Blacklers

Blacklers was a large department store on the corner of Elliot Street and Great Charlotte Street in Liverpool, England. It was founded by partners Richard Blackler and A.B. Wallis in the early twentieth century.

The store was famous for its lavish Christmas grotto and its , Blackie, which now resides at the [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/liverpoollife/exhibitions/blackers/ Museum of Liverpool Life] . The store, which at its peak employed a thousand people, also has connections to The Beatles: George Harrison worked as an apprentice electrician at Blacklers in 1959, and Pete Best's mother Mona bought his drum kit from the Blacklers music department.

Despite being destroyed in The Blitz of May 1941 during World War II, the business survived. Temporary outlets were created in Bold Street and Church Street and the first part of the new store opened on 29 March 1953 where it remained until its closure in April 1988. The site now includes a Wetherspoons chain pub, named Richard John Blackler in honour of the store's founder. Blackler died in 1919 and was succeeded as a partner in the business by his wife Margaret. She died in 1957 without children and so ended the store's connection with the family that gave it its name.

After the death of Margaret Blackler, the store in Elliot St became the property of individuals, of which the major shareholder was the sportswoman Vera Kingston. (Margaret's God-Daughter). In 1983 following her death the store was sold on once again, and all links to the original owners disappeared.

References

* [http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/ENG-LIVERPOOL/2000-06/0961147651 ENG-LIVERPOOL-L Archives] . Accessed 31 August 2005.
* [http://www.hariscruffs.com/chronicle1.html Hari Scruffs] (George Harrison timeline). Accessed 31 August 2005.

External links

* [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/liverpoollife/ Museum of Liverpool Life]
* [http://www.liverpooltales.com/stories/blacklers.shtml Emporia Fantastica] — recollections of a customer
* [http://website.lineone.net/%7Edebbiehistory/Postcards/BlacklersStoresF.html Postcard showing Blacklers Stores]
* [http://www.our-gav.com/id213.htm Our Gav] — Liverpool photos, including the Blacklers building, with Beatles links