Llandudno Traders in 1901

[DaveR]

Forum member 'Tosh' has been researching Llandudno Traders from back in 1901 and has a lot of information to share. I've set up this topic for him to add all his information in to. I'm sure it'll be a very interesting read. 

[Tosh]

Llandudno in 1901

I wonder just how curious the good folk of Llandudno are in learning about the traders in their town in the year of our Lord 1901.
You will be amazed at the different trades that existed back then and also the trades that have survived through the years.

Let’s start with Aerated Water Manufacturers; do you think that more than one would be necessary?
Let me put your mind at rest, there were two of them namely, William Hill and his rival Thomas Owen of Warehouse Street.

Next we’ll take a look at Agents for the supply of cycles.
Arthur Deacon & Son of Gloddaeth Street, R. Welch of Garden Street and The Mostyn Cycle Company at 8 Mostyn Street.

Only two estate agents exist at this time, I wonder how that will change in the future.
John Hughes and Company of Holyrood Chambers, Lloyd Street and Alfred G. Pugh of Llewelyn Chambers.

The only architect here and I’m sure that he is kept very busy in these changing times is, D.G. McIntosh of Lloyd Street.

Perhaps one artist, W.E. Benger of 1 Gay Terrace is enough for a small town like this.

Mostyn Street seems to be the favourite resting place for our five auctioneers.
We have, Harris Blairmann at number 79 and also at Lloyd Street, he deals mainly in china and fine art.
A.J. Oldman is at number 24.
E. O Parry & Sons Central Chambers, number 8.
McMahon & Co are in business at 117.
Finally Mr F.J. Sarson has set up shop at number 16.

Nine bakers seem to be in proportion to the number of people and guests in and around the area.
John B. Edwards, 85 Mostyn Street.
William Evans, 7 Mostyn Street.
Thomas Hesmor Hooson, 96 Mostyn Street.
Robert Jones, 75 Mostyn Street.
John Littler, 22 Mostyn Street.
Owen Owen, 24 Madoc Street.
T & J Owen, the Model Steam Bakery at Gloddaeth Street.
John W. Williams, 20 Back Mostyn Street.
W. Williams & Co, 149 Mostyn Street.

Considering that most workers are paid in cash and therefore most transactions would be in cash I think that three banks are sufficient for the town’s needs.
Lloyd’s Bank Ltd of 104 Mostyn Street.
Metropolitan Bank of England & Wales at 103 Mostyn Street.
National Provincial Bank of England, 14 South Parade.
I wonder how many of those will still be trading in a hundred years’ time?

With the increase in literacy, book sellers are becoming more popular all the time, there are now four trading, all of them in Mostyn Street.
Herbert Tomkinson, at number 115.
William Wardleworth, at number 34.
Wilkinson & Thompson, at 48.
George L. Woodley, at 127.

Because the traders cater for a more distinguished type of customer we have 6 Boot makers, in a more industrial setting there would be Clog makers too.
John & William Hughes, at 18 Mostyn Street.
O. Hughes at the back of St John’s Market.
William Jones, 3 Taliesin Street.
John F Parker, 88 Mostyn Street.
John Roberts, Back Madoc Street.
Evan Williams, Arundel House, Llewelyn Street.

In my opinion one Brick Maker is enough for any town.
But, there is an awful lot of building going on and I suppose that P & H Lewis at the Llandudno Brick works are kept very busy supplying the bricks for the 6 builders who are,
Evan Hughes, Bodhyfryd walks.
Thomas Jones, Reform Street.
Owen & Co, North Madoc Street.
Abel Roberts, 11 Deganwy Street.
Benjamin Williams, 6 St George’s Crescent.
Roger Williams, 14 Gloddaeth Crescent.

