Berg's, Johnsons, Moores and Styles were all Crowtree Road favourites: Let's re-live the memories

Drapers, theatres, pubs and cafes – they were all found in Crowtree Road in its heyday.
The bustling scene in 1959.The bustling scene in 1959.
The bustling scene in 1959.

Of all the shopping streets in the city, perhaps this one has seen the most radical changes over the decades.

Just about every conceivable type of shop has had premises there at some time.

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Philip Curtis, from the Sunderland Antiquarian Society, is the perfect authority to take us through the changes in his latest look at Wearside history.

Crowtree Road in 1961.Crowtree Road in 1961.
Crowtree Road in 1961.

Crowtree Road once boasted household names such as Johnson’s the Tobacconist, Salmon’s gents outfitters, Berg Brothers and Wearside Furnishing.

You could browse around Tate’s electricals, take a look in Reynold’s Army Stores, and buy that Sunday roast at the three butchers shops which were Stiers, Gray’s and Jeffrey’s.

There was Styles Drapery, Moore’s Stores and Hodgson’s and if you needed a break from all that retail therapy, how about a trip to the theatre or some refreshments?

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The street also boasted the King’s Theatre and Louis cafeteria.

Young's, Bergs and more in Crowtree Road in 1958.Young's, Bergs and more in Crowtree Road in 1958.
Young's, Bergs and more in Crowtree Road in 1958.

In fact, this bustling area was so popular that the trade even extended beyond Crowtree Road itself. At that time, part of the road and most of the adjoining Maritime Place were taken up by almshouses.

Few shops then existed in Maritime Place, and the long established Burnand’s shoe shop was the most prominent.

But change was coming and it brought a very different look for the area.

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"In the late 1950s, the almshouses were demolished and new shop units were built on the site, " said Philip.

The number 20 bus in 1971.The number 20 bus in 1971.
The number 20 bus in 1971.

For the stylish men amongst you, Greenwoods gents outfitters moved into the corner unit.

Other arrivals included Tate’s Electricals, Stylo shoes and Moore’s Store taking up the units in Crowtree Road.

Kennedy’s relocated from High Street West and occupied the large unit close to Blandford Street.

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These made both Crowtree Road and Maritime Place very popular shopping centres and Lloyds Bank moved into premises opposite Kennedy’s.

Remember when the area looked like this?Remember when the area looked like this?
Remember when the area looked like this?

Wearsiders will also recall the Red Radio Shop and Brechner’s which were both in Crowtree Road, with the latter carrying on the old traditions of the arcade with a lot of stock out on the pavement in front of the shop.

Over the past half a century, most of the units in Maritime Place have changed hands but perhaps the most popular outlet there in the 1970s was the boutique.

There was Sgt Peppers, which always seemed to be packed with teenagers looking for the latest in fashions.

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Philip added: "For many years, Kennedy’s continued in the street but today this once great department store of the city no longer exists.

"All the old established shops in Crowtree Road were swept away with the building of a Leisure Centre and Bus Station and most of the road was eventually developed for inclusion in the extension to the Bridges Shopping mall."

Philip gets our thanks yet again for his help on Sunderland history.

Jeffrey's in Crowtree Road.Jeffrey's in Crowtree Road.
Jeffrey's in Crowtree Road.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the history of Sunderland, should visit the Antiquarian Society’s Facebook page or its website which can be found here.

Read More
Read more: The changing face of Crowtree Road over the decades.

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