Remembering Wright's Corner in Wrexham, a shop full of memories

And is was a recent post on the Leader's 'Local Bygones' Facebook page that prompted readers to reminiscence about one shop in particular.

Back in a time when Wrexham was largely a collection of family-owned shops one still stands out for people Wright’s Corner, which developed from a small establishment on the corner of Queen’s Street and Henblas Street.

Wright's Corner was a ladies, gentlemen’s and children’s outfitters.

What shops do you miss from across Wrexham and Flintshire? Let us know here.

Above: Courtesy of Dawn Moysen

One man remembers it well. Here, John Jones looks back on his time there 1965-67, home to his first job after leaving school at 15:

"August 1965, what was significant about this particular date? England football team were preparing for a World Cup Tournament, in the UK the following summer of 1966.

"The Beatles were top of the charts closely followed by Sonny and Cher. Top films were Dr Zhivago, The Sound of Music and Sir Winston Churchill died. In addition, a very shy 15-year-old fresh from leaving school started work for the very first time.

"Imagine my shock on starting that day when I discovered I would working alongside staff that consisted mainly of women. My wages to start were £4.30 a week; I thought I was rich, never before had I ever had so much cash, I began to think I was becoming a gentleman of means.

"Several times a week I joined my colleagues for lunch at Deeways Café in King Street, where you could have a roast dinner and pudding for 4/6d (23p) I was horrified when the price went up to 5s (25p). Although Wright's Corner ceased trading a long time ago, I will forever be grateful for the happy memories and experiences that I have from my time with them.

"The shop was situated along Queen Street and into Henblas Street (where B.H.S. and before that the Halifax Bank occupied the site). It had four floors. The ground floor, on the Queen Street side was the men’s department, which consisted of a team of four, including me. On the Henblas Street entrance was the ladies department. Here the ladies would find lingerie, hosiery, handbags, gloves and scarves. It also provided uniforms for all the Wrexham schools.

"The first floor provided ladies coats, hats and dresses ranging from formal to casual wear. It also had a bridal department. In all, an establishment which catered for requirements of all needs.

"My duties were very important, I had my own brush with which to sweep the pavements all around the premises. When the sun shone on the windows I had to rush for the wooden pole that drew out the blinds, a very hazardous and challenging exercise, especially when there was only one of you doing the task. When it rained, I had to cover the carpets with a huge plastic covering, when it stopped raining I had to recover the covering and store it away, I dreaded the April shower season.

"The founder of the business, Mr J.T. Wright, although in to his 80s, still visited the shop most days and took an active interest in the shop, his customers and staff. One of his ‘things’ was to get me to open all the parcels which arrived in brown paper and to then remove the creases and fold them to place in ‘the brown paper’ drawer.

Above: Staff sunbathing on the roof at Wrights Corner, Wrexham, courtesy of John Jones

"The same procedure was applied to string, never cut the string always untie it, even though I often wondered if the person who tied it was an expert in medieval knot torture and there was the tissue paper, reams and reams of the stuff which had to be straightened out, folded and yes, placed in its own drawer.

"Mrs Wright was also very prominent in the business, always keen to offer advice to her customers. Mr & Mrs Wright's son Dennis was the company secretary and between them ran a well-respected store, which was widely respected for service and good quality

"While I was learning the trade, some of my duties were to visit the National Milk Bar carrying the coffee jug for the coffee break in the men’s department.

"Mr Cyril Davies (manager) Mr Ron Blake and Miss ‘Jane’ James seemed to thrive on the many jugs I transported. The National Milk Bar was by where the old Marks & Spencer shop was in Hope Street, their Egg and Cress sandwiches were legendary.

"Every Friday Miss James sent me across the road to Cartwrights (tobacconists) for her packet of 10 Nelson cigarettes. Mr Cartwright was quite an imposing figure with his wonderful handlebar moustache. The shops around Wrights where, next-door Roberts’ the Butchers, the entrance to the market hall, MANWEB and Ecclestons the Bakers. Across the road was Sally Jones, a ladies millinery shop and a chapel.

"When it was time for me to be un-leashed on the paying public my first customer was a lady who wanted to buy her husband a new shirt, tie and linen handkerchief. I had arrived as an ace salesman.

"Gaining more confidence I asked her if her husband was going somewhere special, in view of the fact she was buying him such gifts. Her reply was 'No, he’s going to a funeral'. Completely stunned I babbled 'I hope it’s nobody close' customer, “Yes, it’s my husband, he doesn’t like to go anywhere new without looking smart and having a clean hankie in his pocket'. I made sure that never again would I drop such a clanger.

"Wrexham is traditionally a market town and during my time there in the mid-60s it was a thriving place for the farmers to do their business. Monday was market day when farmers from far and wide to buy and sell their stock.

"On the same day the open market arrived with all their stalls, you could buy anything you needed in this Aladdin’s cave environment. I was amazed at the antics of the stall-holders they all seemed to be the original ‘Del Boy Trotters’ This was held on the site of the car park in St Georges Crescent, between Debenhams and Tesco.

Above: Courtesy of Dawn Moysen

"Wednesday was local half-day closing for shops and businesses in the town, an ideal time for me to take my first driving lessons. My instructors were the King Street school of Motoring. One hour of tuition cost me 55p.

"I look back with affection at that time; grateful for the help and friendship I was given. I will never forget the staff and the happy time I experienced which gave me the experience and confidence for my future life."

Others shared their memories of Wrights Corner in the 'Local Bygones' Facebook group too.

Caroline Bettley: "Used to buy some of my school uniform from there along with Lloyd Williams's for Grove Park Girls Grammar School."

Shirley Davies: "My mother bought me a lovely coat from Wright’s Corner in 1950 for my cousin's wedding. Later that day I went to the fair on Cefn Bank. On the bumping cars I went, when one of the attendants put his oily shoe on my coat, it was ruined, silly me."

Kerry Griffiths: "I had my school uniform from Wright's Corner for Ruabon Grammar School for Boys."

Jan Norton: "My nain always bought the red white and blue check Grove Park summer dress material from there. And a dress pattern which I was allowed to choose!"

Maria Morris: "I had my wedding dress from Wright's Corner and Grove Park School uniform from Lloyd William's, those were the days."

Cynthia Roberts: "Uniforms for Grove Park Girls' School - remember going there for those - and the material for my mum to make the summer dresses."

What do you remember of Wright's Corner? What shops do you miss from across Wrexham and Flintshire. Share your memories with us here or email claire.pierce@newsquest.co.uk