If you need a butcher there are eight of them all anxious for your business.
William Cottrell at 10 Clonmel Street.
William Davies down at Deganwy.
L. Fildes also at Deganwy who is also the proud owner of superior apartments facing the sea near the golf links. (available to let)
John Jones & Son, Queen’s Buildings, 51 Mostyn Street.
John Jones & Sons, Central Buildings, Mostyn Street, purveyors of meat to the Royal Family no less.
E. Owen & Sons, 80 Mostyn Street.
Robert Parry, 11 Mostyn Street.
Edwin Williams who is situated in the Market Hall.


A good cabinet maker can be hard to find these days but if you need one you can call on Joseph Matthews at 46 Mostyn Street.

Should you wish to travel around in style you will need to contact one of our Carriage Hirers, they are,
Alfred Johnson, 19 Church Walks.
Hugh Roberts also in Church Walks.
The Coaching Carriage Company Limited in Adelphi Street.

The Coach Builder who supports the carriage hirers is, John Roberts in Back Madoc Street.

For your medicinal remedies and cures we have five chemists around the town.
Burton & Son at 81 and 98 Mostyn Street.
L.A. Cocker, 68 Mostyn Street.
W.A. Roberts, 31 Mostyn Street.
Joseph Winter, 3 Mostyn Street.
H. Gibson, 48 Madoc Street.

Because this is a holiday resort we will need the services of our two China and Glass Dealers probably on a frequent basis. Would you believe that most of the tableware comes from Stoke on Trent as do a lot of our visitors?
Henry Dukes, 2 Church Walks.
J. Wiley & Son, 91 Mostyn Street.

This is the first instalment of a possible four so read and enjoy.
All constructive comments are welcome.
Tosh

[DaveR]

Excellent work, Tosh, really well done. 

[Bri Roberts]

Tosh, one of my great grandfathers was a tailor in Mostyn Street around that time.

Did you manage to find any tailors?

[Tosh]

Yes Bri, there were 7 and one of them looks quite good for your family.
You will have to be patient.

[Bri Roberts]

 D)

[Fester]

Despite being a Yorkshireman, I have always known that my Great Grandparents were Welsh and Irish, but the Welsh part was actually from Mid Wales.
However, by amazing concidence, just recently Mrs Fester was given a document which was a job reference for HER Great Grandfather who was actually Swiss.  He was to be employed by a Bakery / Chocolatier in Lloyd St, Llandudno in 1912.
She never knew she had a Welsh connection of any kind. 

I wait with anticipation to see if such an establishment is listed on one of Tosh's future posts!

[Llechwedd]

Wasn't there a Swiss Cafe in St. Georges Place?

[Tosh]

I have a better answer than that, but you will have to wait for part 2.

[Tosh]

Where would those of us with a sweet tooth be if it were not for the Confectioners?
George Eaton of 39 Mostyn Street.
Thomas Esmoor Hooson at 96 Mostyn Street.
Alice Kennedy of Tygwyn Road.
John Littler at 22 Mostyn Street.
James Roberts, Holly Grove in Llewelyn Street.
A. Sumner, the Grosvenor Restaurant in Mostyn Street.
R. Williams, 107 Mostyn Street.

The Wholesale Confectioner has a very grand sounding name, Compagnie Francaise, suppliers of chocolate, cocoa and confectionary with factories in Paris, London and Strasburg.


Eliza Payne has a Dining Room at 7 Clonmel Street and Catharine Williams has one in Madoc Street.

I think that 13 Drapers are more than enough for the town.
William Arnold, B. R. Daines, W. R. Brookes, H. Howard, H. Jones, S. Bartley, Jones Bros, W. H. Meredith an J. O. Thomas are all in Mostyn Street.
A. J. Williams and M. Briggs & Son are in Gloddaeth Street.
M. Davies and Ben Jones are situated in Lloyd Street.


It is becoming very fashionable to have electricity installed in homes and businesses.
Electric lighting is far superior to gas lighting or oil lamps and far safer we are told.
There are three local Electrical Engineers who are experts in this field and are on hand to render their services as you wish.
R Boyd & Co, Augusta Street.
Domnison, Barber & Co, 8 Mostyn street.
Edwards & Armstrong, 139 Mostyn Street.



