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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => West Lothian (Linlithgowshire) => Topic started by: Wilton Endeavour on Sunday 11 January 09 21:12 GMT (UK)
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I'm looking to see if anyone can provide the name or location of the Grocery shop that one of my ancestors used to have in Broxburn. The shop was owned by Frederick Willetts Davies. He was born in Kirknewton in 1897. He died in Uphall, West Lothian in 1968. I'm not sure of when he had the shop, but if anyone can provide any information, it would be appreciated.
His Father was Elijah Davies who was born in England in 1853 and he worked as an Oil Works Labourer. His Mother was Elizabeth Mowbray who was born in Colinton, Edinburgh in 1857. They stayed at 22 Oakbank, Kirknewton in the 1901 Census.
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Hi
I lived in Broxburn from 1961-1967.
I'm pretty sure the shop was called F.W. Davies and I think it was a fruit and veg shop.
Memory tells me that there were 2 shops. One on Main Street and one on Greendykes Road.
But it was a long time ago and I cannot be absolutely certain.
I'll ask my brother tonight. He may remember better than I can
Best wishes
Jean
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A little update. My brother agrees there was definitely a shop on Greendykes road and it was a fruit and veg shop. He remembers buying "chipped" fruit there before going to the cinema across the road!
As for another shop on the Main St., he is not sure. However an old neighbour of his who is in her 80's knows a lot about Broxburn and he will pick her brains for any more info for you.
Best wishes
Jean
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Hello Jean,
Thanks for the reply. I will leave the topic open just now. My Mum remembers the shop selling sweets. I'm not sure if there were two shops. She can only remember one.
yours
derek
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Hi Derek
My memory wasn't as bad as I thought!!!
Confirmed by 2 old ladies who still live there. Definitely 2 shops. One in Greendykes Road and one on Main Street.
The one on Main Street was opposite the old SMT Bus Station.
The one in Greendykes Road was opposite the old Regal Cinema.
If you go to http://www.uphall.org/ you can see old photos of Broxburn.
Best wishes
Jean
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A bit more info!
The shop in Greendykes Road also sold sweets. The shop on the Main Street was run by Fred's sister and this one also sold flowers!
Best wishes
Jean
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Thanks for that additional info on the two shops Jean. Much appreciated. I managed to get a copy of the Broxburn and Uphall book as I thought there might have been a photo in it. There were a few grocery shops in Broxburn around the 1920's. I will leave the thread open just now incase anyone else can add anything to the thread.
yours
derek
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Jean,
Just to add that Fred's Sister would be Maria Davies who was born in Kirknewton in 1890. Maria died in Edinburgh in 1952 age 62. Maria married a railway porter, James Kidd Welsh in 1909. It would be good if someone on the forum came up with a photograph of one of the shops.
derek
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Hi Derek
Why don't you contact the webmaster of the Uphall website and ask him if he can ask his contacts about the shops. Maybe someone there can help out with more info or even a photo.
Best wishes
Jean
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Jean,
I posted a message to the webmaster at the Uphall website. Nothing heard back so far. Also contacted Broxburn library. They gave me a phone number for the local history department of the Council. Will try that.
derek
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The first shop was located at 99 East Main Street, Broxburn. It was a confectionery shop and it was opened before 1930.
Frederick Davies was the owner of the combined shop and also house property. By 1938 Frank Davies was the tenant who ran the shop. Then by 1939, the shop was empty. In 1940, the property was converted to just a house without a shop where it was occupied now by a miner.
The fruiter and confectioner shop at 29 Greendykes Road, Broxburn opened in 1936. This shop was still around by 1942 with Frederick Davies the tenant.
derek
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Until 1964, Frederick Davies Senior ran both shops.
By 1965, Frederick Davies junior was running the shop at 29 Greendykes Road in Broxburn. The shop was still ran by him in 1975.
Frederick Davies Senior was still in the shop at 75 East Main Street in Broxburn until 1969. Then by 1970, the shop was owned by the Edinburgh Savings Bank. In 1971, this shop in East Main Street was re-constructed into premises for the Edinburgh Savings Bank. They were still in operation here by 1975.
yours
Wilton Endeavour
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Hi Ive just seen your threads. Im Broxburn born and bred. I was brought up living near Fred jnr. I also remember his father and mother. His mother lived to a great age and was still working in the east main street shop well into her 70s. The shop in greendykes road during the 1960s and 70s was run by Fred's "sister" Lizzie who was adopted. Fred jnr ran the other shop at 75 E Main street with his wife Minnie until her death in the 60s and latterly with his second wife, Esther Watson, until they retired around 1970. I knew the family well and also the people who worked in the shop, one of whom was my aunt. Fred jnr has a son but at the moment i am unable to recall his christian name. (james I think) I havent seen him for years so dont know if he lives locally. Both shops sold fruit and veg, a small amount of groceries and a large selection of sweets and chocolates. (where most of my pocket money went !!) The house that the davies snr family lived in is a 1950s bungalow in east main street and still there. If i recall any other information will keep you posted.
