6&action=zoom&id=70665 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Phoenix Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 I realize this is an old thread about G and S. I saw the store mentioned somewhere more recently, but can't find it now. Doh! So many recollections are lost unless committed in writing somehow and following that principle, I'll add my memories of the store. When I moved to Nottingham in 1961, it was one of the first shops I recall. I've two overriding memories; creamed mushrooms on toast and fashion parades. Odd because I didn't like mushrooms and jeans and t shirt was the extent of my fashion consciousness! I remember sitting in a restaurant somewhere near the top of the store, early afternoon. Don't know if it was late lunch or early afternoon tea, but I do recall mannequins walking up and down wearing, presumably, the latest fashion. All looked a bit dated to a 12 year old, but ladies around seemed to murmur approval. The ladies just walked up and down between the tables, in a model way, pausing, smiling, gesturing and moving on. Plus, for whatever reason, I was beguiled by their creamed mushroom on toast. Used to cost half a crown. A tasty snack and one which I introduced to a number of friends, both as a school hild and later as a student. Such is the exuberance of youth, I once hitchiked nearly 100 miles with a chum, just to eat mushrooms on toast there again. The food was good, but by the late 60s, the mannequin displays were no more. Probably for the best, we'd have been thrown out for laughing I guess! Plus, it was known as Griffs and Sniffs. No doubt alluding to quality. Was that a general nickname? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NottmNick 20 Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Griffin & Spalding - worked in Menswear in about 1967. 'Twas like stepping back in time, everyone addressed very formally. We had to clean everything constantly- even removing every stacked box from inside a glass cabinet and dusting all 6 sides every week. Mr Mann was the 'buyer'- with little power as Debenhams had already bought the shop and were introducing 'central buying' which was contentious despite the fact that the department was cluttered with crap that should never have been bought! I think the assistant buyer was Mr Stinson (spelling prob incorrect) and I think we had two Mrs Smiths. http://nottstalgia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12973 is another thread about Griffins when they became Debenhams. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,090 Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Re#28, the 1881 cencus for 4 Market Street. Did anyone else notice Catherine Babaker from Middlesex, and a servant was born 1877 and only aged 4. Now that's child labour! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mary1947 2,079 Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 In 1965 when due to get married I wanted an head -dress that was different so I went to buy one from Griffin's. At the time my weekly pay was £5 00. The head- dress that I choose cost £3- 9/6 but it was worth it. Another great shop was "TOBYS" my uncle gave me £10 00 for a wedding present I went to Tobys and brought a silver plated tea pot, milk jug, sugar bowl, hot water pot, all on a silver plated tray, most famous band at the time (SWAN) To this day I still use the tray which is now a grand age of 50, 51 this year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tim in the North East 200 Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 I believe Griffin and Spalding had a hostel where there single staff could live - at the top of St Ann's Hill which is off Woodborough Road, between its junctions with Cranmer Street and Corporation Oaks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,681 Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 Katyjay , no child labour in #28 . Just a bad transcription of the Census Looking at the original document "Miss Babaker" was 24 and I suspect she was also called Baker (bad handwriting). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,090 Posted August 9, 2016 Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 Well, thank goodness for that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ado64 4 Posted November 9, 2016 Report Share Posted November 9, 2016 The thing I remember G&S for was the glass lift doors - pressing a face up to them to see how far down (or up) the lift shaft one could see was fascinating for a 5 year old boy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAVIDW 1,681 Posted August 3, 2018 Report Share Posted August 3, 2018 This cropped up today on Facebook . A lady asked about a story of a skeleton being found under some foundations of Griffin and Spalding in Edwardian times .  Very little info available and the only reference I could find in the news archives was one from a Sheffield newspaper .  Turns out there were four complete skeletons plus an extra skull !  At first it was thought the skeletons were the result of a crime but then it was decided they were probably killed by some sort of plague or contagion . One strange thing is that one skull was "negroid" , on a skeleton some 6'2" long . Apparently whatever was demolished for the extension , had been built in the 1850s , so the burials must have predated that .  "FOUR SKELETONS AND FIVE SKULLS UNEARTHED by Workmen engaged in excavation for purposes of extensions to the large business premises of Messrs Griffin and Spalding, at the rear of Long Row Nottingham, have unearthed no fewer than four complete skeletons and one skull " 28 May 1910 - Sheffield Daily 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janet Robertson 0 Posted February 18, 2020 Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 Hi I worked at Griffin and Spaldings in 1958/59 aged 15, Would love to hear from anyone who there at this time, also looking for photos taken at this time. Thankyou Janet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted May 5, 2021 Report Share Posted May 5, 2021 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
y_not 2 Posted May 28, 2021 Report Share Posted May 28, 2021 Great days! I worked for a few months in the bedding section of G&S. I'd never been in a store with lift attendants before, deep carpets and our own label printing department! Miss Bentley was my mentor (until Burtons offered two quid a week more!) she was lovely - everyone's grandma. Adrian was her other assistant, think HD was gay but I was too nieve to notice that he was "different", latest music in the Arcade on Angel Row and my first taste of lager (yuck!) St the Bell Inn. Lovely memories. Thanks for the reminder. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,139 Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 Great store.........worked there when it was 'Debenhams'' and two more in the West Midlands...such a shame all gone now.............it really was like working at 'Grace Brothers'' Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Also worked the 'Big Coop''Â again great atmosphere and people......used to love getting in the lift.......and Announcing ''3rd floor Ladies Underwear''.......including '' Liberty Bodices'' Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Took Fenella Fielding up the lift.......mentioned afore...but such a pleasure worth repeating... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,304 Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 Did the passengers know you were wearing a liberty bodice, our Ben? Â Made by Brettles, along with pink ballet socks and ladies' equestrian knickers! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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