The next five traders come under the title of Fancy Repositories in other words Gift shops.
N.E. Ainsworth in Deganwy.
M & E Conway, 112 Mostyn Street.
E & M Leeson, 28 Mostyn Street.
Henry Parr, 129 Mostyn Street.
Wilkinson & Thompson, 48 Mostyn Street.

George L. Woodley is the only Fine Art Dealer in town.

The four Fishmongers are.
Brooke & Sons, Market Hall, Gloddaeth Street.
E Hughes, Deganwy.
John Hughes, 12 Mostyn Street.
Richard Roberts, 60 Mostyn Street.

William Roose at Victoria Nurseries is the only Florist.

The Fruiterers seem to be spread evenly around the town.
Berrill & Son, J.T Jones, Daniel Phillips and E Smith are all situated in Mostyn Street.
Messrs Cowley, William Davies, M. Edwards and William Fisher are all in the Market Hall, Gloddaeth Street.
Herbert Jarvis and John Williams are in St John’s Market.
Enoch Davis is resident in Lloyd Street.

Most of the Grocers are in either Mostyn Street old Madoc Street which I suppose is central to their customers.
In Mostyn Street are, George Brookes, Dean & Sons, John B. Edwards, William Evans, Thomas Esmor Hooson,  E.P. Jones & Sons, John Littler, Thomas Roberts, W. Williams and John W. Williams in Back Mostyn Street.

Situated in Madoc Street are, Richard H Brown, J. Jones and Owen Owen.

A. A .Griffiths is in Lloyd Street.

Hairdressers are plentiful, they are, J. Brown, Madoc Street and Mrs Forester, G. F. Forrester, W. S. Herbert and M. L. Wagstaff in Mostyn Street.

A very important trade in its time is that of a Hatter, a gentleman of this age should not be seen without his hat.
They are John Davies & Son at 36 Mostyn Street and Robert G Roberts at 52 Mostyn Street.

There are four Hosiers who will attend to the needs of the elegant ladies, they are,
S Bartley & Son, 62 Mostyn Street.
John Davies & Son, 36 Mostyn Street.
J. O. Thomas & Co, 73 Mostyn Street.
W. S. Williams, 99 Mostyn Street.

Hotels are the mainstay of a tourist resort like Llandudno.
The more hotels we have, the more visitors we have and therefore more employment for the local people.
Alexandra in Clonmel Street.
Alexandra 47 Mostyn Street.
Baths, North Parade.
Brooklyn, 51 Church walks,
Central & Commercial, 21 Mostyn Street.
Clifton in Vaughan Street.
Deganwy Castle in Deganwy.
Imperial, Vaughan street.
Junction at Llandudno Junction.
London, 131 Mostyn Street.
Marine in Vaughan Street.
Moons in Vaughan Street.
Neville opposite the station.
North Western in Vaughan Street.
Parade in Church Walks.
Prince of Wales, Lloyd Street, H Lester proprietor.
Queen’s, The Parade.
Royal in Church walks.
St George’s, The Parade.
St Tudno’s 64 Mostyn Street.
Station View, Augusta Street.
Washington, East Parade.
William’s Private, 7 Mostyn Street.

[Tosh]

Fester,,, look for the French company and that might be where he went for the job.

Bri,,,, your answer might be in part 3 under tailors, coming soon.

[Fester]

Fester,,, look for the French company and that might be where he went for the job.

Bri,,,, your answer might be in part 3 under tailors, coming soon.

Hmm, not sure.. as he was a 'head baker', not confectioner.
So, next week, Mrs Fester will obtain the actual reference document, hopefully it will have the name and address of the employer!

[Tosh]

For all your furniture needs you can go to either of the two Household Furnishers here.
Rhydwyn, Jones & Davies, Mostyn Street.
Thomas & Fisher, Vaughan Street.