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that's great news Alison. It would be good if I got a pic of the original house as I can't find any photos of the shops.
thanks
Wilton Endeavour
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Frederick Elijah Davies was born in Leith South, Edinburgh in 1921.
I wonder if Alisonw939 or anyone else has details of Fred's marriage to his wife Minnie whose surname is not known. Or perhaps his second marriage to Esther Watson. Minnie died in the 1960's and Fred was still working in the East Main Street shop with Esther until they retired around 1970. Any help would be appreciated as i'm trying to research them.
Wilton Endeavour
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Hi Wilton Minnnie's name was McLeary. Would think they were married locally in about 1950/51. So far as I know she was from Broxburn. Esther and Fred were married about 1968 in broxburn. Her maiden name was Esther Moore. She was a widow. Her husband had been an invalid many years prior to his death . They lived in Broxburn after their marriage until about 1985 when they moved to Uphall. Fred died about 10 years ago and Esther about 5 or 6 years ago. I recall that Lizzie (sorry at this moment cant remember her surname), Fred's adopted sister was a relative of his mother; perhaps a niece. Depends which side of the family you are interested in whether this is of any significance. My father tells me that in the 1950s 60s and early 70s Fred had a job in Edinburgh and only helped out in the shop evenings and weekends until his mum gave up and he took over full time. My mother had confectioners shop in broxburn in 1930s and she said both Davies shop and hers stayed open til 10 on saturdays for people goin to the two cinemas in the town centre In those days there were queues to get in and patrons bought their own sweets to take in with them !
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Thanks Alison,
I have sent you a personal message giving more details of the family background. I am gathering as much info as I can on the marriages, etc as they are on my mum's side of the family tree.
I have also had correspondence before on this thread about people remembering on buying sweets before they went to the local cinema. So it's all the more interesting about who worked in the shops. So any info you can provide is of great significance to me.
yours
Wilton Endeavour
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Hi Derek,
The lady is right about the sweets being sold in Greendykes Road shop though not correct about the Main Street one being run by his sister. The Main Street one was run by his wife Minnie and I think it may have closed after her death as he only had the one shop when he married my aunt Esther. She is also correct about both selling fruit and veg and the Main Street shop selling flowers.
Carol
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Hi Derek. There were two shops after Fred married Esther. She worked with him in the main street shop until it closed. Thereafter, they both worked in the Greendykes Road shop. The employees of the main street shop were Betty Wilson and Margaret Simpson and Lizzie ("sister") Margaret Tweedhope and Nettie Coulter (all now deceased) in the greendykes road shop until it closed - definitely in mid 80s I worked nearby at that time and was in it most days!
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Thanks Alison and Carol for those replies. Just trying to piece together dates and things of his lifestyle. Wondering if perhaps he is buried in the area, it might be a good idea to go there someday and look for the original cottage and perhaps a headstone in the local cemetery.
yours
derek
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Hi Derek. There were two shops after Fred married Esther. She worked with him in the main street shop until it closed. Thereafter, they both worked in the Greendykes Road shop. The employees of the main street shop were Betty Wilson and Margaret Simpson and Lizzie ("sister") Margaret Tweedhope and Nettie Coulter (all now deceased) in the greendykes road shop until it closed - definitely in mid 80s I worked nearby at that time and was in it most days!
Do you have any additional information on the Tweedhope family that you could share with me? My greatgrandfather was a Tweedhope and I am having difficulty tracing his family as Tweedhope seems to be a very unique name. My great grandfather was Alexander Lees Tweedhope born illigitimately on 22 November 1892 in St Boswells, Roxburgshire, Scotland to Mary Tweedhope (born 1864). Mary's parents were Christina Lees and Andrew Tweedhope.
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Hi,
The owners of the shop were my aunt and uncle. Margaret Tweedhope was the wife of Nicholas Tweedhope and had two daughters Christine and Lorraine. Her maiden name was Sutherland I believe. As far as I know Nicholas Tweedhope was born in Broxburn as he was one of my father's long term friends from school days. He is still alive an dliving somewhere in Broxburn though he must be in his 80's now.
Regards
Carol
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Thanks Carol!
I appreciate all the information I can get about this family!
Regards,
Megan
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Frederick Willetts Davies and Mary Purves had a son called Frederick Elijah Davies. I've just did a search on Scotland's People and it came up with two marriages for Fred Davies junior. His first marriage was to Williamina McHa Meek. Her middle name only lists four letters. So i'm not sure what her full middle name is? But he married Williamina in 1945 in Uphall, West Lothian. His second marriage was in 1970 in Uphall, West Lothian to Esther Bell Watson.
Wilton Endeavour
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Williamina was born in 1922 in Dalry and Gorgie. Frederick Elijah Davies died in 1984, age 62, at George Square, Edinburgh.
