Hello,
All the talk about the shoe shops in Reading Broad Street (Shoe Shop, Broad Street, Reading
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,446291.0.html) has reminded me of my first job after leaving school in 1960. At Barratts shoe shop, also in Broad Street. I had been temporarily transferred after 2 weeks in the Oxford shop, all daily expenses paid.
However, that is not my reason for this missive. I am reminded that I did not finish my research into the Somerscales of Reading.
Isaac Daniel Somerscales 1829-1914 actually lived in Caversham but he and his stepson, Henry Cassell 1875-1950, who took his stepfather's surname on returning from forced exile as an emigree child in Canada, had a wet and dry fish (and chip) shop. First in Broad Street, Reading, then in Union Street, and then (from Kellys Directories)
1952, 1954, 1956 - Commercial Addresses: (of Somerscales, Ltd., Fried Fish Shops)
103 Caversham Road, Reading
431 Oxford Road, Reading
437 Basingstoke Road, Reading
64 & 65 St. Marys Butts, Reading (Regd. Office)
Henry, however, died in 1950, so either the business name was kept or another member of the family took it over.
Does anyone remember any of these shops or know anything about the Somerscales, or where I might find out more.
Isaac's second wife was Helen Herbert Dixon 1846-1917 whose first husband was Thomas Cassell 1842-1884. The latter was nephew of my 2nd great grandfather, Daniel Cassell. From evidence I have, Helen seems to have been a bit of a social climber.
Any snippets of info about the shops, and people's knowledge of them etc. would be gratefully received.
Vicwinann