A lot of seaside resorts have Hydropathic Establishments and Llandudno is no exception.
These three establishments use water to treat diseases and some people say that it is very beneficial.
Craigside at the foot of the Little Orme. http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/wpw003021?search=craigside&ref=1
Gogarth Abbey in Abbey Road.
Llandudno Hydropathic & Winter Residence Co Ltd, 22 Neville Crescent.

Would you suppose that seven Ironmongers would be enough for a town of this size.
They don’t just sell iron products as the title suggests, they also sell plumbing painting and decorating goods.
As with most businesses it will be interesting to see who will still be trading in a hundred years’ time.
Let’s start with,
Bevan Bros at 56 Mostyn Street.
Richard Conway at 110 Mostyn Street.
T.W. Griffith at 33 Mostyn Street.
James Haworth at 100 Mostyn Street.
Ralph & Fisher 32 Mostyn Street.
R.J. Williams at 9 Mostyn Street.
D & R.T. Owen Cambrian Works, Lloyd Street.
Just down the road in Deganwy is S. Davies.

We have three Italian Warehousemen although as their names show they are not actually Italian.
The title indicates what types of products they have in stock such as, pasta, olive oil, pickles, perfumes, fruits, paints and pigments.
The Italian word for this kind of store would be Delicatezza.
Stephen Dunphy, 111 Mostyn Street.
John Littler, 22 Mostyn Street.
Thomas Esmor Hooson, 96 Mostyn Street.

A town of this size and expanding very quickly deserves more than two Joiners I’m sure.
Jonathon Parr, 8 Deganwy Street.
Henry Pritchard, Penmaen View Villa, Caroline Street.
 
All those hotels and only one Laundry.
Kendall & Reardon, public laundry, Warehouse Street.

Coal Merchants are very important to the town.
Without them the winters would be even harder to bear.
Some of the hotels and private homes have gas and electricity installed but coal is still the most common form of heating and cooking.
Richard Evans & Co at the railway station.
P. Jones in Adelphi Street.
John Owen, 14 Taliesin Street.
R.D. Owen & Sons, Coal & Corn Exchange, Madoc Street.

They say that afternoon sherry or an after dinner brandy is good for you, so there are eight Wine & Spirit Merchants to cater for your every need.
George Brookes, 101 Mostyn Street.
 W & A Gilbey (London), 111 Mostyn Street, Stephen Dunphy agent.
Thomas Esmor Hooson, 96 Mostyn Street.
Ind Coope & Co Ltd, 8 Mostyn Street.
H. Lester, Mostyn street.
Richard Owen, 76 Mostyn Street.
William Owen, 60 High Street, also a Chemist.

Benjamin Woodcock is the owner of the Music & Musical Instrument Warehouse at 123 Mostyn Street on the corner of North Parade.

There three Newsagents conveniently placed in Mostyn Street.
George C. Richmond & Co at number 5.
Wilkinson & Thompson at number 48.
G.R. Thompson at number65.

What a forward thinking town we have, embracing the modern times by having three Newspapers printed and published here in Llandudno.
Llandudno Advertiser, Llewelyn Chambers.
Llandudno Register & Visitors Herald.
Original Llandudno Directory & Visitor, 133 Mostyn Street.
There are three Painters who are no doubt kept very busy during the winter months when the hotels are quiet.
D. & R.T. Owen, Cambrian works, Lloyd Street.
G. Roberts, Vaughan Street.
J. & S. Roberts, Lloyd Street.

How nice it must be for the visitors to be able to take home pictures of their holidays taken by our own Photographers.
Laroche & Son, 109 Mostyn Street and also at the Rock Studio, Great Orme’s
Head.
A. Manders, Gloddaeth Street.
Slater’s Art Studio, Varnon House, Mostyn Street.

All good builders need Plasterers and we have two of them.
William Jones in James Street.
Robert Owen at 1, Glan - y - Mor Villas.

Surely if you have good builders and plasterers you will need good Plumbers.
Joseph Duddell, 54 Church walks.
D. & R. T. Owen, Cambrian Works, Lloyd street.
J. & S. Roberts, Lloyd Street.
A. Hill, Deganwy.

