COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

dutchman wrote:Incidentally, there was a 'George Mason' grocer's shop on the corner of Spon End and Hearsall Lane in Coventry as well as a brand of tea with the same name so I am guessing they were quite common in this area?

George J Mason was born in Blymhill, Staffordshire, and began his career as a grocer and apprentice at Newport, Shropshire. In 1901, he set up George J Mason Ltd. and opened his first shop in Lozells Road, Birmingham

George Mason died on 22 Aug 1934 at his home in The Woodlands, Penn Road, Wolverhampton. By this time, his empire had expanded to include 500 shops

The 1945 GPO Telephone Directory lists George J Mason shops at
Long Street, Atherstone
14 Market Street, Bedworth
45 Earlsdon Street, Coventry
85 Far Gosford Street, Coventry
22 Square, Kenilworth
10 Clemens Street, Leamington
68 Parade, Leamington
108 Warwick Street, Leamington
30 Gold Street, Northampton
Abbey Gate, Nuneaton
23 Market Place, Nuneaton
13 Market Place, Rugby
18 High Street, Stratford
15 Smith Street, Warwick
31 Market Street, Wellingborough

In the 1959 GPO Directory, there were also shops at 46 Jubilee Crescent and 57 Spon Street, Coventry

Thanks MR, much appreciated

The Spon End shop moved from Number 61 to Number 57 some time between 1935 and 1939 to allow for the widening of Hearsall Lane.

Shop at number 61:


This picture from circa 1935 shows the location of Number 61 on the extreme left-hand edge:

The bus is turning from Hearsall lane into Spon End Lane. Stanley Terrace is on the right, Oxford Terrace is just behind the bus in Allesley Old Road.

Ghost sign in Kenilworth:

This may be the Kenilworth shop listed in Midland Red's posting?

I can remember the Jubilee Crescent shop as we lived near to that. Granny and Mum used to go there for their messages (Scottish for shopping) and they also went to the Maypole.

H'mmm, I well remember so many grocers that were like that inside! Unlike the soulless warehouses called supermarkets today.

I have a suspicion there was a Mason's branch in the City arcade in the 50s. Wasn't it also the same company as Mason's pop?

Spuffler wrote:I have a suspicion there was a Mason's branch in the City arcade in the 50s.

I assume you mean the original City Arcade Spuffler as the present one didn't open until the 1960s?

Spuffler wrote:Wasn't it also the same company as Mason's pop?

Strangely not Spuffler although T. Mason & Sons, of Smethwick were located not far away from George Mason's home and so could be related.

It was amusing to find this thread being quoted on websites in other parts of the country discussing George Mason's