When Sunderland's front rooms all had pianos, and music shops did a grand trade

By Chris Cordner

Published 24th May 2024, 09:12 BST

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One store’s stock had to ‘be seen to be believed’

Are you one of the ‘front room piano’ generation?

It’s a question we are asking after a superb article which featured in the May edition of the Sunderland Antiquarian Society newsletter.

Philip Curtis has penned the piece about the days when people kept one room in their home which was specially for visitors - complete with piano.

As the 20th Century progressed, the term parlour disappeared and was replaced with the ‘front room’.

It’s the room where visitors were taken and it always had the best furniture as well as a piano.

Singalongs in the front room

On occasions, families would hold singalongs. Others just had the piano there for show because no-one could play it.

Sunderland had a number of shops which sold pianos and four of them were in the town centre.

Ferry and Foster’s in Bridge Street had the largest stock. It had to be seen to be believed.

Ferry and Foster's which had a vast stock of pianos in Bridge Street. Photo: Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

Ferry and Foster's which had a vast stock of pianos in Bridge Street. Photo: Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

On HP at a £1 a week

There were rows of Steinways and Bechsteins. You could get one on HP at £1 per month on a £30 piano.

A look inside the Ferry and Foster's building where there were pianos galore. Photo: Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

A look inside the Ferry and Foster's building where there were pianos galore. Photo: Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

Other dealers included CJ Vincent which was also in Bridge Street and was in the building which also used to be the Post Office.

It had a large pianoforte gallery and stocked everything from organs to banjos. Later in its life, it would become Elizabeth’s restaurant.

An institution in Sunderland, it was a sad day when long-running restaurant Elizabeth's closed its doors in 2017. It's pictured here in March 1999.

An institution in Sunderland, it was a sad day when long-running restaurant Elizabeth's closed its doors in 2017. It's pictured here in March 1999.

Eades and Elwin’s

SS Eades piano showroom was in Fawcett Street and only two doors away from Binns which later bought it as the store’s business expanded.

The Fawcett Street premises of SS Eades which were eventually taken over by Binns. Photo: Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

The Fawcett Street premises of SS Eades which were eventually taken over by Binns. Photo: Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

Gordon Eades music shop was also in Fawcett Street and there was Katy Elwin’s shop in Blandford Street where you could buy sheet music.

Thanks to Philip for another great article.

Historian Philip Curtis from Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

Historian Philip Curtis from Sunderland Antiquarian Society.

Find out more

You can also find out more about the Antiquarian Society by getting along to its Heritage Centre which is open in Douro Terrace on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9.30am to 12pm.

Inside the Heritage Centre of Sunderland Antiquarian Society in 2023.

Inside the Heritage Centre of Sunderland Antiquarian Society in 2023.

You can also visit the Antiquarian Society’s Facebook page or its website which is at http://www.sunderland-antiquarians.org

The society’s newsletter is sent to members and is filled with great articles and news.

To become a member, email [email protected]

Sunderland Music People Furniture Nostalgia

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