J R Roberts Stores

J R Roberts Stores was opened in 1870 in Stratford, London as a drapery and furniture shop[1] at 96 Broadway,[2] before expanding and becoming a full line department store covering 78-102 Broadway.

In 1888, it is reported that J R Roberts opened the first Christmas Grotto in a UK department store.[3] Later their Christmas fair were known for moving soldiers, sailors and toy figures.[4] During the early part of the 20th century, the postcard artist Hermann Fleury Junior use to fit out the Christmas display for a fee of £200.[5]

In 1895, Queen Mary Hospital at West Ham opened a new wing, which the two main wards were named after J R Roberts, as he had paid for the cost of the furntiture.[6]

The business expanded in 1899 when they opened a second store [7] in Nelson Street,Southend-on-Sea as a subsidiary (Company no. 00338672) of the main Stratford branch. It also announced that it would stop selling alcohol in its Stratford store as part of the Temperance movement.[8] At some time they moved from Nelson Street to 90 High Street, Southend, which had been home to Percy Ravens since 1900.

In 1954, J R Roberts closed their Stratford store selling it to London Co-operative Society (who knocked down the old buildings and built a new department store between 1957-1962),[9] while the Southend branch was sold to another small department store chain Chiesmans (the Southend store became Army & Navy during the House of Fraser takeover, before becoming Dixons / Currys. It was until recently a Morrisons Local).

References

  1. ↑ "St John's Stratford E15 - Timeline (1866-1881)". Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ↑ 1896 Kelly Trade Directory
  3. ↑ "Victorian values". Financial Times. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Automaton - The Newham Story". Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  5. ↑ cashewnut.me.uk/Geneology/HermannFleuryJunior.php
  6. ↑ "Lost_Hospitals_of_London". Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Seax - Catalogue: D/BC 1/4/12/1587 Building plan: Addition to Messrs J.R. Roberts and Co.'s shop No. 12 Nelson street Lewis Frederick". Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  8. ↑ Otago Daily times 26/8/1899 page 8
  9. ↑ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42755


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