No. 14 & 15 Market Place. George Spurr, Churchgate

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 4^th 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.

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)

In 1972/3 the buildings were demolished to make way for Churchgate,  I don’t think anyone would disagree, that Churchgate was a huge disappointment when it was built. 

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.