Shoe Shop, Broad Street, Reading

[kismet]

Is there anyone out there who might remember a shoe shop in Broad Street in Reading or could tell me what number Broad Street it might have been. 

My grandfather, Ted Parker, owned or ran a small shoe shop situated in between Marks and Spencer and the arcade which ran between Broad Street and Friar Street (opposite Wellsteeds) up until probably the 1950s.  It had a rocking horse in the back of the shop and a foot x-ray machine towards the front.

I remember it as True Form shoes, but that was after my grandfather's time.

Kismet

[HeatherLynne]

I think I remember there being a branch of Freeman Hardy Willis in that stretch of Broad Street in the late 1960's/early 1970's.  Nowadays there is a shoe shop on the corner of Broad Street and Queen Victoria Street - was it a corner shop?

[behindthefrogs]

If I remember correctly Kelly's directory in the 1950s listed premises in street order as well as surname order of occupants.  A telephone directory of the period might also help.

David

[kismet]

I think Freeman Hardy Willis was the other side of the road - the Wellsteeds side.   

I don't know what my grandfather called it, but a just pre-war Kellys would be very useful.  The only thing I have is the attached pre-war photo.  I have tried old phone books without success.

Kismet

[silvapagan]

Hi there, have you tried the Reading Museum? They have been running a big social history project for a few years now and have a large archive of personal accounts from a lot of residents. You might find what you are looking for there.

[behindthefrogs]

Looking at their catalogue Reading Library holds in its local studies reference section copies of Kelly's directory for 1929, 1933, 1934, 1937 and others post war.

David

[em]

Hi Kismet

Reading Library has a publication which lists Marks and Spencers Nos 12 to 16.  True Form Boot Company No 11.  George Francis (gentlemen's outfitters) at Nos 9-10.  The Kay Shoe Shop at Nos 114-115.

Regards

em

[kismet]

Thank you all for all your help - it was at 11 Broad Street.

Kismet

[Clingan]

Just come across this post. I used to have a Saturday job at Milwards in Broad Street many moons ago.
They had a large rocking horse in the store as well as an "x-ray" machine for looking at the internal fit of the shoe.
They had both even when I was a kid being fitted out for my Clarks crepe sole sandles and they were both still there in the
early 60's.
Regards
Ian Clingan