bamber 128 Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 A poor bloke lost a toe in the WestEnd Arcade escalator a couple of days ago. The question is: were they the first to be installed in Nottingham? I'm sure they predate the Vic Centre. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Before then ? I think some were installed in one of the department stores in the late 50s or early 60s(Co-op? or Griffin & Spalding?) PS I left Nottingham in 1967 for work reasons & it was before then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 I remember using the one in Marks and Sparks (Or it may have been Wollies further down Lister Gate, that would be a long time before VC) and the Co op on Parliament Street Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Limey 242 Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 First one I remember was in Griffins - I think the Co-Op came next, but I could be wrong! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 I know the West End escalator can appear pretty fearful when stepping on; due to it being steep and narrow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I can remember the manned lifts in the Coop but I don't recall any escalators. And M&S was on one floor only during the 1970s so I can't see much need for escalators there. As for Griffin's I can't say. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,495 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 For some reason I think the ones in West End Arcade might've been the earliest. The place was "modernised" some time in the early/mid 60s and I think they were put in then. It was a bit odd that something so modern should be in an out-of-the-way location. As Bamber mentioned, I don't remember any escalators in the big department stores. Not in the Co-op because they had the lifts and the big art deco staircase; possibly Woolies but I don't remember any; but what about C & A ? which I often went in but I can't recall if they had any escalators or not. So my money might stay on West End Arcade. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I'm fairly sure there was a wooden one in C&A Modes in the 1950s Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 It was C & A that I was thinking of (Not Marks or Woolies , right area wrong shop!!) I'm pretty sure the one in the Coop was to the rear of the lifts ie to the left and back a bit if you stood and looked at it from Parliament Street Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Definitely not in the Coop. I can remember going in there with my Nan in the mid 1960s and it was always lift up and grand staircase down. !jumping! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 Regarding the grand staircase (Art Deco style) in the once big Co-op, Parliament Street, does it still exist? Loved that staircase - it really was Grand - and the rotating doors - one on Wollaton St, the other on Parliament St. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Compo 10,328 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I love rotating doors. An old shop closed down a few years ago up here in Thurso. Fortunately, the new owners (accountants) kept the rotating doors which still look good even in the modern setting of the rest of the frontage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I love rotating doors. An old shop closed down a few years ago up here in Thurso. Fortunately, the new owners (accountants) kept the rotating doors which still look good even in the modern setting of the rest of the frontage. I like revolting doors too Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 The escalators were installed as part of WEA's redevelopment in 1968. So that beats the Vic Centre by a couple of years. C&A did have an escalator but only after the 1974-75 rebuild. So I reckon the plaudits go to the West End Arcade. Take a bow! You may be unloved but you were the first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I managed to get my head stuck in the guard rail of one as a toddler somewhere in Nott'm (long before 1968!!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Hi Beefsteak. That's got me flummoxed then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Just been on the phone to my mum and she tells me that happened in a (Long gone) mensware shop at the junction of Clumber street and Long Row , but she can't remember what they were called. She thinks the escalator went down into the basement and not up to another sales floor. She then went into a long diatribe about her first escalator ride being in Manchester or Blackpool , she wasn't 100% on where , as they visited both on the same works outing in around 1949 ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 That was Skinner and Rook and later Hornes. And they definitely didn't have room for an escalator! Here's a link to a previous thread which mentions the existence or not of an escalator in C&A. http://nottstalgia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6792 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.... 23 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I worked at Horne Bros in 1974 for a short time. There was definitely no escalator there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hippo girl 1,995 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 I think it may be woolworths on lister gate in the 60s?....sure there was one up to the cafe and stairs down.... or am I thinking BHS ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mudgie49 401 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Yes you're right Hippo girl,it ran up at the right hand side of the store,turning left to go into the self service resturant. I remember going with my mum,and I stopped going to town with her in 1961,prefering to go with my mates. You old un's must have gone to 'Woolies' cafe with your mum,we dragged them every where else. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 So my first attempt was nearly correct then .....LOL My mum may have have mixed up a story or two there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted March 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Well, Woolies seems pretty definitive. Sorry West End Arcade, your moment of glory was fleeting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 There was an escalator "somewhere" in Nottingham pre 1958, recall the date as we moved house then and one afternoon came home to old house to find Mum not in from her once a week shopping in town trip, the hours passed (no phone in those days) but eventually she arrived having been in the General Hospital getting a gash on her eyebrow stitched after falling going up an escalator. C&A sounds favourite (according to Compo) as whilst never mentioning a wooden one she did say she hit her head "on an aluminium strip fitted to stop you slipping". There was an escalator in Woolworths on Lister Gate, as someone said think an up only one the near the doors of the "lower shop" which I recall joined the upper one in a type of (upside down) "Y" with The Sawyers Arms in the middle of the Y. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OLDACE 196 Posted March 25, 2012 Report Share Posted March 25, 2012 I seem to remember one at Pearsons in the 50's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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