*
*Migration Histories > Jewish > Jewish Migration Histories - Working Lives
* Inter War Period 
 
In 1918, the growing Burton family moved to Harrogate, where Montague and Sophia became founder members of the orthodox Jewish community.

*
The family home, 'Foxwood'
*
*
The family home, 'Foxwood', at 64 Kent Road, Harrogate, to which they moved in 1920.
* Moving Here catalogue reference (WYAS) WYL1951/280/2
By 1919 there were 40 shops, rising to 60 a year later, and 333 by 1929. The business was taking a growing share of a reduced market in clothing. It was around this time that the firm began to develop a recognisable identity on the high street.

*
The shop at 127 Church Street
*
*
The shop at 127 Church Street, St Helens, c1920. The fascia was green glass with white lettering picked out in gold.
* Moving Here catalogue reference (WYAS) WYL1951/280/31
The booming expansion was financed by a bank overdraft. When this was exceeded in the winter of 1919, the bank withdrew its facilities after nearly 20 years. Burton's response to his manager was characteristically generous:

Enclosed please find letter announcing transfer of account. I feel the severance very keenly, for nearly 20 years I have been in daily touch with the institutions you control; twenty years is a large slice out of a man's commercial life, directors have come and gone the institution has been swallowed time after time but the letters over the vigrous [sic] signature were full of the same clearness of expression and wealth of detail all the time.
I desire to place it on record that you have been instrumental in many ways in helping me during my stormy business career, an incident I shall always remember is when the 'North British' declined my insurance and you left no stone unturned until my modest establishment was under the safe cover of the 'Ocean'.
It was my aim to rest financially [at that bank branch] till the end of my commercial existence but unfortunately my indiscretion in overstepping the overdraft limit during last winter has completely shaken your Directors confidence in me beyond redemtion [sic] and eventually suggested I should 'make other arrangements' which I did with great reluctance.
Until the last interview I did not realise the trouble and anxiety I caused you last winter when I exceeded the limit arranged.
When you are in Harrogate next I hope you will give me the opportunity of thanking you personally for all you have done for me.
< Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Next >


Creators: Brett Harrison

 
*