In 1878 No. 14 Market Place
was run by Joseph Perry a linen draper.
George E Spurr went into partnership with Mr Perry
between 1886 and 1890, and 14 Marketplace was known at this time as Perry &
Spurr. It was in 1899 it became known as
George Spurr.
In 1901 George E Spurr was
42 years of age and lived on the shop’s premises with his wife, Ethel, their 3
daughters and 5 sons. Three of their sons, Anthony George, Douglas Bateman and
Walter Guiness, died in the WWI. Their names can be found on the Hitchin
Grammar School WWI Memorial, which is a stained glass window in the Boys’
School Library, Grammar School Walk.
Next door to George Spurr, was No. 15 Market Place. It
was a much larger shop and originally run by Campion Dawson, and known as
Dawson. From 1878 to 1899, the shop was
run by his wife/widow. In 1899 the shop was described as ‘Market House’, and at
this time Mrs Campion Dawson boasted that ‘their thoroughly practical
assistants execute all orders’. Later the shop was run by Hannah Dawson, who I
think must have been their daughter.
 |
| Perry & Spurr next to Dawson. (Pat Gadd-Thurstance) |
In 1910 George Spurr bought Dawson, and his shop became a
much larger department store that almost stretched the length of one side of
The Market Place.
On 4th
November 1960 George Spurrs reopened after extensive refurbishment.
In 1965 it was taken over by a Welwyn Department Store (which I believe later became John Lewis). At some point in the history of the shop Spurr became Spurrs. I can't be sure when.
In 1965 it was taken over by a Welwyn Department Store (which I believe later became John Lewis). At some point in the history of the shop Spurr became Spurrs. I can't be sure when.
Although the front façade of
George Spurrs was good on the eye, behind the shop frontage was a cluster of
buildings that stretched almost to the river.
 |
| George Spurrs closed just before its demolition. (Pat Gadd-Thurstance) |
There has been talk for
several years about transforming Churchgate. There has even been discussions
on an independent cinema for Hitchin to be built on the site.
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteDid you find any evidence of a 'Darby' family at 14/15. I have an old postcard date 1908-ish. The note is addressed to a Miss N W Darby.
I'll be interested to hear any information.
Thanks,
Ben
Hi Ben,
ReplyDeleteI haven't found any evidence of a Darby family living at 14/15. I got my information mainly from old Hitchin directories. I've had a little look for the name Darby in the directories, and there was a milliner M Darby living at 49 Bedford Street in 1926, and a Miss Kate Darby working as a hosier at 15a Churchyard in 1926 and 1933, so it could be that family, as it seems to fit with their occupations. Also, a James Darby living in Hitchin Hill in 1899. Best wishes, Amanda
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteMy great grandad was George Spurr and I have just got the ancestor-digging bug. Your post here is really helpful. I was wondering where you got the information from - are there some sources I should be studying?
Thanks so much …
Andrew
Hi Andrew
DeleteSorry for the delay replying, Andrew. How interesting that your great grandad was George Spurr - I'm not surprised you've got the ancestor-digging bug. Some of my information is drawn from Hitchin books that have been written over the years, but also my late Aunt - Pat Gadd Thurstance was a Hitchin historian and local book writer, and gave me some of here research. I'll have to see what else I've got on George Spurr, and if I have got anything else I'll do another post at some point. Best wishes, Amanda