Chic Boutique
Currently, Chic Boutique are based at 28 Station Street. This has been there since at least March 2016. In a comment on Facebook, Natalie Wadley observed that this is her shop. She noted that, “when we took over in 2016 the shops had been divided a few years previous. But the windows when steamed up used to have an advertisement for Kirkby beds on there. We took away part of the divide in 2019 when my mum opened Through the Looking Glass. And since the two shops have been in the same family.“
Kirkby Beds
It appears that Kirkby Beds were once based here as their advertisement is still visible when the windows steam up. Christine Evans commented on Facebook that she had forgotten about them. The current owner of Chic Boutique, Natalie Wadley, commented that she had not been able to forget them as “every night it appeared”.
Bonkers
Before that, from at least October 2008 to April 2011, furniture store, Bonkers, had occupied 28-30 Station Street. I am grateful to Alwyn Bowskill for sharing this photo in the comments below. It is from Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group. It seems to me that Breakers were at 24-26 Station Street and the Discount Furniture store at 28-30 Station Street. I am not sure if this furniture discount store was also called Bonkers.
Taylors
I am grateful to Sharon Millan for pointing out that Taylor’s were in this run of shops in the seventies. From the photo she shared, it appears that Taylor Corn Stores may have occupied more than one shop. I found an entry in the 1977 phone directory which gave their address as 28 Station Street. Taylors continues to trade at 22 Kingsway.
In a comment on Facebook, Stephen Dowsing recalled getting bread flour and yeast from there. He also thought they sold pet food.
An Earlier Row of Terraced Houses
The current building housing 24-36 Station Street was constructed in the sixties. Prior to that, there had been a row of terraced houses/cottages. These were noted both by Edith Searson in her book(let) “I Also Remember” and by Mark Ashfield in his book “Christmas Pigs and a Summer Donkey“.
Beardsley & Co
Some businesses operated from these houses. I found an advert for Beardsley and Co in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times of 18 April 1924. This company appeared to offer a money-lending service. They were based in Mansfield but were also available at 28 Station Street on a Friday evening at 7.30pm. Similar adverts appeared between March 1923 and May 1924.
The Bloys
Alfred and Eliza Bloy lived at 28 Station Street from at least 1901 to 1939. In 1939, Alfred was described as a retired colliery engine tenter.
In 1921, they had two children living with them, William Arthur (b1898) and Lilian May (b1904). Alfred and William both worked at New Hucknall Colliery. Alfred was an engine tenter air compressor and William was a coal miner haulage below. A boarder, George Albert Hancock was also with them. He was described as a golf club maker at Nottinghamshire Golf Club.
In 1911, Alfred was described as a stone sawyer. They had another son there, Sydney (b1900). In 1901, Alfred was described as a stonemason’s labourer.