A History of Fred Winter Ltd (https://sites.google.com/site/fredwinterltd)…read more
Fred
Winter was a 23 year old Suffolk man who described himself as a
draper and auctioneer when he opened his first store on the 25th
June 1858. The store was located at 17 and 18 High Street Stratford
Upon Avon, and sold general drapery, haberdashery and high quality
outfitting for gentlemen. By 1881 Frederick, his wife and a family of
five daughters and three sons, shop assistants Clara Cowles, Frank
Gibbons, William Potter and James Thornber, and two servants Mary
Lively and May Morris, lived above the shop in what is today Marlow's
restaurant. This was to be Stratford first real department store [the
Shipston sheep farmer JC smith didn't open his store, now
Debenhams, until 1870] and was a huge success not only with the towns
growing population but also with customers from far and wide as is
the case today. Frederick Winter died in 1897 aged 62 leaving the
running of the business to his 31 year old son Fred. Fred was a
skilful retailer and businessman who by 1908 had incorporated the
spacious premises at 14 High Street and turned it into a thriving
business. In
March 1917 Fred bought the freehold to Reynolds grocery store at 30
and 31 High Street and for the next seven years the company operated
from both sides of the street selling everything from reels of
cotton, luggage, straw boaters to Aquascutum coats. The lease holds
of 14, 16, 17 and 18 High Street were relinquished in 1924 and the
Fred Winter store operating solely from 30-31 High Street, became a
limited company. By this time Mr Fred Winter had become a local
dignitary serving as Mayor on more than one occasion and was
responsible with 'Marie Corelli' in uncovering and restoring many
of the famous half timbered buildings in Stratford. He died aged 71
in 1941.
The
business then passed to his 43 year old son Frederick Charles [Eric]
Winter who instigated many innovative retailing changes plus the
modernisation and enlargement of the store with the building of Bell
Court in the 1970's including a large modern extension on the back
of the existing Fred Winter Ltd Frontage in High Street.
Frederick
Brian Winter, the great grandson of the founder took over the
business in 1973 and under his skilful guidance achieved unrivalled
success over the next 25 years. By the early 1990's Brian's son
Guy Winter was in the business and the store became renowned for
selling an ever increasing range of merchandise that included
furniture, carpets, furnishing fabrics, dress fabrics haberdashery
ladies fashion, bed linen, gifts, china and glass. By the late 1990's
Bell Court had become run down and a decision was made to build a
brand new store behind an existing building in Henley Street. The
large and stylish building was completed in 1999 and has undoubtedly
become Stratford's premier store. After Brian Winter's retirement a
few years ago the company is now under the overall direction of Guy
Winter.
Steve
Newman
