South Yorkshire Times, February 1, 1969
Shopping in Conisbrough and Denaby offers you full service on your doorstep
Large cites thrive on shoppers. Their whole layout plan is geared to catering for the week-end trips by housewives from surrounding areas. Often cities are planned with a shopping centre carefully arranged so most requirements are within easy walk. Sheffield’s Moor springs immediately to mind. But for a small area, which must inevitably lose most of its week-end custom to surrounding cities like Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham, the shops must cater adequately for week-day needs.
Conisbrough and Denaby, which have sprung around a basically mining population, house almost 20,000 people and as a result have a responsibility to the housewife, which is met by a variety of shops and facilities available.
An example of fulfilling the varied needs of- a tightly knit community is found at Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Blagden’s confectionery – hairdressing business at 20, Strafforth Terrace, Denaby.
Confectionery
Mrs. Gladys Blagden reigns supreme in her salon at the rear of the shop, where men’s hairdressing was the dominant feature until 13 years ago. Then the confectionery side of the business was developed and is constantly expanding its range of goods. In the hot summer, besides calling in for a wide assortment of sweets, the customer has always been relieved to find that Blagden’s have their own contract with an ice-cream firm to manufacture ‘soft ice-cream on the premises.
In March this year a new kind of ice-cream is to be on sale. The business has been chosen to take part in a trial experiment in the sale of an Italian ice-cream in eight flavours.
Last Whitsuntide, the business expanded next door to the former Co-op Drug department premises, where a range of greeting cards and toys is being built up.
Blagden’s are also one of the shops dealing in cut price cigarettes, cigars and tobacco, which sell at virtually pre-budget prices.
For most men, especially in a mining area, a drink, is a drink, as a result, Conisbrough and Denaby are not short of public houses. But the Red Lion, at Conisbrough, has a dual function as a respected hostelry and eating place.
Downstairs, the visitor can whet his appetite before moving upstairs for lunch. The upstairs room, patronised mainly by businessmen and passing motorists, serves up an excellent three course lunch for as little as 5s. “Landlord, Mr. Jack Harding, clad in apron, assures the customer of a high quality meal from the hotel’s own kitchen.
By night, the room serves as accommodation for private parties, wedding; birthday parties, anniversaries or local organisation functions.
Mr. Harding, who prepares the meals himself, as a standard a la carte’ menu plus a special meal, = which, he says, `suits .everybody’s pocket.”
Hot snacks and. meals can also be consumed downstairs if the customer prefers ‘and ‘there is a possible plan to include evening meals in the hotel’s service.
Shoes have an irritating habit of wearing out and letting -in icy blasts of prevailing wind or rainwater. If you are passing 39, Church Street, Conisbrough, Stan Coe’s shoe shop is handy.
The business of G. S. Coe and Son is the oldest established shoe repairers in the town. In 32 years of business they have dealt with about 8,000 pairs of shoes for satisfied customers each year.
Typical- of -the kind of family business which: prides itself on catering for a local demand, the premises are divided into a shoe shop and a repair workshop at the rear.
It is a ‘family shop for a family trade and supplies shoes for people from their earliest cries to the contentment of old age.
If your shoes simply need reconditioning, there are extensive ranges of materials for suede and leather, and, for the fashion conscious woman, handbags can be bought to match the footwear.
Other facilities include a shoe renovation and respraying service.
Another dual business in Conisbrough’s town centre caters for the two most absorbing female passions—hair and clothes. Maria’s, of Church Street has adjoining shops dealing with all-season clothes and hairdressing.
A staff of six hairdressers work with all the latest equipment as used in bigger London salons. Specialist services include colouring, styling and sale of top knots and wigs.
In October Maria extended her business into -women’s fashions, stocking all well-known makes of coats, dresses, and suits for general wear. The comprehensive range of summer and winter clothing includes a selection of swimwear.
Marie ensures a personal service for customers and the clothing is supplied direct from prominent London fashion houses.
