Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request D.I.Y. / Building Shop

Hello from Canada!

I'm trying to do some research on my family, who I believe used to own a shop in Bebington. It was a D.I.Y. / timber supplier and possibly builder. From researching old phone books, I believe it was located at 2A Bromborough road. It's listed in the phone book as "Harford W.E. & Co, Bldrs Mrcnts" and later, "Harford W.E. & Co, D.I.Y."

Does anyone remember this shop, or even better, have any photos of it?

Edit: I should add, I'm not sure when it first opened, but the phone book entrys I looked at are from the 1970's and 1980's.

I went in occasionally during the 80s plus, can't remember when it closed.

1952 Directory,
Harford Brothers, contractors.

It's not showing in the 1938 directory.

Its only in the last 15 years(?) it stopped being a DIY shop, I think there was an article in the paper about it closing down or something. The last time I remember seeing it, it looked like a Rightway store with metal bins etc out in front of the building. Shortly after I went to buy something there and it had closed.

I presume the brothers were Samuel Harford and William Edward Harford. The shop and the timber yard might have been split into separate businesses at some time.

String of restaurants/cafes in there since. Garrets? and I'm not sure if Restaurent Italia moved there from down the road for a short while.

I photographed or videod an incident outside the property some time ago but I haven't found it, probably deleted but I'll check more over the next few days, it is more likely on another computer.

Edit:

Garretts
Le Bistro
La Luce Del Sole
I think there is a cafe there now?

I lived at 23 and remember it in the '50s-'60s as DIY/wallpaper/paints merchants. I think it was double-fronted, big-windowed and to the left of it was a slope of derelict land up to the Victorian houses and to the backs of the Church Road shops.
The corner No.1 was a bank, so Harford's was probably where La Luce is now.
Sorry, no photos.

1949 phone book is the earliest I have found the business in. Harford Brothers.

I've just found a photo in Ian Boumphrey's Yesterday's Birkenhead, 1860-1960', dated 1959, p123, showing it as I thought!
The 'derelict slope' could be being developed behind the tall fence.

Confirmation: The hanging sign looks like 'Dulux Paints'.

Fantastic! I've just ordered that book - when I try to click the link to that photo, I'm getting a message that says I don't have access to download this document. Any ideas?

Disregard - I was able to see the photo after paying and signing out. Hoping it's a little better quality in the book!

It's a small photo in the book!