(Copyright Coxhoe Local History Group)
A well established and much loved business on Church Street, Coxhoe , Wilsons Hardware & Fancy Goods closed its doors for the final time in the early 1980’s.
Trading for over 60 years Wilsons was one of those stores where you could find a wide variety of goods from haberdashery to baseball boots to jeans to net curtains to toys and all the items you needed for everyday use at home. People would travel from the local villages to buy goods and clothing from Wilsons.
Established in 1920 the business has remained in the family. Prior to WW2 the Wilsons also ran a market stall around the local market towns alongside the business in Coxhoe. The van would a regular sight in many a market town. The war put an end to the venture.
Sisters Mary and Elizabeth had been running the business in its later years but going beyond the normal age people would put their feet up, the sisters in their 70’s decide to call it day and sell up.
The Wilson were held in high esteem as was their business. Photos on our Facebook page attracted a lot of memories from local people and those that bought goods from the shop. Here are some memories.
Hannah Keaveny’s memories, aged 82, December 2006:
“Wilson’s shop used to be lovely decorated at Christmas and we used to like to go to see the windows with all the toys in – they used to be lit up until 8 o’clock – then we had to go home to bed. There used to be crowds looking at the toys thinking – ooh they’re nice – and we used to think will we get them? – but you know we had to get whatever our parents could afford to buy us”
Memories from Facebook June 2020.
Sheila Morrow : They were lovely ladies always dressed with their hats on even when working in their shops. Whatever you needed they sold. Apart from carpets and furniture. Can remember seeing them on their market stall at Bishop Auckland. They are definitely a part of Coxhoe history. Irene Barron also worked there.
Jacqueline Beecham : Lovely ladies x Mam always got my socks and ribbon there xx
Donald Hodgson : They were Brilliant.. Fond memories They could place toys in the windows in such a fashion that kids would tug on mams coat in order to go in and buy it Right next to the counter was a large box full of plastic farm animals… Little plastic fences.. Anything to make a farm yard with.. Brilliant. Their father old Mr Wilson, was driving a car well into his late nineties.. So I gather… Pretty good going back then!
Elsie Nicol : Remember them both so well. Two lovely ladies. Used to buy the pit clothes there. A lovely shop to go to.
Diane Earl : Aww remember going in there for my jazz band sandshoes socks and frilly knickers lol. They were lovely. Base ball boots and Empire made denim jeans and snake belts.. I remember it well..TThe Wilson sisters were lovely.. And true professionals..HAPPY DAYS
Derek Orton : Two lovely ladies and the shop was a great asset to the village during our day’s growing up.
Beryl Emmerson : Robin Waltons daughter Judith I think used to work there.
Doreen Allen : Brilliant memories of that shop the two Miss Wilson s me and my mam and my Auntie Nillie went there every Saturday morning.Xmas time the top shop had a Santa Claus in it wasn’t very good but we love it presents blue for boys pink paper for girls.You where able to get anything there when I saw the photo, of the hardware shop, the first thing that came to mind, was the Santa Claus. The two Miss Wilson’s were lovely, happier days then!
Denise Shippen : We used this shop all the time when we were little we loved getting all our new things from there x
Pam Whitford : I loved this shop as a child, especially Christmas. Used to have a stuffed Santa and you bought a Xmas gift from him.
Ann Brown : Lovely memories going in to Wilson’s, smells of things you dont get to day both sisters always helpfull
Terry Knox : Remember it we’ll weighing machine in top shop where they sold wool m craft stuff. Bottom shop for jeans shoes n stuff two lovely women the Wilson’s. They lived up the avenue.
Julie Lenagh : Ribbons …socks . And lucky dip loved it
Caroline Lynn : Happy memories, remember my Mam buying baseball boots for me and my brother
Ian Richardson and they had to last the full 6wks school holidays!
Debbie Mann Baseball boots and two tone jeans Carol, and Ladybird nighties !!!!
Christian Arnold The smells in that shop were another level…..great memories, the hardware shop in Beamish has a similar smell….there was strong leather smell I remember. Lovely
Loraine Nattrass Maddison :,I remember them strongly. I came across it again a few years ago in a place with a lot of brown paper in it. Plus, the Christmas bran tub, something I always looked forward to. I came across the Miss Wilsons again in the late 1990s, they were as sweet as ever, barely looked any different.
Tom Arnold : Jack Ogden told me when bought the buildings,all the glass counters and shop fittings they gave them to Beamish. Remember as kid running up and down shop end to end and dips in floor . Smell of wellies and big roll of brown wrapping paper. Happy days
Hilary Dixon : Great memories of the shop and the Wilson sisters who owned and ran it.
John Bonarius : The Dinky cars Mam used to buy me one if she could afford it and I’d been a good lad.
Veronica Holmes : Liberty bodices vests petticoats all the fashionable things ha ha . I used to have nightmares about that Santa
Sandra Clarey : I loved Wilson’s shop .I remember brown suitcases full of stock and lovely sideboard with all baby things on .loved old counters and everything wrapped in brown paper and tied with string .Lovely memories and top Wilson shop was a toy shop with lucky dip Santa Claus x
Peter Jackson : Everyone got their shoes from the lady’s
Rob Thompson : Didn’t they have a weighing machine inside, and a petrol pump around the side ?
Elaine Winter : Loved it at Xmas ,used to go in with my nanna get a present from the Santa
Annabel Dunbar : Remember the two shops. Well stocked shops sold everything and anything
Elaine Wood : The Wilson sisters had that shop I can remember going in with my mam and getting some wool and ribbon. Xxxxx
Claire McKinney : I remember the Miss Wilson’s shop had an amazing wooden counter top with a brass measuring strip inlaid. Was always highly polished!
Rod Gary Hall : Never knew there was a small wall and railings around
Rosie Clewes : It had been going more than 60 years and opened in 1920 so it must have closed sometime in the 80’s x
Coxhoe Local History Group 