Fred Maltby
In the 1940s, Fred Maltby, a photographer was based at 5 Station Street.
In 1939, Fred Maltby was living there, with his wife Dorothy, and it appears that he was also an air raid warden. He had been born in March 1910. He married Dorothy Harrison in 1933. They had four children, Robert (b1934), Janet (b1936), Freda (b1942) and John (b1949). Sadly, Robert died in 1966 from a heart-related condition. His son, Trevor Maltby noted that he left a widow, Phyllis Eileen, and five children. Her maiden name was Walters and she was known as Eileen but Trevor notes “to me known as mum“. Trevor was the eldest of five children. The youngest girl was only a few months old when Robert died.
Fred died in 1983. There is a photo of his and Dorothy’s gravestone available here.
Harry Dyson Fox
In 1928, as well as being a tobacconist at 7 Station Street, Harry Dyson Fox was a confectioner at 5 Station Street.
The Reddishs
According to the 1921 census, Thomas and Gertrude Amelia Reddish were living at 5 Station Street with their three children, Dorothy (b1915), Kenneth (b1917) and Clifford (b1920). He was listed as a manager in a grocery shop. His employer was listed as C B Beecroft and Sons, Grocers and Provision Dealers. His place of work was given as Devonshire Square, Sutton in Ashfield.
The Chappells
In 1911, William and Susannah Chappell were living here. We have come across him as a fruiterer at 3 Station Street in 1928. Here, he is listed as a fruit and potato salesman and sweet and chocolate dealer.
The Hibberts
In 1901, Charles and Georgina Hibbert were living here with their three children Percy (b1883), Victor (b1887) and Edith (b1889). Georgina’s mother, Eliza Roads, was also listed with them. Charles, Percy and Victor were all identified as framework knitters.
Maltby and Griffiths
At some point, this business became Maltby and Griffiths, see Trevor Maltby’s comment below.
Was the Name Maltby and Griffiths Adopted in 1948?
This may have been in 1948 as their advert in the 1969 directory refers to Maltby and Griffiths being 21 at that time.
Well-known Wedding Photographers
As a local firm of photographers, they were well-known in the area with many people commenting that they took their wedding photographs. In a discussion of this on Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group, Christine Evans noted that “they had quite the reputation of being THE photographers to use back then“. They also did passport photos.
Continued into the Eighties
Maltby and Griffiths appear to have operated at least into the 1980s as evidenced by the invoice above. In addition, they appear on the notice for the window spotting competition from that era.
Harold Griffiths and Len Scothern
At some point, it appears that Fred Maltby stepped down from the business and it was run by Harold Griffiths and Len Scothern. Based on Trevor Maltby’s comment below, this may have been at the time the name changed. Harold Griffiths and Len Scothern are noted as the firm’s Directors in the advert for 1953.
Len Scothern
In a discussion on Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group, a number of contributors noted that Len Scothern was a photographer for Maltby and Griffiths. Julie Warren recalled that he had red/sandy-coloured hair, lived in Kirkby and his daughter was called Sharon. Wendy Harris recalled being at school with Sharon and that her dad had taken her wedding photos. Denise Homer recalled him and noted that her dad knew him well.
It seems that he was also a Director. Based on the 1980 invoice above, Harold Griffiths was no longer a Director and M Scothern had taken his place.
Recollecting Maltby and Griffiths
Edith Searson in her book(let) “I Also Remember” notes that there was Maltby and Griffiths photographers here in a small shop in comparison to the large shop housing Mrs Fox’s millinery business next door. However, I think she may be referring to number 9 as described elsewhere. She also mentions that Maltby and Griffiths not only took photographs but they also sold cameras and “other articles to help amateur photographers“.
She notes that the business was started by Ken Maltby but I wonder if she meant Fred. I did wonder if Ken Maltby might have been Fred’s father but, from the 1911 census, it seems that his father was John and he was a railway stoker. I am grateful to Freda Noble, Fred Maltby’s daughter, for confirming this information and for noting that Fred Maltby’s father was known as “Jack”. Fred’s mother’s name was Louisa and he maiden name was Taylor.
In a discussion about 5 Station Street on Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group, Neil Lancashire noted working there in the 1960s when it was Maltby and Griffiths.
Freda Noble, noted that it was her father who had started the photo shop. She commented, “most pictures in the local history books are his. I still have some, and one of a carnival horse and carriage. I don’t know who the people riding it are“.
Photographs
As noted by Freda Noble, I have come across a large number of photographs that were taken by Fred Maltby or Maltby and Griffiths. By way of example, some of Festival Hall can be seen here. The one of the 1951 exhibition has been published in a number of books including in the book “Kirkby & District in Old Photographs” by Frank Ashley, Sylvia Sinfield and Gerald Lee (p16). There are many other examples on Annesley OC Heritage Extra Facebook page. There is also a specific Facebook page for Fred Maltby photographs.
I am grateful to Freda Noble for sharing this example of her father’s photos. While she did not know anything about the photo, I was able to establish that Hardy’s had been a major brewery in Kimberley. I am grateful to various people on different Facebook groups for identifying that the location of the photo was outside the Greasley Castle pub in Eastwood and that the photo was probably taken in the 1950s. I am still not sure who is in the photo nor what the event was but it is possible that it shows a Carnival queen.
Maltby and Griffiths photographs were also used in postcards.
Photojournalist
Fred Maltby also took photos that were used in newspaper articles.
Maltby – A Common Kirkby Name
Maltby appears to have been a fairly common Kirkby name and one that appeared fairly frequently in grandad’s diary. According to the 1939 Register, John William and Fanny Maltby lived in Welbeck Street next-door but two to what is now 98 Welbeck Street, a house that was built for my grandmother’s parents by Albert Newcombe in the 1930s. The Maltbys’ son Walter was born in 1898, making him less than a year younger than my grandfather and he is mentioned often in grandad’s diary. For example, grandad noted in 1956 when Walter bought a car, a three-year old Morris Minor, and they also did odd jobs together. Walter worked as a colliery wage clerk. While Walter did have a younger brother called Frederick, this was not the same Fred Maltby as the photographer.
I am grateful to Freda Noble, Fred Maltby’s daughter, for confirming that these different groups of Maltbys were not related. She comments, “Regarding the Maltby’s my Dad Fred and his father John ( known as Jack) were no relation to Maltby’s in Kirkby they came from Cuckney and Clipstone way.”
5 Station Street Now
Since 2008, number 5 has had a range of occupants. From 2008-2011, it housed recruitment firm Regional Driving Services. Their name was still displayed in 2015 but the windows were boarded up. Then, in April 2017, the property was for sale and, in September 2017, it was scheduled for auction. In July 2018, a mobile phone repair company called Ifix4you had their name there. However, the property looked empty and there was a “To Let” sign in the window. Their name was still there in August 2018 and the “To Let” sign had gone.
In March 2019, their name had gone and there appears to have been an unnamed convenience store there. In September 2020, the World Food Store was there. They appeared to offer a range of international foods including from South Africa. Above the shop window were18 flags almost as in a pub quiz round. By August 2021, the flags had gone and the shutter was down. From March 2022, Zee Cosmetics and Fabrics Ltd have been there.
Leave a Reply