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Margaret - haven't seen Jacki around for a while unless she posts off the main boards.

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I have wrapping paper from a gift from Adnitt's store given to my father in Law in 1966. I kept it as a memento! could scan it if you're interested. Margaret Adnitt

hey janetell. someone has given me some more pictures of Adnitts i will email them to you so you can also have a look.. im at work at the mo so will do it weni gt home.. see you later
jacki

thats real sad she hd to leave the family...because of bullying...
ive been there myself.but in the earlier days ws hard....
hop u fin another job..

Jacki

I have sent you a PM. I have found photos of Adnitts in an old Northampton book and I've scanned them for you.

Janet

Jacki - no I don't have any photos. When I was working in the Drapery I didn't think anything was worth photographing! The people who work in the tiny old pub are quite young and I doubt they know much about the history of the place.
Adnitts/Debenhams is a large store with several floors. Your Willie and the rest would have had living accomodation above the shop floors but I have no idea if it was in dormitories or single rooms. I would guess the former as it was designed to pack everyone in; the staff comfort wouldn't have been paramount!
As to the 'posh' attitude of some of the staff, it was like domestic service. The lower ranks had to obey the supervisors but a young girl who had just got a job at Adnitts probably went home and showed off to her sisters. I remember reading a novel where one sister got a job in a big store and came home lording it over her sister and mother. In the end she left as she was bullied; this was just a novel but not far from the truth, I expect.

Janet

nudgin

Hello Nettie,
thnx for that
but i have them .
but im realy trying to find (now i have the name) ADNITTS department store...some old pictures or any info on it realy..
but thnx still
jacki

hey Janetell,
thnx i am definatly pickin yr brains, hehehe hope you dont mind i wish i lived near u cos id luv to have met u and u could show me where u r talking about..
an yes I'd luv to go with u ghost/spirit hunting. im realy into al htat. some people may think its weird but i dont.. can u imagin how stuffy it would have been with all those people.. so would my willly and the others(lets not forget them)they must have worked somewhere away from the posh knobs....or have i gt that wrong.. would you be able to tell me more or if anyone in that bar knows anything.. or maybe have any old pics of the road and where it ws.. only askin if its possible..
this is rather exciting for me as i didnt grow with my family so all this research has uncovered alot for me.
ciao for nw
see ya later
jacki
x

Hi Jacki, Francis Frith has some photo's of "The Drapery" Northampton, not sure if this is what you're looking for.

http://www.francisfrith.com/northampton/photos/the-drapery-1922_72174/


http://www.francisfrith.com/northampton/photos/drapery-c1955_N40056/

I forgot to say, I don't know if it was number 33 but I can assure you that you are on the right track. All those people on the list with your relative worked and lived in the store. Wouldn't you just love to creep in like a ghost and look at the store as it was? I know I would! The Drapery is very old and full of history. It's supposed to house a few ghosts as well. There is a tiny pub at the end of the street that has been there for donkey's years. The old Market Square is just behind The Drapery but trade is bad now and I suppose we'll lose this eventually.

Yes, I do live near the old Adnitts store. I worked in a little shop opposite the place for 8 years.

The old shop where I worked was once occupied by a Glover (glove maker) and his family. They had a little servant girl if my memory serves me well. Not that I can actually REMEMBER them, but I looked them up on the census and I used to think of the Glover and his family when I was alone in the shop and preparing the food for the day. It was a sandwich bar but it closed just before Christmas. I'm still looking for another job!

Hi Janetell,
gosh you realy do have a great insight.. doyou live near there.?
so was it 33 drapery then adnitts.. is this the place where my relie used to work as draper assistant? and all those poeple living there too...oh my..
i am goin to google ti again..chat in a minute
jack

It is definitely not a warehouse or factory but it was a high class department store. I have tried to find the history of the place online with no luck but it would have been the sort of store where 'Madam' would have been offered a chair and would have been waited on like a duchess (if she had the money). From what I have read the titled people were the least likely to pay their bills!

When I was a child, Adnitts was a bit 'posh'. My mum used to get a bit annoyed at the attitude of the staff. She used to say 'they have to work for a living, same as the rest of us!'.

hi Minnie,
this is where i saw the two pics of drapery but i havent gt a clue as to where abts in drapery it is.. but thnx
jacki

oh thank you so much it would be realy good if i could find an old pic o the place.. im so curious to find ot if it was a factory or warehouse or wot maybe even a depaartment store as someone has suggested. i shall keep on goolin
cioa for now
jacki

http://www.northants-familytree.net/

The Drapery (not Street) always seems to have been photographed from the same angle! I daresay the bank on the right hand side of the picture which is on the corner adjoining Mercer's Row is considered a fine architectural structure. Nowadays it is the Nationwide Bank. Behind the photographer over his/her right shoulder stands All Saints Church. Adnitts Department Store is at the far end of the Drapery on the other side to the bank. If I find a decent photo of Adnitts I'll let you know. I'll google and see if I can find some of it's history. Failing that if you email the Northampton Central Library they may be able to help.

Janet

thank you both for yr replies.. sowould i be able to find that store im wonderin nw..mmmm guess i will have togoogle again thnx for that.. i have also looked a photos of northants and there were only two of drapery street.. i am still trying to find anything realy.. so if on your travels you both may find something pls let me know..
thnx again.. im off to google. phew!!
jacki

It was Adnitts Department Store. It changed to Debenhams some years ago.

Staff at Adnitts had to live in just like domestic servants.

The present day staff would probably tell you that they still live in with sales going on 'till midnight.

Janet