My new Mawer and Collingham department store time shift collection on Lincoln High Street.

#lincoln #history #memories #nostalgia #thenandnow #shop

Earlier in the year House of Fraser closed their store on Lincoln High Street and I made a time shift video to remind everyone of the history we were losing. Of course it was just the latest victim of changing shopping habits, and people might be less annoyed about the loss than they were when the original building was covered with cladding!

From the House of Fraser Archive;
"Founded in Lincoln, England, the exact date of the foundation of the department store retailer Mawer & Collingham is unknown. William Mawer traded as a linen draper from his premises at 229 High Street, Lincoln, from c1810. Subsequent to his apprenticeship to William Mawer and marriage to Mawer's daughter Elizabeth, Joseph Collingham signed articles of partnership with William Mawer (elder) and William Mawer (younger) in 1822. Collectively, the partnership traded initially as Mawer, Son & Co, later changing to Mawer & Collingham. The purchase of the freehold of 228 High Street, Lincoln, in 1826 served to expand the existing shop premises. Joseph Collingham became the sole proprietor in 1829, and his son Joseph Mawer Collingham was brought into partnership sometime before 1873. Joseph Mawer Collingham became the sole proprietor in 1873 and remained so until 1900, when the company was incorporated as a private limited company, Mawer & Collingham Ltd.

By the time of its incorporation, the company's trade had diversified to include wholesale and retail drapers, silk mercers, haberdashers, milliners, dressmakers, tailors, hatters, furriers, lacemen, clothiers, hosiers, glovers and general outfitters, carpet warehousemen, upholsterers and house furnishers and decorators."

The first part of this video is the same as before, then there is a time shift looking towards the Stonebow with M&C on the right This is followed by another looking north with the old photo showing the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935. Finally I've added a new time shift showing the old shop at 229 High Street, and a wonderful undated old photo showing a view of the whole building from a high vantage point on Silver Street. You can clearly see the large Harmston's music shop on the corner of Mint Street that M&C extended into.

I don't have exact dates for the various periods as Mawer and Collingham, Binns, and House of Fraser, but I do remember the smells of all the perfume, and the cafe, what memories do you have?