KaTchy Rooms
From April 1925, home accessories store KaTchy Rooms opened at 22 Station Street previously just having a shop in Hucknall.
Mr Wuffles
For a short period between 2023 and 2025, 22 Station Street was occupied by Mr Wuffles who produced and sold home-baked dog treats. Apparently, food preparation was done on the premises. Orders and sales were through the website which no longer seems to be active.
2020 Vision
Until June 2023, 2020 Vision were based on the corner of Hodgkinson Road and Station Street, at 22 Station Street. I am grateful to Gemma Canlin for explaining that they are a Social Enterprise with a few residential and commercial properties. They moved their offices to Hucknall but they have a community centre on Diamond Avenue, a business centre in Hucknall and community kitchen at the Old Triple 7 bar. The shop looked empty in August 2023 and was available “To Let“.
Newstyle Barbers
Prior to that, Newstyle Barbers were there, in September 2020.
Money Makers
However, from at least April 2011 to March 2019, Money Makers were there, This was a charity shop raising funds for St Thomas’ Church and other charities.
John Ashton Promotions Ltd
In October 2008, it housed John Ashton Promotions Ltd. But, in August 2009, it was empty and available with all enquiries through David Blount. In a comment on Facebook, Frank Ball recalled that Ashton was a boxing promoter. John Smith noted that John Ashton had been a boxer but that he turned promoter. He commented that he used to do a lot with amateur boxers and still lives locally.
Kirkby Cyber Cafe
At some point, Kirkby Cyber Cafe was located at 22 Station Street.
Bottles
In the 1980s, Bottles off licence was at number 22
Edward C Brown
In 1941, at number 22 was Edward C Brown, a beer retailer.
In 1939, the beeroff at 22 Station Street was for sale by auction. Presumably, this is when it was sold by William Clarke to Edward Brown?
William Clarke
In 1912 and 1928, there had also been a beer retailer there by the name of William Clarke. Clarke Beeroff appears on Jacques’ List of Station Street retailers circa 1920-1940 for this location.
Mark Ashfield’s Memories
According to Mark Ashfield, in his book “Christmas Pigs and a Summer Donkey” (p23), William Clarke was known as Cricketer Clarke.
Beeroff
Beeroff is a term used in Nottinghamshire, other parts of the East Midlands, and possibly Sheffield, to describe an off-licence, i.e. a shop that is licensed to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises. They were relatively widespread in the days before supermarkets and/or when they did not commonly sell alcohol.
Vin Machin
At some point, the beeroff was run by Vin Machin. In 1960, it was possible to buy tickets for dances at the Festival Hall there.
Vincent Machin’s brother Arthur ran Challans Hardware. In a comment on Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group, Frank Ball recalled four Machin brothers. In addition to Vincent and Arthur, Charlie had a coal delivery business on Low Moor Road while another helped with coal delivery and furniture removal. Jane Burchell also recalled that it was Vin who had the “beer off” and she noted that it was George and Charlie who worked together. She also noted that Neil Machin had been in her class at infant school. Dot Clarke recalled that she used to play badminton with Neil Machin.
Memories of Machin’s Beeroff
One of the things contributors on Facebook recalled about this beeroff was that it sold draught beer and sherry. see Alwyn Bowskill’s comment below. Paul Brown noted that they “sold beer from hand pumps in the shop decanted via a large copper funnel into your own bottles“. Jill Taylor recalled that they sold draft sherry and mead and that she used to buy it for her mum. Christine Evans recalled the counter straight across the shop and the pumps for the beer and sherry behind the counter. “I would accompany my mum sometimes when she would take an empty bottle for him to fill with sherry“.
They also paid deposits on glass bottles returned to them. Paul Brown recalled getting bottles from the garage behind the shop and taking them to the beeroff to get the deposit which was 5d per bottle. David Meredith also recalled the deposit system with the amount being 3d at that time. Christine Evans also recalled collecting empty bottles off the street or out of the odd bin which she then took to him for some pocket money. David Hall recalled collecting bottles from the back of the Nag’s Head then taking them to the “offie” for money.
George Roe was fairly certain that he bought his first beer there around 1972 when he was 16. He noted “played football on the Acre and then went in and bought a bottle of Newcastle Brown. Knocked the top off on the shop window ledge and shared it with a mate!“
Steve Wright commented that his father used to get bags of broken crisps there in the forties. They cost one penny.
Frank Ball recalled Vin Machin as a “friendly and dapper gentleman“. Christine Evans recalled him as a “lovely man always very welcoming when you visited his shop“.
Residents of 22 Station Street
The Bowmars
In 1939, Eric C and Lily B Bowmar were living at 22 Station Street and they had a housemaid Lily (Lilian Lydia) Lockton. Eric was described as a joiner.
The Clarkes
In 1921, William Clarke was living at 22 Station Street with his son, Henry Kingscote (b1881) and Henry’s wife Florence (b1881). He also had two grandchildren, William (b1906) and Franklin (b1907) there, and his sister-in-law, Bessie Jennings. William was described as an ale and porter dealer. Henry was a carpenter and joiner. William was also living there in 1901 and 1911 with his wife Annie. In 1901, their son, Henry K was with them and they also had a domestic servant Sarah E Phillips. In 1901, William was described as a grocer shopkeeper and Henry as a joiner’s apprentice.
Leave a Reply