Market Street & J Lyons sometime around 1914

This is another one of those Judge postcards from sometime after 1911.

Now I can be fairly sure that Fred Judge took this shot after 1911 and very likely around 1914 because it is one of a series which record scenes across the city from Piccadilly to Albert Square, the Cathedral and the University.

We are on Market Street just where Cross Street and Corporation Street join it. Today the left hand side would be dominated by the Arndale Centre and our right by Boots the Chemist.

For Market Street this is an oddly quiet scene and while there are certainly lots of people out and about it doesn’t match the usual crowds that would swarm up and down.

And yet there is lots to see, but first the date.  It must be after 1910, possibly 1911, but more likely 1914.  The key is the J Lyons tea rooms at number 35.

Anyone of a certain generation will remember them, and in their time they were as popular and wide spread as any of the well known fast food outlets today.

“Always innovative and with an acute awareness of popular taste, Lyons brought a unique blend of showmanship, style and spectacle to its aim of combining high quality with value for money. This was achieved by maintaining control of all its manufacturing and servicing departments. 

The first Lyons teashop opened in 1894 at 213 Piccadilly. It was the forerunner of some 250 white and gold fronted teashops which occupied prominent positions in many of London's high streets and suburban towns and cities; corner sites with two entrances were preferred. 

At one time seven teashops operated in London's Oxford Street alone. Food and beverage charges were identical in each teashop, irrespective of locality, and the highest standards of hygiene were demanded by management. ”*

All of which fastens our picture to a time after 1911 and given that another in the series dates from after 1914 I think this must be the same.

As ever in these pictures it is the sheer number of horse drawn vehicles that impress me, ranging from the heavy covered wagon to the cabs and private carriages.

And then there are the bikes and hand carts competing with the pedestrians and usual paper seller.

*Lyons 1887-1998 http://www.kzwp.com/lyons/index.htm

** 35 and 74 Market Street, 44 Deansgate, 77 Piccadilly, 5 Princess Street and 74 Mosley Street, with its offices and steam bakeries at Jordan Street Knott Mill, Manchester, Salford & Suburban Directory, Part 2 1911

Picture; from the collections of G&V Harris