Historian of buildings: The Workhouse, English Shops & Shopping, Carscapes, Woolworth's. Chain Stores published May 2025. Fieldworker for Hants @crsbi.
Hertfordshire & Western Isles
Joined October 2015
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Kathryn Morrison retweeted
They were meant to be carefully removed and retained for some future purpose. For them to last over 100 years only to be thrown to the ground and smashed is beyond infuriating. Apparently a few are left intact.
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
Another week, another devastating fire in Glasgow, resulting in the very sad loss of the Category B listed Forsyth House (1851) on Union Street.
Architectural heritage is irreplaceable - whether from the 20th century or any other period. Attitudes towards the care, protection and maintenance of our historic buildings must change.
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
🚨BREAKING: Highly contentious plans to bulldoze the former Debenhams store in Norwich approved by councillors – just moments after they voted to save it.
Find out more➡️savebritainsheritage.org/new…
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
This week, researchers have been interrogating this 1938 store plan showing weekly takings for each counter - with Hosiery and Fruit top of the takings list for this particular week!
And here's a similar store layout in 1941.
ALT plan of a store, with notes showing departments and takings
ALT black and white photo of a store interior, with signs for pocket watches and art. silk blouses.
Quality shopfront installed for champion baker and mayor of #Poole, Joseph Bright, probably 1920s.
🧁 How’s this for a fabulous 1930s shop frontage? The former premises of Bennett’s Bakers, 117 High Street in Poole, Dorset.
Grade II listed in 1988, the Art Deco shop design features graceful bowed windows on a polished, veined, black stone plinth; decorative diamond pattern glazing bars and green glass bands in the overlights; a tessellated terrazzo doorway and ‘flash’ moulded wooden fascia. Let alone the tasty treats inside…
Founded by Claude Bennett in 1953, after he moved from Devon to Poole, the Bennetts Family Bakers quickly grew into a cherished part of Dorset’s high streets. Sadly, the third-generation, family-run bakers closed all their branches in July 2025 after 72 years of trading. The Poole premises pictured has since reopened as a barbers shop.
ALT Bennett's Bakers, 117 High Street Poole (1930s), Grade II listed. Image credit: John East
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
People like to sneer at Brussels, but it is crammed with interest and beauty. This former department store on the Mont des Arts is now a museum of musical instruments.
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
Fire damaged and derelict for 20 years, the remains of it have just fallen into the street as a result of Storm Amy.
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
Gutting herring at #Stornoway in 1939
[source: HLH Archives, D1751/2/1/18]
Fancy goods - one of the subjects covered in my new ‘Chain Stores’ book!
The precise meaning of so many common trades (eg provision dealers, oil & colourmen, Italian warehouses, bazaars) has been quite forgotten.
😍 *Fancy Goods* - time to bring this back! What did this incorporate back then? HT @KA_Morrison
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
This striking photograph of Macpherson’s Central Emporium on Tain High Street captures a moment when global opportunity was advertised in the heart of the burgh. Among the posters for news and local notices, one boldly declares: “WANTED 20,000 men, Harvest work, Canada.”
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
🐟 Concerning news has reached us that the most architecturally distinguished fish and chip shop in the country, Oakwood Fisheries in Leeds, closed in July 2025 after 85 years, with owner Steven Webster citing ‘circumstances beyond his control’.
Opened in the 1938, the fish bar occupies a 19th century building, but with a striking Moderne style shop front of Vitrolite, metal and glass, with bakelite, metal and neon signage and a fabulous four-light cross mullion circular window.
Grade II listed in 1986 the historic fabric should be safe, but the Society dearly hopes this doesn’t mark the end of its days as a local chippie.
ALT Oakwood Fish Bar, Leeds (1938-40), Grade II listed Image credit: Jonathan Taylor
Thank you so much Leigh!
New post this morning 27/8.
Review of @KA_Morrison brilliant book Chain Stores in the Golden Age of the British High Street.
stirlingretail.com/2025/08/2…
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
I’m strangely fascinated by the blinginginess of Trump’s Oval Office. What does it mean? Here’s an art historical take. 🧵
1/
Kathryn Morrison retweeted
#MomentsOfBeauty in #Glasgow: It’s a nice touch that the new @paesano_pizza in Shawlands has incorporated the WH Dinwoodie #ghostsign into their shopfront fascia while including a pizza chef uniform clothesline mural. It certainly lifts this classic Glasgow corner tenement 🥰!
ALT This is the new Paesano Pizza on the corner of Pollokshaws and Minard Roads in Shawlands has incorporated the WH Dinwoodie ghostsign into their shopfront fascia while including a pizza chef uniform clothesline mural. It certainly lifts this classic red sandstone Glasgow corner tenement which glows with warmth on a hot summer morning especially against the backdrop of the blue sky.
Well, this would certainly NOT have been the case in an early C20th #WHSmith - they were beautiful shops.
Hoping that #TGJones will cherish the early C20th shopfitting of #WHSmith - the tile panels, newsboy signs, decorative leadwork and fine lettering. New blog post:
buildingourpast.com/?p=11422…
