Tailors and Outfitters (bespoke and other)

Recently a friend told me that her uncle, aged somewhere in his mid 90s, decided he wanted a new suit and insisted that it was 'made to measure'. My friend scoured the yellow pages to find a bespoke tailor in Coventry, and could only find one, the shop was in Jordan Well. This led me to thinking about all the tailors that used to be in Coventry. My dad's favourite was Alexander's, in the Precinct, he had all of his suits make there, he did try other tailors but was never satisfied - according to dad nobody made them like Alexander's. Before and after we were married my husband used to go to Jackson's, also in the Precinct. On one occasion he decided to splash out and went to Hector Powe in Hertford Street - he was so proud of that suit that we had a photo taken in the Locarno the first time he wore it. Other tailors that come to mind are Hepworth's and Austin Reeds. Austin Reed also made 'made to measure' shirts and I treated my husband (then boyfriend) to one for his birthday. I remember it cost £6, which would have been equivalent to a week's wages - must have been love! Another tailor my husband had a suit from was Gino at Ball Hill. It was brown mohair and had flares!! I'm sure many of you will remember other tailors in Coventry. My friend's uncle did get his 'made to measure' suit and was thrilled to bits with it.

Caplan's opposite the Gaumont was very popular with the Teddy Boys of the 1950s. Burtons was also a decent tailor's in those day's,and there was a very upmarket shop on the corner of Wyley Rd & Radford Rd but I don't recall it's name.

The Fifty Shilling tailor and Freeman Hardy Willis are others that come to mind.

My dad always referred to Burton's as the 50 bob tailor, but this could be wrong. Wasn't Freeman & Hardy Willis a shoe shop?

John Collier was the 50 bob tailor. Just down on the right in the Precinct. You also had Hepworth, Alexandre, Burtons, Jacksons in Broadgate, and another shop almost opposite Owen Owen's entrance. Devlins was in Far Gosford St and in the market, a great shop for teddy boy gear.

Seem to remember Maynes being a tailor. Somewhere in the Gosford street, Jordon Well, Earl street area.

I had my three-piece wedding suit made at Alexander's. I do recall they got the measurements of the waistcoat wrong for some reason and I only picked up the finished suit the night before I travelled up to Derbyshire to get married.

Tricia I think you are right about Freeman Hardy Willis being a shoe shop. I know there was a gents tailors with a double barrelled name, on the right going down the Precinct from Broadgate, just can't remember the name.

I did some research on Freeman, Hardy and Willis a few years ago for our heritage centre in Bedworth. Freeman, Hardy and Willis was a major chain of footwear retailers for many years originally established in 1875 and was named after three employees of the company. The Bedworth shop had been originally owned by Collins's Shoe Shop. After the shop changed hands it was managed by George Pickard for many years.) For many years, there was a branch in almost every town in the UK. The company was eventually acquired by Charles Clore for his British Shoe Corporation empire based in Leicester which also comprised Trueform, Olympus Sport, Curtess, Dolcis, Manfield, Saxone and Lilley & Skinner. In the early 1990s British Shoe converted around half of the 540 Freeman Hardy Willis branches to Hush Puppies shops, and sold the remainder to Stephen Hinchliffe, an entrepreneur from Sheffield. After only a year, Hinchliffe's business empire collapsed. He was subsequently jailed after it was found that he bribed bank officials to obtain loans to buy the company.

In 1955 it was 'Weaver to Wearer', just behind Eastern's.

I'm trying to remember the name of the tailor on the corner of Wyley Rd and Radford Road but all I can think of is that it is an Italian name. Also, I have a vague memory that he moved out because his living accommodation above the shop was said to be haunted.I think it was reported in the CET at the time. However, no one else has reported hauntings since then and I think that all of the premises are occupied.

I have good memories of Walter Kay's tailor's in Earlsdon Street

That's the one Dutchy, thanks

Hi Elaine, you are correct it was an Italian tailors. Before that it was two shops, the front one being a sweet shop owned by an elderly lady called Mrs Cross - no pun intended - and next door in Wyley Rd was a greengrocery shop owned by Joy Foster (maiden name) and her husband. First time I have heard of it being haunted.

Tailors' Shops - Anyone remember Harry Caplan's, opposite Cross Rd. Edgwick, 1952? Specialised in the Teds type suiting. I remember taking sketches of how I wanted my suit cut, different pockets etc. What a load of posers we we were then. As I remember a tailor-made suit cost approx £20. But with a choice of materials!!! My wage was £10 a week. How about Weavers to Wearers in Broadgate temporary shops. I worked there for a while as a Saturday salesman. Bespoke and 'Off the Peg'. I got thirty bob for the Saturday, plus extra if you sold certain clothes. When they closed down, I worked at Alexandre's gents clothing on the opposite side of Broadgate,but once again just Saturdays, at the end of the football season. The money I earned was put invariably towards a new suit. Is it my imagination, but did all the yoofs in them days look smart? I know everything changes. It doesn't matter what anybody looks like. It's what they are that counts. Yeah! but it was nice to look sharp wasn't it?? I think I better have a pint and a lie down now. A MERRY CHRISTMAZS TO THE REST OF US ALL GRUMPY OLD GITS. At least we've survived!!