Fire at Williams
 

On July 30th 1910 several girls who lived in at Messrs Williams shop in Accrington were killed in a fire. Does anyone have any information on this tragedy?

Re: Fire at Williams
 

The shop was still open at 9.45pm. One of the lamps in the front windows 'arced', igniting a display. The fire spread rapidly. The horse-drawn Fire Brigade turned out from the nearby Market Hall fire Station. The officer in charge was told that everyone had been accounted for and concentrated on stopping the fire spreading. Sadly, this was not the case, and an hour later a roll-call was initiated. On enetering the building, the brigade found 5 ladies bodies. 3 shop assistants and 2 customers


I got this from an essay on Accrington Fire Brigade by John Kelly in the book 'An accrington Mixture' which I edited.

The shop was in Church street corner of Holme St

Re: Fire at Williams
 

Greatly appreciated. I have a before and after photo that I intend posting. jimmieg.

Re: Fire at Williams
 

We have already had a thread about Williams Fire in Church St last Year.

Any way heres some pictures.

Retlaw.

Re: Fire at Williams
 

Is this where Bailey's is now?

Re: Fire at Williams
 

Yep, previously Toymaster.

Re: Fire at Williams
 

Williams shp was at the corner of Holme St and Church St.

Picture taken in 1984.

Retlaw.

Re: Fire at Williams
 

Its used to be the main toy shop in accy as far as i remember, what is it now as i cant remember seeing it when i last came down

Re: Fire at Williams
 

its a pub lol, Baileys

Re: Fire at Williams
 

I think it was called Baileys in the 40s when it was a ladies wear/haberdashery store.

It was the place where the shop assistants sent your money on an overhead cable system to a cashier , who put your change and reciept in the 'screw mugsized thingy' and zoomed it back to the shop assistant on the cable.

It is difficult to describe to those who never saw it - fascinated me as a child, and makes that shop so memorable.

Re: Fire at Williams
 

remember seeing that vaugely, thought it was "Sauls" up black abbey,but obviously not.

Re: Fire at Williams
 

You can still see the old signs on it. It goes round the pub on the green background. It says "Bailey's Ltd, Hosiers & Gloves" It also says "Millner's" on the corner is this the name of the owner?

Re: Fire at Williams
 

Is it "milliners" ? Thats the old name for hat makers .

Re: Fire at Williams
 

It was like a small department store. My mum took me when she needed to buy silk stockings - nylons hadn't been invented.

There was a similar store nearby named Moffitts, but I can't remember exactly where that was - perhaps Atarah will.

Re: Fire at Williams
 

If I'm not mistaken Baileys was on Church St next door to William's,
you used to be able to see the sign on there from the Library steps.
I have a photo somewhere.
Saul's in Black Abbey St also had the system of sending your money
and purchase order on a cable to the cashier.
He got rid of it in the early 1960's.

There were three shops that still had the system in the 1940's

Bailey's and Sauls were two of them.
Seem to remember some of the Co-ops had them as well, Warner St ?.

Retlaw.