29 Palmerston Road, Portsmouth - what was it?

[boosh]

Hi

I'm in the process of tracking my 2xgreat grandfather's siblings and have found one living in Portsmouth in 1901.  She is listed as living at 29 Palmerston Road as a housekeeper.  There about 50 other people at the same property.  Some of the occupations include buyers and a draper's clerk. 

In the address column it also includes Knight & Lee Ltd.  Am I right in presuming that this was a draper's shop?  If anyone can confirm this or put me right, I'll be most grateful.

Thanks

Boosh

[bearkat]

It looks as if they were Drapers - Boyswear, menswear, military and naval tailoring

There is a brief history of the company here:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephen.pomeroy/local/loccom.pdf

[boosh]

Bearkat - thank you so much for that, it's just the ticket!

Boosh

[SheriS]

Hi

29 Palmerston Road, Southsea is now part of the Palmerston Road Shopping precinct.  Presently, no 29 is occupied by WH Smiths!

Knight and Lee was indeed a draper's store and was always considered to be more up-market than the average shop.  Indeed, the whole of Palmerston Road was considered to be the domain of the gentry.  My mother, now in her eighties, used to work in a specialist grocers in the road as a young girl.  Knight and Lee still exists in Palmerston Road, though has moved a hundred yards or so further south and now occupies a large site on a corner.  It is now a John Lewis store.

Unfortunately, although I live fairly close to Porstmouth, I have little reason to go down to Soutsea much any more.  However, if I am that way in the near future I will photograph no 29 for you.  If you search you may well find lots of photos of Palmerston Road in years past.  I certainly remember seeing many photos of it from the WW2 years and earlier.

Best regards.

[oldtimer]

Hi!

You might find this interesting...

http://www.johnlewis.com/Shops/DSTemplate.aspx?Id=38

[boosh]

FellowCuckoo and Oldtimer

The information you've both supplied is really interesting. My family member left Yorkshire to work there, but was back 'home' by 1907.  Now it leaves me wondering why she went to work there - I suppose I'll be wondering for ever more!

Thanks very much.

Boosh

[pompeyboy]

There you go Boosh.. 29 Palmerston Road..taken 2 days ago

Steve

[boosh]

Hey Pompeyboy - that's the nicest thing someone has done for me this week!  Thank you so much, I appreciate you thinking of me. 

What an 'inspiring' building!    Not a view Lizzie had back in 1901!

Boosh

[pompeyboy]

No problem,pity the tree was in the way.

Regards

Steve