A Wass Funeral Director
Now, on the corner, is A Wass, the funeral director, at number 50. They have been there since at least September 2017.
The Ark
Prior to that, from at least June 2015 to April 2017 was The Ark. It advertised tea, coffee, books, music and church supplies. Apparently, it was a Christian book store. In April 2017, there was a “Let By” sign on the building. Previously, in July 2009 and April 2011, the building was empty and, in April 2011, there was a “For Sale/To Let” sign on the building.
Memories of the Ark
In a Facebook comment, Liz Molloy recalled that she volunteered for a while at the Ark. She recalls that the “cafe used to be a meeting place for the women that used to go. Also was a Christian shop where you could get faith gifts and books. I miss having a shop like that.”
Kirkby Neighbourhood Management Community Contact/Information Point
In October 2008, Kirkby Neighbourhood Management operated a Community Contact/Information Point here.
P E Bray’s
In the 1980s, P E Bray’s china shop was at number 50. My understanding is that they had previously been on Lowmoor Road. However, in a comment below, Alwyn Bowskill notes that “they later moved to the shop on Lowmoor Road that was Boots but is now up for sale“.
History of P E Bray’s
The business was started by Philip Edward and Elizabeth Bray on Lowmoor Road. Elizabeth Bray is listed as a wardrobe dealer on Lowmoor Road in 1941. Apparently, the business was carried on by their daughter Betty and then by their son Reg and his wife Pam. Some 40 years after the business started, it relocated to Station Street. However, it was sold to Albert and Mary Knowles and then to Steve and Rosemary Pella. The Pellas incorporated the business into their long-established jewellery business, meaning that Bray returned to Lowmoor Road. This was located at 48 Lowmoor Road but has now closed.
Memories of P E Bray’s
Christmas Club
In a comment below, Alwyn Bowskill noted that Bray’s ran a very popular Christmas Club. He continued, “we still own some pottery purchased from there today.“
Chances
In Facebook comments, Kath Widdowson and Maureen Gill recalled their “Chances” scheme similar to the one offered by Challans. Megan Finney recalled being in a club there. Susan Sparkes commented that she still used her Denby Arabesque on a daily basis. Jane Powell recalled that her mum loved Bray’s and that it had been great for buying gifts over the years.
Stocking a Bottom Drawer
Pam Breedon recalled that she got a lot of stuff for her “bottom drawer” from Bray’s. She also noted that “a lady at work used to run a chance club where we would all pay a set amount every week and there would be a weekly draw to see who’s turn it was to receive the voucher to spend at Brays.” Christine Evans commented that “Brays was a lovely shop and people came from miles away to visit it, they sold really expensive stuff such as Royal Doulton and Wedgewood. I remember starting a collection of a Denby pottery dinner service and used to buy a plate or whatever each week.” Sara Hill noted that she did most of her Christmas shopping there. Stephanie Bonsall agreed that she loved Brays and got many gifts there.
An Interview with Reg Bray
In April 1976, the Notts Free Press included an article with an interview with Reg Bray. He spoke about Kirkby in general saying there was no comparison between how Kirkby was previously and how it was when he was interviewed. He said, “there is a better standard of education and people want better things.” Also, he considered that Kirkby was “going places” and that predictions that the town would die when Summit closed had proved not to be the case.
Then, he described the history of his own business including the difficulties he had in obtaining goods in the post-war period. He was born in Kirkby and started work as a flour boy with the Coop. He then worked as an apprentice for Rolls Royce and joined the RAF. After leaving the RAF, he took over a shop in Lowmoor Road before moving to Station Street. He lived on Derby Road and was interested in badminton, tennis and sailing.
The Bray Family
Philip Edward Bray was born in 1879. In 1916, he married Elizabeth Bennett. They had three children, Albert E (b1917), Reginald T (b1924) and Betty S P (b1927). Census records also list Victor Bennett (b1908) as their son. In a Facebook comment, Jean Bradley noted that Victor, her father, was Elizabeth’s son and half-brother to Reg and Betty.
A number of Bray family members contributed comments on Facebook. Ian Shirley noted that Reg Bray was his mother’s uncle.
