Old Jewellers in Birkenhead

[Polly1]

Hi,

I am trying to track down an old jewellers shop in Birkenhead. The address in their box is:

Robert Ewart, (Watchmaker & Jeweller), 91, Grange Road, Birkenhead.

An information would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance of any help.

Polly

[Wirral]

Any idea of the approximate date? 20thC or 19thC? There were no Ewarts who were jewellers in the 1940 Kelly's directory & none today in Birkenhead. I can look at the trade directories at Wallasey library tomorrow & an approx. date would speed things up.

[Polly1]

Hi, I haven't really any idea - I have this bangle that I am assuming belonged to my Mum but, I don't ever remember seeing it before. Whether it could have belonged to someone else in the family I don't know. Anyway if it is any help my Mum was born 1916 and her Mum was born 1893.
Only information I had is in the lid of the bangle box - I am 100% certain it is the original box.
Thanks for helping
Polly

[Wirral]

1912 Gore's directory, Robert Ewart, watchmaker, 91 Grange Road, Birkenhead. Unfortunately, there are few directories at my local library just around that time. No Robert there in the 2 either side - 1897 & 1940.

[MTRIGBY]

While this is current, any chance of a full list of Birkenhead Jewellers (~1920's) ?

Cheers,
Mike.

[Wirral]

Hi Mike
Sorry, but my local library has a hole from 1912 to 1940 in its trade directory collection (also from 1897 to 1912). Before 1897 it has most years & after 1946 for some Liverpool directories + more Wallasey directories (the latter do not cover Birkenhead).

[Polly1]

Hi Wirral, what does the Gore's directory tell me - what type of directory is it?. Were do I go from here?
A big thanks
Polly x

[Wirral]

Hi Polly
The Trade Directories are very useful, a bit like a phone directory, Yellow pages, street directory + an almanac, + lots more. Gore's is the most common. It later became Kelly's. The directories were published every year, although in the early years it might not be every year. The earliest for Liverpool is 1766. This had "An alphabetical list of the merchants, tradesmen & principal inhabitants of the town of Liverpool with their respective addresses & also deparaet lists of the Worfhipful the Mayor & Common Council; Officers of the Customs & Excife; Comiffioners of the Docks; Light Houses; Watch Lamp & Scavengers; Stage Coaches, Waggons & Carriers, with their times of coming in & going out; Vessels trading to London, Manchester, Bankey, Northwich, Winsford, Chefter, Prefton, Lancafter with their several agents"
There is also a Baines for Lancashire for 1824.

[Polly1]

Thanks Wirral - very interesting - I presume if the jewellers are not listed in the 1940 directory then they must have closed down before then.

Do you have any suggestions as to where I go from here?
Thanks a lot
Polly

[Wirral]

(contd)
The head of the household ( usually male) was only included in the directories. Women only if the head, or widowed or if they had a business. Occupations included for most.
A street directory of the main streets including the head of household. If your ancestors were in a poor area, the street will not be listed, or only a few house numbers included.
Later editions have a list of all streets, including which main road they were by - very useful for finding places long gone.
"The Annals of Liverpool " - a history of Liverpool from its earliest times. This is indexed.
Ecclesiastical, educational, parlimentary directories.
etc, etc :)

[Wirral]

Hi Polly
I'll look in the directories for Robert Ewart in Liverpool library next time I go. They have a more complete set.

[Polly1]

Hi Wirral, you have probably seen this site but if not - it is well worth a look.

http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/index.asp

Pity it is only there for 3 more years as they have come to the end of their funding.

Polly x