Do-it-yourself
The town centre of Conisbrough is well equipped with facilities for home decorators and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Last year Buckley and Mee’s shop in Chapel Lane was a new addition to local business —now it has become an established part of the town.
Whether the customer wants to do the work himself, or engage someone to do it for him, the business will attend to his needs. Messrs. David Buckley and David Mee, in partnership, will undertake the largest or smallest ‘jobs, from factories to house decorating.
Alternatively, the home decorator who may prefer the satisfaction of tackling the job himself can buy his paint, brushes or wallpaper from the shop.
Although the signwriting, painting and decorating business has been established at the top of New Hill for 18 months, the owners have combined over three years of experience on the trade side of the business.
Both Conisbrough born men, they have already imprinted their reputation for craftsmanship on the area.
With over 100 years of experience, J. E. Greathead and Son is the oldest firm of funeral directors in Conisbrough.
The “Son” applies to Tony Greathead, the fourth generation of the family to operate the business — which he does with his father, Mr. J. E. Greathead.
To fulfil a demand from residents of the town, the additional “handyman’s” business was started a decade ago. For people whose creative talents shy away from engaging a professional to do home-improvements, the enthusiast can buy all he needs to do a competent job himself.
Whether the need is for a particular type of screw, or for a set of legs to add a stable touch to a coffee table, the amateur joiner has everything at hand — plus the expert advice of skilled” tradesmen. The address: 20, Church Street.
But the little women of Conisbrough are not to be left out when it comes to “do-it-yourself” Theirs being a domestic place, theirs is a domestic creativity.
Allen and Watson, of West Street, Conisbrough, offer a selection of wools for the nimble – fingered housewife. Four ply, double knitting, chunky wool to manufacture anything from a thimble cover to an overcoat in the comfort of your own home.
The shop has been established little over a year, after the business had toured markets it is essentially for a local demand that the shop stocks ranges of rayon, winceyette, corded velvet, braid and trimmings.
Classed as a wool materials and haberdashery shop, it offered a comprehensive service to housewives. The other branch, in Edlington, which is stocked from Conisbrough, is managed by Mrs. Edna Allen and Mrs. Annie Watson in rotation.
Their stock of goods are supplied by wool spinners and dyers in Wakefield and Bradford, and couple top class quality with modest prices.
Television sets which would amaze even John Logic Baird himself, rest behind the windows of Mr. A. E. Gee, of I, Church Street, Conisbrough. All the latest ranges are stocked, on rental or H.P. terms with a cash or credit service.
Alternatively, Beethoven or Beatles sound fine on Mr. Gee’s selection of record players and transistor radios. And if, by chance, your present set is wounded, there is a repair service.
While you are there, the shop also stocks the best selection in the area of Airfix construction kits, from small cars to almost Concorde stature aeroplanes.
Mr. Gee offers a discount on goods for cash purchases.
Launderette
While the children are busy with their kits, and the men are absorbed erecting some pelmets, the harassed housewife may not find opportunity to bring her washing machine roaring into action on a Monday morning.
Instead, Mr. Gee’s 18 month-old launderette is only a few minutes’ walk away, at 3, Church Street. In 30 minutes a full week’s wash is off your hands. The Frigidaire Washeteria is open over 12 hours each week-day and from 10 a.m. to six p.m. on Sundays.
The imported American washing machines, taking a load up to 12 lbs., offer a unique service.
As the full, family sized wash comes out, at a cost of only 2s. 6d., it can go straight into one of the Canadian gas tumbler dryers for 6d. extra.
All this and dry cleaning too by an American “*Whirlpool” machine. The self-operated dry cleaner takes up to an 8 lb. load for 10s. with a first class finish.
Half an hour, sat comfortably chatting with a neighbour, or watching the clothes go round, and the wash is done, ready to be taken home to iron.
Pharmacists
Large chemists in large cities offer impressive selections of goods in extensive variety but journeys to cities is an impractical project when faced with urgent prescriptions or important needs.