The three Poulterers can supply you with the finest birds from local sources.
M. Edwards who trades in the Market Hall.
Daniel Phillips at 77 Mostyn Street.
Thomas Smith, 63 Mostyn Street.

If you require the services of one of the Printers you will be able to contact either of these people.
William Smith at Printing House Square.
Herbert Tomkinson at 115 Mostyn Street.

There are six restaurants to choose from for your culinary delights.
Avondale, 13 Mostyn Street.
Criterion, 74 Mostyn Street.
Granville, 29 Mostyn Street.
Grosvenor, 87 Mostyn Street.
Nottingham, 15 Mostyn Street.
R. Williams, 15 Lloyd Street.

There are three Saddlers to cater for your equine needs.
E. Davies, Lloyd Street.
Samuel Glaze, 105 Mostyn Street.
John Jones, Back Madoc Street.

Should you require the services of a legal representative we have six Solicitors at your disposal.
Chamberlain & Johnson, Trinity Street.
W.J. Carbett, 9a Mostyn Street.
William Donkin Henderson, 38 Mostyn Street.
Marks & Marks, Lloyd Street.
James J. Marks, Lloyd Street.
Pugh & Bone, Llewelyn Chambers, Llewelyn Street.

With all of the grand buildings being erected locally the services of a good Stonemason is essential.
George Roberts, Vaughan Street.

Gentlemen of standing always require the services of good Tailors.
David Davies, Back Madoc Street.
John Davies & Son, 36 Mostyn Street.
Hugh Hughes, 90 Mostyn Street.
Benjamin Jones, 55 Church Walks.
W. B. Oliver, 139 Mostyn Street.
Robert G. Roberts, 52 Mostyn Street.
W. S. Williams, 99 Mostyn Street.

Taverns are an important part of the working man’s life.
It is somewhere he can call of an evening and enjoy the friendly atmosphere among his peers.
I wonder how many of these will still be with us in a hundred years’ time?
Albert, Madoc Street.
Cross Keys Vaults, 37 Madoc Street.
Gresham, 143 Mostyn Street.
Harrington, 71 Mostyn Street.
Kings Arms, 17 Mostyn Street.
Kings Head, Old Road.
Pier, 4 Church Walks.
Snowdon, 12 Tudno Street.
Stanley Hotel, 70 Mostyn Street. Licensee, Peter Robinson.
Telegraph, Great Orme’s Head.
Victoria, 65 Mostyn Street.

A gentleman can purchase his smoking requisites from the Tobacconist, H. Jones in Lloyd Street.

All good children deserve to be rewarded by having a special treat from one of the Toy Dealers.
A.H. Bunney, 49 Mostyn Street.
John Homan, 82 Mostyn Street.
Teresa Micali, 9 Clonmel Street.
Henry Parr, 129 Mostyn Street.

Should the weather turn to rain our Umbrella Maker will ensure that you keep dry.
Robert Welch, Gloddaeth Street.

There are six watchmakers in the town.
M. Bagley, 14 Mostyn Street.
William Duncan, 19a Mostyn Street.
J.E. Hodgetts, 69 Mostyn Street.
T. Jephcott, 15 Gloddaeth Street.
H. Beading, 137 Mostyn Street.
H. Wisebeck, Lloyd Street.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about the town as it was in 1901.
I am currently looking at the year1895 but because of the enormous amount of information therein I shall just give you the link and you can go through it at your own leisure.
The information in there will be of great value to anyone researching their family tree, about 23 pages.
Anybody who was anybody in that year is in there.
It will be one day next week when I get round to doing that.
Cheers,
Tosh

[DaveR]

Excellent work, Tosh, many thanks for sharing it with us. 

[hollins]

What an interesting piece of research you have done there Tosh, well done and thank you.
I was delighted to see the umbrella maker in there but it also leaves me quite sad that all those skills the town once had are probably gone forever.