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Henry Bratt opens H Bratt & Son in Witton Street, Northwich.
Henry Bratt opens H Bratt & Son in Witton Street, Northwich. -
Henry becomes friends with John Brunner
Henry becomes friends with John Brunner and Ludwig Mond after he becomes a supplier to Brunner Mond. Times are hard, though, for the newly-founded chemical company and Brunner Mond cannot always pay their bills. Henry never presses them to settle their debts and instead often offers them a loan. They reward him with shares in their company. -
H Bratt & Son prospers in a prosperous town where Cheshire’s salt trade provides jobs for all who want them.
H Bratt & Son prospers in a prosperous town where Cheshire’s salt trade provides jobs for all who want them. As the newly-formed chemical company Brunner Mond grows rapidly, the town expands. Soon there are three large drapers in Northwich – H Bratt & Son, Coombs and Prices. -
Financial backing for another business
Henry provides financial backing for another business in Hanley, Staffordshire, in partnership with Oliver Dyke. The firm is still known to this day as Bratt & Dyke. -
Miss Florence Minshall joins the company
Miss Florence Minshall joins the company as an apprentice in the hat department. She later moves into the accounts department where she stays until she retires in 1953. Her loyalty is rewarded in 1942 with a directorship.
Following the death of Henry’s son Miles, Jack Evans, the company’s fabric buyer, becomes a partner. H Bratt & Sons becomes Bratt & Evans. -
Henry retires, leaves Hartford
Henry retires, leaves Hartford and goes to live at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Southport where Miss Minshall often visits him, usually to ask for him to authorise an increase in the bank overdraft. Business starts to stagnate. Henry meets John Arthur Gray during his travels as agent for a silk merchant. John Gray persuades several of his friends and acquaintances to provide financial backing to buy the company. Jack and Louie Evans retire following the sale of the business. John A Gray and Geo -
The 1930s are hard years.
John Arthur slowly increases trade while trying to buy out his ‘sleeping partners’. His son Jack, who has acquired invaluable experience working for Kendal’s in Manchester and Harrod’s in London, is asked to join the business.
Within a few years, he is called up to fight in the Army following the outbreak of the Second World War. His younger brother Donald volunteers for the RAF. -
Miss Turner is appointed as director
Miss Turner is appointed a director in honour of her loyal service and expertise. John L Gray is demobbed and rejoins the business as managing director. His father becomes governing director. Worst flood in Northwich’s history swamps the town centre, damaging equipment and leaving a trail of sodden, muddy merchandise. Donald Gray leaves the RAF. After embarking on a junior executive’s course at Manchester School of Commerce, he joins the company’s financial department. -
Donald is appointed as director
Donald is appointed a director, then company secretary before being made joint managing director. His father, John A Gray, is diagnosed with lung cancer and dies on August 31, 1951.
Decision is made to expand and modernise the business.
Mahogany-topped counters and shelving replace with latest shop fittings. Business sees an immediate increase in sales.
Miss Minshall retires. Decision made to convert single storey arcade into two floors of selling space. Ground floor becomes The Man’s Shop. -
Work starts on the erection of a new building.
Work starts on the erection of a new building.
Building work ends in 1962. New departments open, existing ones are enlarged and foundations are laid for the development of a substantial store.
Donald Gray’s father-in-law, T Bernard Austin, buys an established ironmongery business in Station Road, Northwich, because he wants to take things a little easier. Shop is modernised but it soon becomes apparent that the top of the town is becoming a secondary shopping area. -
Bratts acquires Stretch & Harlock Ltd
On December 1, Bratts acquires Stretch & Harlock Ltd, a very old and established business in Nantwich. 2 & 4 Pepper Street are included in the sale. -
Gray Travel in Northwich is moved out of the main store
Gray Travel in Northwich is moved out of the main store into the new shopping precinct at 3, Market Way – due to its success. -
The Birkenhead office of Gray Travel closes
The Birkenhead office of Gray Travel closes.
Small coffee shop opens at the Nantwich store. -
Miss Minshall dies.
Miss Minshall dies.
Hardware section is added to the Nantwich store. -
Northwich store is completely refitted.