Conisbrough is fortunate to have a first class chemist service in the town centre which relieves weekday needs and makes Saturday journeys un-necessary.
There is Brocklesby and Wright, who have a tradition of almost 90 years of service to the community although it has only existed in its present premises for seven year It possesses its own Pharmacy department under the Riper_ vision of Director, Mr, Gerald Wright, but offers the other everyday commodities which a township needs.
For the women, cosmetics and toiletries and for the cameras (including Polaroid) and photographic equipment are stocked. The premises also offer an assortment of health aids, nursery requisites and baby foods.
And then across the road there is E. H. Dickinson’s Ltd., who occupy their original premises, and also have branches in Denaby and Goldthorpe.
Modern facilities at all these – three shops ensure pleasant surroundings for customers, with their first class service. Counters are arranged for ease of inspection and choice and experienced assistants are available to give expert advice.
In addition to the large pharmaceutical stock, the shop, under the proprietor, Mr. Eric Dickinson, M.P.S., offers a range of cosmetics for the “outer woman” and the firm are also specialists on photographic needs.
All leading makes of cameras are stocked — monochrome, colour, and cine outfits which offer a large saving to patrons, hire purchase terms are available. Transparency viewers, cine screens and slide cases are part of the extensive selection of photographic accessories.
The Doncaster Co-operative Funeral Service takes all the organisation of the funeral from the hands of the family. “We cater for the needs of the public at a time of great disuses and sense of personal loss, says Manager, Mr. F. Lindsay.
In conjunction with the wishes of the bereaved family, the service take care of all organisation, Press notification, church and cemetery arrangements and catering for the mourning party.
The Service make their own flowers and can arrange for transfer of the deceased to any part of the world.
The Service have their own fleet of nine vehicles for family mourners and have a department responsible for construction and erection of monuments in granite or stone.
Mr. Lindsay, who is this year’s National President of the Co-operative Funeral Service Managers’ Association said, “We ask the family for their views of what they require, and then meet their requests.
Sympathetic attention is assured by the Society’s day and night service at Doncaster 2801, or at any of the grocery branches. Forty-six years of creative experience with motor cars available at Northcliffe Co. Doncaster Road, Denaby.
Whether you are in transit from Denaby to Conisbrough or a commuting en route to Doncaster, the garage and petrol station is easily accessible on the main road.
Personal service is offered by the joint owners, Mr, Walton and Mr, Gera. Stocks, who will tackle aspects of your car’s illness from electrical and mechanical faults to servicing, lubricating and general body repairs.
Car dealers
If you are in line for a second-hand car, Northcliffe Motors are the sole agents between Doncaster and Rotherham for Rootes cars. If your needs do not go beyond maintenance, then accessories polishes and general requisite,’ are on sale — with a range of graded petrol.
If you have too little cupboard or wall space in your home for a bank manager, you need have no worries about changing your decor to suit the blends of his best suit. At Conisbrough branch of the Sheffield Trustee Savings Bank, the Manager has his own office.
The Bank offers both savings and current accounts to customers.
All transactions are carried out in strict secrecy and the best security arrangements guard your cash. The Bank will undertake any form of business from private deposits to more extensive business transactions
If summer holidays include travel, the Bank will supply travellers’ cheques and serve as a foreign currency exchange.
The Bank will also personally handle investments in stocks and shares on behalf of the customers. The Trustee Banks also operate their own Trust.
Discount store
Many Denaby and Conisbrough residents are appreciative of Keith’s discount-Store, Strafford Terrace Denaby. Although it has only been open since July 11th, wives are finding that one visits to Keith’s is saving several journeys to other shops, Proprietor, Mr. Keith Warner offers services that combine the functions of a chemist, handyman’s jewellery store and potter and glassware vendors!
Mr. Warner has brought all of his range of household fancy goods and toiletries under one roof, although he worked on local markets for eight years and still has a staff two days a week at mexborough market.
All household needs are catered for at realistic prices and personal service is assured.