Robert Lomas ltd. draper

[davetur]

Has any one got any information about Robert Lomas ltd. a drapers shop on Oldham st in Manchester. I have an ancestor working as a shop assistant in 1921. I was wondering about the business in a general sort of way. Was it a big business, successful, other employees?
Regards
Dave Turton

[heywood]

There is a notice in The Gazette, 1900 - it might be your Robert Lomas

March 2nd 1900
Robert Lomas and Frederick William Matthew trading as Mantle and Costume Manufacturers in Oldham St and Church St Manchester plus a Liverpool address.
The company was dissolved and debts paid by Robert Lomas who will carry on the business.

[heywood]

Death notice 1925 Western Daily Express, Bristol
Mr Robert Lomas, late head of Messrs Robert Lomas, Ltd., drapers, etc., of Manchester, left £160.670

 Wills

1925 Robert Lomax of Ellesmere Buxton Road, Macclesfield

I would think he was successful as you ask.

[heywood]

Image here
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01sb5/

[AlanBoyd]

I searched the 1921 census at FindMyPast for employer: Robert Lomas. There are 97 hits.

All but two are recorded in Lancashire & Cheshire, mostly Lancashire. One of the exceptions is a spurious hit in Surrey, but the other is a bona fide employee visiting someone in Devon, possibly a holiday given the date of the census.

The youngest are Nellie Lloyd and Grace Aldcroft, both 14, and employed as cash girls at Oldham Street, Manchester.
The oldest is Mark Seltzer, 73, a Russian-born tailor employed at the same place.

[AlanBoyd]

Whatever happened to Robert Lomas Ltd.?

20 July 1953, Manchester Evening News

Affleck rumours buzzing: "May be changing hands"
BY OUR CITY EDITOR

RUMOUR was busy to-day about the future of Affleck Brown, Ltd., drapers and furnishers, of Oldham-street, Manchester, one of the oldest and most popular shopping stores in the city.

Debenhams are reported to be interested in the business, but no confirmation could be obtained of the rumours. Affleck and Brown, however, plan to issue a statement to-night.

As a private company Affleck's shares are not quoted on the Stock Exchange. A city stockbroker stated that three months ago he first heard of Debenhams having made an offer for the firm.

In 1935 Affleck's acquired all the shares in Robert Lomas, Ltd., who carried on a similar business in adjacent premises. This part of the four-storey building was disposed of in December, 1949. Debenhams, which according to the Stock Exchange Year Book has an authorised and issued capital of £7,700.000, are manufacturers, furriers, silk mercers, and ware-housemen. It bought Marshall and Snelgrove, Ltd., which has a branch in St. Ann's Place, Manchester, in 1919 and owns the shares in Paulden's, Ltd., Stretford Road, Manchester, and other concerns in various parts of the country.

[davetur]

Thanks everone for your help. The drapers business seems to have been a successful one and old man Lomas a multi millionaire by today's measure. Hope he paid his staff well.
Dave