William Hill
In August 2023, there was a sold sign on this property and this is also visible on Google dated April 2023. It is not clear if this applies to the whole building or just the upstairs flat. William Hill have been located there since at least 2008.
Globe Tea Company
In 1941 and 1942, at number 29, was Globe Tea Co (Jas Duckworth) who, unsurprisingly, were tea suppliers.
Mark Ashfield mentions them in his book “Christmas Pigs and a Summer Donkey” (p22) as a “thriving business“. They appear on Jacques’ List of Station Street retailers circa 1920-1940.
Wallace’s
In 1928, Wallace’s Ltd, a grocers, was at number 29 with Arthur Titterton as manager. He applied to Kirkby Tribunal for an exemption to military service during the first world war.
Banks & Sons
In the 1941 Kelly’s Directory, there does not seem to be an entry for number 31, so perhaps the tea company occupied both 29 and 31 as William Hill do currently. But, in 1928, there was a clothiers Banks & Sons there.
Banks’ Gents Outfitters appears on Jacques’ List of Station Street retailers circa 1920-1940.
Memories of Thomas Banks
Mark Ashfield
Thomas Banks is described in some detail by Mark Ashfield in his book “Christmas Pigs and a Summer Donkey” (pp20-21). He notes, “Kirkby then could boast some outstanding men and… let’s call on one of them: Thomas Banks, J.P., gents’ outfitter and hatter. Hats then were an important part of a man’s attire and if he lived in Kirkby like as not he wore a bowler, and it is short odds he had been fixed up by T Banks, Esquire.
Saturdays and Sundays were bowler hat days then, and the local supplier ought to be labelled Esquire for he was that dignified sort of man. Small. round, heavy-jowelled, he looked when you saw him on his way to his shop – on black jacket, pin-stripe trousers and spats, and wearing his bowler – every inch a Justice of the Peace. He was a prominent member of the bench for many years, but besides that and clothing many of Kirkby’s men, he was a councillor, a school manager of Kingsway Senior Boys’; and most Sundays he could be found preaching from one of the pulpits on the local circuit. His name lives on: there is Banks Avenue at the top of Greenwood Drive. “
Aside About Kirkby Street Names
I am grateful to John Wag Harris for commenting on Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group that it was interesting how some streets in Kirkby were named after “long gone community stalwarts“. He noted that there are a few around Kirkby and District mainly named after Labour councillors. He identified a few including Mattley Avenue in Nuncargate, Arthur Green Avenue in Kirkby Woodhouse and Berry Avenue. I noted that these appear with others in a photo of Labour representatives from the 1920s in the book “Kirkby & District from Old Photographs” by Frank Ashley, Sylvia Sinfield and Gerald Lee (p83). Others who appear on that photo include R Smith, W Ward, W Bates, P S Sargent, J Carlin, J Portas, J Marshall, W Bayliss, Mrs A Jeffries and W Able.
Edith Searson
Like Mark Ashfield, Edith Searson describes Thomas Banks in some detail although she notes his shop further along Station Street, next-door to Newcombes. Apparently, he was known as Tommy and was a councillor and a Justice of the Peace. She described him as a Methodist “lay” preacher. This is odd as my mother drilled it into me that while the Anglicans had lay preachers, the Methodists had local preachers, see Chapter 82. Edith Searson also noted that Tommy Banks’ assistant was Edgar Coates, who went on to run businesses in his own right. She also noted a little later that Tommy Banks lived at “The Gables” on Forest Hill/Victoria Road. This house is significant in that it is close to where members of my family lived and gave me an indication that the numbering in that part of Diamond Avenue changed at some point, see Chapter 24.
Challans Gift Shop
When Challans Gift Shop closed at 21 Station Street, it was re-located further along Station Street. Based on a post on Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group, it appears that this move was to 31 Station Street. This seems to be confirmed by the comment by Christine Evans in relation to 27 Station Street which notes that what was once Challans Gift Shop is now a bookmakers. This was also confirmed by others, including Gill Crisp. Audrey Garner referred to it as “Challans pot shop“.
Residents of 29-31 Station Street
No-one was registered at 29 Station Street in any of the censuses from 1901 to 1921 or in the 1939 Register.
The Stokes
In 1939, Thomas, Lily and Ronald Stokes were living at number 31. Thomas was noted to be a colliery hewer (incapacitated).
The Maseteds (or Maxteds?)
In 1921, William Nathaniel and Elizabeth Maseted were at 31 with their two sons, William Nathaniel (b1916) and Jess (b1920). John and Hilda Maddock were with them as boarders. Both William Nathaniel and John Maddock were miners, However, William Nathaniel worked at Summit and John Maddock at New Annesley.
The Whites
In 1911, Bernard and Kate White were at number 31 with their two children Barbara (b1909) and Frederick Hector (b1911). Bernard was working as a blacksmith.
The Bankses
In 1901, Thomas Edward Banks and his wife Ellen were living at 31 Station Street with their son Edgar Hodson Banks (b1893). Thomas Banks was described as a clothier manager.
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