#100

As town centre stalwarts go, Ilford's Owen Clark can lay claim to having been its longest running independent shop. Selling art materials to generations this specialist store held an important position on Cranbrook Road. With greater computer use in art schools and a shift to digital creation since the 90s the business suffered and scaled back before closure. Did you buy anything there?
Source
www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news...

[@Scruffy1000]

I love this series, pure nostalgia for me. please keep them coming 😊

[@IlfordRetro]

Thanks for your comment and for supporting the channel, we're glad you like them!

[@pankajmarwaha9815]

Ahh remember visiting this place often in the late 80s and 90s for anything art/design related. Wonderful shop!

[@IlfordRetro]

So true. It just seemed to go on and on. Always had a new shelf of items to discover

[@mikandan4932]

As a Barking boy, I remember purchasing art pencils for school at Owen Clark around 1987.

[@IlfordRetro]

It must have built a solid reputation far and wide. They seemed to stock everything in there

[@peterb514]

I remember it well in the ‘70s… bought protractors and Rotring technical ink pens there. Ilford was so posh once, I haven’t been there since the late 70s and have no intention of going again… what a shame 😢

[@IlfordRetro]

well, I'm happy that you can revisit it through these videos!

[@storm3698]

My mum used to get me art material in there for GCSEs. Was a very good shop but nothing lasts forever unfortunately.

[@IlfordRetro]

It was a great shop, that's true and perhaps the fact that it wasn't continued by a different owner means our memories of it remain positive and glowing.

[@Mr-To-Do-List]

I remember when I went to Cranbrook college, I would see a chap outside, with a beard and smoking. I somehow nicknamed him mr cheeky. Anyhow, at Christmas, I use to write him a Xmas card, to which he would respond to mr cheeky. I think his real name was Tony. Always a pleasant person.

[@pandora8478]

When were you at CC? I was 74-85. Are you in the old boys group on Facebook?

[@IlfordRetro]

I love the fact that you were familiar enough with him and shop to exchange cards with a bit of banter.

[@Mr-To-Do-List]

@@IlfordRetro thank you. It will be interesting to see what Cranbrook college is like now.

[@IlfordRetro]

@@Mr-To-Do-List I understand that CC closed in 2016 and it has since become another school called Read Academy. As far as Google Street View shows, the buildings remain the same as they were under CC, perhaps with a few cosmetic changes?

[@rajnirvan3336]

Wow a forgotten store. Cranbrook Road shops were so different from the high road. I remember some department store on that side. Was so unique

[@IlfordRetro]

Absolutely right about the different types of shops on Cranbrook compared with the High Road. Cranbrook had more specialisms and it wasn't constant retail either, with its variety of independents, tea houses, department stores and offices next to each other. It had its own subculture.

[@rajnirvan3336]

@@IlfordRetro I mentioned on another website that it's also heartbreaking when a big shop like this has been split into 2 or more new properties

[@IlfordRetro]

@@rajnirvan3336 you're right about that. It signals the end of something that at the time, worked so well only to be torn apart by change.

[@awsanteina5152]

I think the department store you're referring to is either bodgers or fairheads

[@rajnirvan3336]

@@awsanteina5152 yes Fairheads. I could never remember it well. Bodger was prominent

[@thebohemian.]

The same stationery wholesaler I worked for, were we would speak to the likes of Mr Goldy (Gilbey’s) we would also have the unfortunate task of answering the phone to Max the buyer of Owen Clark. He was the rudest and most ignorant person. I remember as the shop was closing, I mentioned to the staff that I’d known about Max etc, they laughed, and apologised 😆

[@IlfordRetro]

🤣 Brilliant story. There's always one isn't there! Interesting job you had, as a supplier to these businesses. Clearly you got to know the people behind the scenes very well.

[@thebohemian.]

@@IlfordRetroBack to Mr Gilbey! He always faxed his orders. I can remember a day when Mr Gilbey ordered one of our own brand staplers. He wanted a white one. This colour was out of stock, but Mr Gilbey faxed an order and then got on a 369 bus to collect from us 😳
I explained when he arrived, and offered him the choice of another two white staplers, better than what he had ordered, OR, he can wait until tomorrow as I can get one of our own brand delivered to him, we had other customers in Ilford. Mr Gilbey decided to cancel the order. Who was that desperate for a white stapler??

[@IlfordRetro]

@@thebohemian. A very good question and clearly he was a very particular person! I love the anecdote but have to ask whether you mean these were the actions of Mr Goldie of Gilbey's or was this actually Mr Gilbey?!

[@thebohemian.]

@@IlfordRetro We never knew his first name. He was Mr Goldie from Gilbey’s of Wood Green. We referred to him as Mr Gilbey as a portmanteau!

[@IlfordRetro]

@@thebohemian. Riiiight I see what you mean and it makes sense. It adds to the mystery surrounding this gentleman that you never knew his first name. The fact that a link to him turns up in so many episodes is also a bit spooky. He, and his quirks, live on thanks to you!