Wilton Endeavour
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I had an old aunt who lived all her life in Broxburn - passed away a few years ago, I recollect her saying that her father had a grocer / fruit shop in Broxburn. Her maiden name was Mulvenna - does anyone have any info about the shop and where it was.
Thanks
Osprey
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The wife of Frederick Elijah Davies 1921-1984 was called Williamina McHardy Johnson Meek. Williamina was born 23rd April 1922 in Gorgie, Midlothian and died on 26th March 1969 in Broxburn. Age 46.
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I'm just wondering if Frederick's brother, John worked in either of the two shops at one point.
When John Davies married Alice Pilmer in Edinburgh in 1915, his occupation was Confectioner.
When Alice or Alison Naismith Pilmer died in 1934, her husband, John, had the occupation of Confectioner. When John died in 1944 in Glasgow, his occupation was listed as a Herbalist.
Now it is possible in 10 years, that he changed his occupation.
When John's wife died in 1972, Helen Isabella Bisset Cheyne, She was listed as a widow of John Davies, Herbalist.
Fred Davies was a coalminer back in 1921 when he married Mary Purvis at West Calder before he bought the sweet shops.
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Another query about an earlier grocer in Broxburn. In my research of Armstrong families originating from the St Ninians Parish, I have come across an Adam Armstrong who was a grocer living in Broxburn at the time of his marriage in 1929. His address is given as 'Ross Terrace'. I wonder if anyone knows where about Ross Terrace used to be in Broxburn as it does not seem to be present in current maps?
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According to Uphall on the Web, Ross Walk was named after a local Grocer Alexander Ross.
I will look for the location.
James.
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Thanks very much for that. I have found that Ross' Walk was off the B8046 near Thomson Court. It seems that Alexander Ross was a grocer around the period that I referred to. The entry in the marriage register does however say 'Ross Terrace, Broxburn' and I have now found a couple more references to that in Post Office Directories.
These read (1926-1927): Young, James W., painter and decorator, Greendykes Road; house Ross Terrace
and (1932-1933): Archibald A. H., East Main Street; house Ross Terrace, West End
This perhaps suggests that Ross Terrace was close to the two business locations mentioned.
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Broxburn is only a couple of miles from me, I can have a look and take a photo if I find anything
meanwhile if you have not already done so, have a look at the Old Broxburn here ---
http://www.scottishshale.co.uk/GazVillages/BroxburnOverviewVillage.html
My reading of the P.O. Directory's is a bit different, I read Young, James Greendykes Road as the business address and ; his house is on Ross Terrace.
And Archibauld AH - East Main St. which is East of Greendykes and his home is on Ross Terrace, West End.
Also the B8046 is in Uphall not Broxburn and Broxburn West End is next to Uphall
So I might be looking at Uphall - Broxburn West End not Greendykes Road.
James.
Getting closer -- Aberdeen Man Wed at Broxburn
was married the 3.5. John Cantius and Nicholas Church, Broxburn, yesterday to Miss Winifred Higgins,
daughter of Mrs A. Higgins and the late Mr Murtaugn Higgins, 80 Ross Terrace, Broxburn.
Mr M'Hugh is the son of Mr and Mrs P- J- M'Hugh, 52 Claremont Street
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Re Ross Terrace address.There is a ross terrace in uphall in alexander street ,I lived there until i was married, it was built in 1912. The other ross terrace is opposite the new fire station in broxburn. I assume both properties were built or financed by the same person.They are both similar in style and refer to a block rather than a single house. As regards to fred davies ,he had a house built in around 1958/9 at the east end of broxburn just past the entrance to aitken orr drive. The house is still occupied and is very much the same as he would have known it the first three houses (private) were built by the local builder D.B.Lamb who had premises at kirkhill park .One was for fred davies one for miss hunter schoolteacher and the other for mr black who had a ironmongers shop on brox. main street..
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Thanks very much for those details about Ross Terrace. I have been able to 'visit' them on Google Streetview and see the name inscribed in the stonework of both the Uphall and Broxburn 'Ross Terraces'. I very much appreciate all the replies that have been made and of course it is very pleasing to have found an answer to my query.
Regards, John (Campbell)
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Hello Dominay, I have sent you a personal message to find out the exact position of Fred's bungalow.
Yours, Wilton Endeavour.
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re Fred Davies property.. I can now confirm the house built for fred was that at 131 East main street Broxburn. It was the first of three built by D.B..Lamb and is situated directly opposite the entrance to what used to be the Bruce Peebles factory.Confirmation came by meeting two tradesmen who worked on the houses who both readily agreed that the first was Fred's .regards
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Thanks Dominay, Next time I am up that way, I know what house he lived in now.
Yours, Wilton Endeavour.
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Hiya, I recognise this thread is not recent, however I have also been researching shops and people in Greendykes Road, Broxburn around the 1940''s. I wonder if anyone could point me in the right direction. I have quite a sensitive reason for trying to gain info with not very much to go on but if anyone can help I'd love to hear from you. Thanks! Ali