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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2023
- Who can remember buying clothes at East London's Mister Byrite chain, or shoes at the household name that was Freeman Hardy Willis? In 1981 the High Road was a busy thoroughfare lined with national chain stores and famous local brands. A feature which has remained constant through the years is the architecture of the buildings above the former shoe shop, which were once home to the Ilford Recorder newspaper. The surroundings however has seen plenty of change in the past 40 years...
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Brilliant. Loved Ilford as a kid.
Those were the days...........
Me too
back before the 'closing down sale' shops what a time to be alive...
😂
Wow Mr Byrite a blast from the past. Seeing this is so nostalgic. Was also my 1st memory of Ilford
It's one of those names which was so popular back then, more memorable than the Blue Inc of today.
@@IlfordRetro yes Blue Inc is near enough Mr Byrite. Must admit I never got anything from Mr Byrite as I was only a child but my 2 uncles went regularly
@@IlfordRetro
I was surprised to read recently that Blue Inc is still going as a business. As well as the fact it was linked to Daniel Levy, who is better known as the Chairman of Spurs.
@@MrSmith1984 it does seem surprising given the number of recent casualties (Wilko might be next) and I was also surprised to find out during the research that Mister Byrite/Blue Inc is tied to Daniel Levy!
@@IlfordRetro
Especially when it was in Administration for several years (ironically, they actually bought out other retailers who had also entered administration).
Speaking of Wilko; the fact they are facing adminstration shows that unless you are a Supermarket or John Lewis, the future doesn't look good for Retailers in this country.
Ah, Mister Byrite. We had one in Slough and I was a semi regular customer of theirs for years......
I heard that Slough town centre used to be a popular place back in the day. In the 90s it still had the department stores (like Owen Owen in the early 90s, which we had in Ilford). Mr Byrite is a catchier name than its current iteration of Blue Inc I reckon!
Great to see you do vids again 🎉
Thanks Yasmeen, appreciate you joining us again!
Got my gear in Mister Byrite then down the Ilford Palais on the dancefloor.
A perfect Saturday....
Excellent as always. Thanks! I wonder why the four units built in 1988 were demolished in the first place?
A good question..... It was probably due to age and internal wear and tear. The four buildings were not quite uniform architecturally either, and the four replacement ones were at least in the same style. That doesn't mean they're any better to look at than those old, period buildings however!
I have to say that I prefer it as it was. I know pedestrian areas are very popular but they rip the heart of shopping areas like this one. and they bury it's past - I wonder who remembers that there used to be tram rails under all that concrete
It's an interesting question, whether pedestrianisation ruins popularity. Ilford's case is hard to assess because along with the awkward rerouting of traffic through period streets, the Exchange arrived shortly afterwards. The mall may well have killed the High Road as a long stretch worth visiting - the peripheral businesses suffered as the focus became all about indoor shopping. Interesting point about the tram rails which were uncovered during the pedestrianisation works and for a short time had an exposed section outside Harrison Gibson to remind the public what was once there.
Does anyone remember the joke shop that was further along before you got to the main shops always stopped to look at all the fun things in the window display as a child.
The only one that frequently spings to mind is Magic 'n' Fun which was on the left as you head out on Ilford High Road if going towards Seven Kings. That place had magic tricks, fancy dress costumes and all sorts.
@@IlfordRetro that sounds like the place but if that was the name then it was the same name as the video shop Magic 'n' Fun in sevenkings early 80s before the Blockbusters monopoly .
@@davidmoore2308 very interesting. I wonder if they were operated by the same owners and they split the different interests across two shops? Hopefully someone else will know a bit more about the background of them
@@IlfordRetro thats what I was thinking.
I do prefer the pedestrianisation, traffic used to be so heavy down the High Road. But I miss all those shops, especially the menswear ones. Hard to find anywhere to buy decent mens clothes these days, in any town.
You're right that traffic was very heavy back then and pedestrianisation certainly made it less polluted and safer for the overspilling shoppers. Menswear comes quite far down the list when thinking about the available options these days.
Cool vid. I'm not even from London
Thanks for stopping by - you are the first commenter 'not from here' and we are honoured.
Did Mister Bryte and/or Jean Jeanie sell Wrangler jeans? Also, in the 1981 photo, I saw below the road sign, the familiar logo of Mothercare, another much missed store.
They did indeed, I think they were quite broad with their offering if memory serves right. Very good spot with the Mothercare logo...... it was there on the corner for about 40 years, only to be demolished after it folded in 2019. The building was replaced with a glass and steel Metro Bank.
Much nicer in the 80s
What a decade that was
After United Dairies closed down there was a games arcade opened were all the kids would play games like Astaroids & pinball
I think I know where you mean, and if the same place then it was just along from the UD depot. Episode #073 Stop Out & Bee Jay Amusements may be of interest - is that it?
@@IlfordRetro Bee Jay's thats it .
Does pedestriation work long term?
That is a very good question. I think it does if it isn't done hand in hand with the profound sectioning of the town centre, as was the case in Ilford. But that's the only case I have real knowledge about, so not sure what other towns might say.