Upper ground-floor at the Northwich store is completely refitted. Carpets and light fittings replaced. -
Tim and Martin Gray, join business as underbuyers
Tim and Martin Gray, sons of Donald and John, join the business as underbuyers in the furnishing and menswear departments. The men’s outfitting department is merged with the tailoring department.
Gift department opens. -
Another branch of Gray Travel opens
Another branch of Gray Travel opens, this time at 2 Pepper Street, Nantwich.
Windsmoor starts selling its fashions.
Tim and Martin are appointed directors, John becomes chairman and Donald is appointed managing director. -
Company buys 10 Witton Street
Company buys 10 Witton Street, Northwich.
Hardware store at Nantwich is extended.
Waitress service at Northwich Coffee Shop is discontinued.
New computer system is installed to carry out the company’s financial and budgetary work.
Company decides to buy the Gray Travel office building in Knutsford with the aid of a Business Development Loan.
Tragedy strikes when John L Gray dies of a massive heart attack, aged 67. His brother Donald becomes chairman and Tim Gray is appointed company secretary -
Perfumery department opens in Nantwich
Cosmetics and perfumery department opens in Nantwich but it is forced to close the following year when the company fails to convince brands to let them stock their products. -
Dividing wall
Dividing wall between the warehouse and hardware department in Northwich is demolished o create more space. Area becomes a China, glass and giftware department. -
Judy Leach becomes manageress
Tim Gray’s fiancée Judy Leach becomes manageress of the coffee shop. The area undergoes a facelift and the menu is revised. Profits start to rise. -
Main shopfront at Northwich is modified.
Main shopfront at Northwich is modified.
Company takes out a loan to buy the main store in Nantwich (31/33 High Street) from the Harlock family, but holds urgent discussions to decide how the extra income can be generated to pay the bank charges.
Donald relinquishes the office of managing director but remains as chairman. Tim and Martin appointed joint managing directors. -
Donald announces his plans to semi-retire.
Donald announces his plans to semi-retire.
Company decides to sell 31/35 High Street to Scottish Mutual Assurance Society for £335,000 amid fears about turning over sufficient business to cover the bank charges. Earlier deals with Wilmot Holdings and Bullivants had both fallen through. -
Decision is taken to close the coffee shop
Decision is taken to close the coffee shop, furnishing department underwear store, Man’s Shop and hardware store in Nantwich and create a shop selling fashion and accessories only. Nine people are made redundant. To increase ground floor space at 2 Pepper Street, Gray Travel moves to 4 Pepper Street.
Lower ground floor at Northwich undergoes a facelift.
A blaze in a neighbouring shop sets fire to the gable end of the store in Northwich. Three floors are affected by water and smoke. -
Nantwich and Northwich stores both get new roofs.
Nantwich and Northwich stores both get new roofs.
Company spends thousands on refit of No 10 Witton Street.
Hardware department is opened.
New equipment installed in coffee shop kitchen.
Northwich’s Gray Travel is completely refurbished.
Hair salon refurbished. -
New shop front installed at Knutsford’s Gray Travel
New shop front installed at Knutsford’s Gray Travel.
Company starts trading six days a week.
Underwear department opens in Nantwich. -
Kate starts work in the personnel department
Donald’s youngest daughter Kate starts work in the personnel department on a part-time basis. -
Tim’s wife Judy takes over as fashion buyer.
Tim’s wife Judy takes over as fashion buyer. -
Nantwich shop closes for a month
Coffee shop closes for a refit.
Nantwich shop closes for a month after it is discovered the foundations need underpinning. The shop is refurbished during the temporary closure.
Northwich ground floor is completely overhauled. -
First floor furnishing department is revamped
First floor furnishing department is revamped to include a new linen department.
The tired old lift is replaced by a new hydraulic one.
Store installs new disabled toilet and baby changing facilities.
Manshop closes and is replaced by a Gray Travel office.
Nantwich closes for six months for a complete renovation. Three floors are revamped and linked by a new lift. The store now boasts two floors of fashions and a shoe and handbag department. The top floor becomes a small coffee shop.