Similarly, friends of the family also commented. Heather Mulholland recalled that Reg’s sister, Betty Runacus, also worked at the shop. She noted that at her father’s funeral Reg told her that “before I started school and my parents had their shop on Ellis Street I would walk to Bray’s on Lowmoor Road accompanied by our very large German Shepherd. I would go in say hello and leave again.“
Connection to R C Bray
There were two shops called Bray in Kirkby. R C Bray was a furniture shop on Urban Road, see Chapter 85. It also sold toys and features in Jonathan Evans’ book “The Mystery of Ernie Taylor’s Abdomen” (p24).
In a Facebook comment, Heather Mulholland wondered if Reg and Les Bray, who ran R C Bray, were brothers. However, I do not believe this was the case. Based on the 1939 Register, Leslie Arthur (b1920) was the son of Robert Cyril and Sarah A Bray. However, there may be an issue with his father’s first name as elsewhere, e.g. in the 1921 census, it is given as Rupert. In the original of the 1939 Register, it appears to have been written as Rubert!
Barbara Johnson explained that her father, Albert, was Reg’s brother and that Reg and Les were cousins, not brothers. I looked into this and found, indeed, from the 1891 census that Philip Edward (Edwin?) and Rupert Cyril were brothers living with their parents Thomas and Mary in Skegby. Jean Bradley confirmed this was the case saying, “Reg was my wonderful uncle who lived down Lowmoor road with his sister Betty and parents…Les ‘s mum and dad owned Bray’s at the end of Lindsey’s Lane and lived upstairs…was amazing accommodation up there.“
The Corner Shop
A photo from 1966 was posted on Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group. This was captioned as showing Station Street. The building on the extreme left appears to be 50 Station Street. However, I cannot make out the name of the shop but one of the banners seems to read “The Corner Shop“.
The Grocer Fred Hutton
In 1941 and 1942, on the corner, at number 50, was Fred Hutton, another grocer. Hutton Grocer appears on Jacques’ List of Station Street retailers circa 1920-1940.
According to the 1921 census, Ethel Mountain (b1894) was living at 42 Station Street and working as a shop assistant for grocer Fred Hutton at 52 Station Street. However, I wonder if there is an issue with numbering as my understanding is that Fred Hutton operated from 50 Station Street.
Grandad Mentioned Fred Hutton in His Diaries
Grandad noted in his diary when Fred Hutton died on 21 January 1955. He had previously noted F Hutton and Mr and Mrs Hutton coming for tea several times in 1918.
Fred Hutton
Based on the 1921 census, Fred Hutton was born in 1892, which made him five years older than grandad. That year, he was living with his wife Mary at 52 Station Street and he was described as a grocer’s assistant. Apparently, he had been born in Derbyshire. From 1923, he appears in the electoral register for 50 Station Street as his place of work but it notes he was living in Huthwaite. He married Mary E Cundy in 1918. In 1939, they were living at 32 Lenton Boulevard Nottingham. As far as I can see, they did not have children. I have found records of him appearing before Kirkby Tribunal during the first world war. He received a number of temporary exemptions to military service.
Memories of Hutton’s
In her book(let) “I Also Remember“, Edith Searson notes coming to a Family Grocer’s shop, owned by Fred Hutton, after having crossed Tennyson Street from the opposite direction. She noted that his wife helped in the shop and that they had a similar shop in the Market Place in Huthwaite. She noted that Ethel Mountain was the assistant there.
Mark Ashfield, in his book “Christmas Pigs and a Summer Donkey” (p25), noted that this shop had been a grocer’s for many years under different names. He notes that the last of these was Albert Francis, who had another shop on Park Road and who also ran a wholesale tobacco business on Bannerman Road. He was also a football referee and a reported for the Free Press under the name of “Wanderer“. Mark Ashfield further noted that “that shop, as so many other provisions establishments since the advent of the supermarket, closed, only to later become a focal point for those who wanted something sparkling and attractive in china or glass to grace table or cabinet, maintaining a beacon light of quality that over the years has been a hallmark of Kirkby’s thoroughfare“. This is presumably a reference to Brays.
Residents of 50 Station Street
1911, 1921 and 1939
No-one was listed as living at 50 Station Street in either of the 1911 and 1921 censuses nor in the 1939 Register.
The Woods
In 1901, Fred and Annie Wood were living at 50 Station Street with their two children Gladys A (b1890) and Robert F (b1895). Fred was described as an ironmonger. In a 1912 list of shops in Station Street, compiled by Barbara Parkin, Fred Wood was a general dealer at 50 Station Street.