MYALL'S SHOE SHOP WEST GREEN ROAD - TOTTENHAM
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THE SHOP FRONT IN WEST GREEN ROAD - 1950s |
The
Myalls family shoe shops were one of the oldest established Boot and Shoe
retailers in Tottenham with premises in West Green Road and also Tottenham High Road. There had been several generations of the family occupied in the boot and shoe trade and they offered traditional service to their customers with expert knowledge of the trade and a fine selection of quality footwear at reasonable prices. |
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We have been
informed by Brian Myall, the grandson of the original proprietor, that the shop definitely
operated for over a hundred years in West Green Rd, and that his own father was born
there. Indeed Brian himself worked for the business in West Green Road for nearly 40
years. The picture of the firms outing was taken outside the factory in Dalston and apparently includes his Grandfather although, even his Dad, did not know which one was him. Brian also explained that his grandfather had a large house at 672/674 High Rd Tottenham, between Whitbreads Brewery and the Express Dairy. It occupied two acres of walled garden which included a bowling green at the bottom a lake in the middle with a bridge over. There were also, 60 plus fruit trees and a conservatory with an organ in it. The house was apparently Compulsorily purchased in 1951. |
THE FORMER HOME OF WILLIAM MYALL - 'OAKWOOD' 672-4 HIGH ROAD TOTTENHAM |
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Customers visiting their stores were always made to feel welcome in very comfortable surroundings. They stocked a wide range of designs and sizes and nothing was too much trouble when finding a suitable style and fit for even the most demanding of their customers. |
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They had a wonderful reputation throughout Tottenham for the quality of service they provided. |
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Regular visitors to
their shop in West Green Road may recall the old black telephone that occupied a prime
location at the front of the shop. You will be pleased to know that the telephone still survives to this day and is still functional. |
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This wonderful old advertisement appeared in the weekly Tottenham Herald in 1922 and promoted the sale of Hotspur Boots that had apparently been worn by the Spurs when winning the F.A Cup in 1921. |
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The company also
advertised their products in the Tottenham Hotspur handbooks
and publications of the time and we are indebted to the club historians at the Spurs
who have provided us with this copy that they hold in their archives.
Sadly the Myalls family busines closed in Tottenham in
2000. This was due in part to the stiff competition from the larger retailers making it
difficult for the small independent traders to survive. However, we also understand that
shop thefts and stolen credit cards contributed to their problems. Nevertheless they
continued to receive great support from many of their loyal customers who, even when the
shop was closed for annual holidays, would wait until the shop reopened to make their
purchases.
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SHOPS IN WEST GREEN ROAD - TOTTENHAM (NORTH SIDE) |
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List (from the Post Office London Directory 1956) of shops on the north side of West Green Road : (Source & credit: Haringey Archives ) |
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2, 4, 6 & 6a H.J. Rudd
Ltd., drapers 8 Bonds, stationers 10 L.J. Summerfield, baker 12 Williams Furnishing Stores 14 George Pritchard, caterer 16 William Myall, boot & shoe dealer 20 Ralph Freeder, fancy goods dealer 22 Joseph Myers, builders merchant Houghton Road 24 Domestic Electric Rentals Ltd. 24a Mrs Mary Newton, knitting wool retailer 26 Dane Dye Works Ltd. 28 Bendix Self-service, laundrette 30 Brickland Ltd., butchers 32 Greenlees & Sons (Easiphit Footwear Ltd.), boot & shoe makers 36 Lush & Cook Ltd., dyers and cleaners 36a Arthur Burnetts, tailor 38 Arcadia Prams 40 Albert Lewis, confectioner 42 Susan Paulé, gowns Portland Road 44 Mrs F. Schiller, confectioner 48 R. Gunner Ltd., provision dealers 50 R. Gunner Ltd., butchers 52 David Greig Ltd., provision dealers
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Oliver J. Brenchley, refreshment bar (Seven Sisters Railway Station)56
& 321 R. & E. Cave, bakers
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Article prepared by Alan Swain: October 2014 - From information and photograps provided by Brian Myall.