Mortimer Station

Going through some papers in my Dad's office a few weeks ago, I came across a large format negative sandwiched between the pages of a book. I couldn't make out much detail in the negative and it was only later when I scanned it that I was able to see it was a photograph of the railway station in nearby Mortimer. It's not an original photographic negative (the materials used in the 19th Century were very different to the conventional photographic films of today), rather it looks like a copy of an original print.

Mortimer Station was built in 1848, part of the Great Western Railway network, the station buildings were designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The vintage photograph shows the roof of the far platform waiting room (on the right of the image) still being completed so I guess that this image might be from 1848/1849. Photography only became viable in 1839 so it's really a very early photographic image. It could be from a bit later - perhaps someone who is more knowledgeable about 19th C fashions might be able to date it more accurately from the clothes.

It would be cool to find out who some of the people in the photograph were, but it's probably an impossible task. I would imagine the railway workers on the tracks were posed by the photographer for the shot (along with the station staff at the back) and the other people were either locals, or waiting for the next train into Reading. If you know anything about railways, or can shed any light on the image do let me know in the comments.

Edited to add: check out the comments below for some insightful information into the date of the photograph!

Jackson's in Reading. The last day.

If you venture into Reading for shopping or leisure you might have heard about the demise of Jacksons department store just off Reading town centre.

It has been on it’s present site since 1875 and is truly one of Readings last great retail establishments. If you’ve dropped by, or even looked in at the window displays whilst passing, you’ll know that it hasn’t changed since around 1972. The last time I was in there, receipts were still hand written, paperwork sent to the accounts office by a ’60’s pneumatic tube system and the establishment staffed by a  curious mix of anachronistic, fastidious and very polite assistants.

The store closed on Christmas Eve and today was the day when all the fixtures, fittings and assorted items were auctioned off. Unfortunately I was in town without my camera and had to resort to my trusty iPhone to record the last day that the public were allowed in to the store. There were hundreds of lots to be processed and leaving the main action behind me, I took a walk through the many empty departments, along myriad corridors and passageways (to more than a few dead ends) and up into the surprisingly spacious and numerous stock rooms and staff rooms on the top floors of the building. I got lost more than once, the building had a bit of the Tardis effect about it, I don't think I managed to see half of it.

Given that Jacksons had occupied the same site for for 138 years, it’s not surprising that these deserted rooms were redolent with atmosphere of a times long gone and past. If you were being critical, you could say that the store had long outlived it’s welcome, and that high street retailing had left establishments like this long behind. It was certainly a unique place, I can’t remember ever visiting anything like it in my travels. There is a great Facebook fan page on the site with photographs of the window displays, signs and objects that filled the shop.

Check out this fun and informative video! 

Here’s a few iPhone images to record the passing of this iconic Reading store. Do you have any memories of shopping there? Do you think that the shop inspired Grace Brothers? :)  Do let me know in the comments.

There was a surprisingly large turnout for the auction today at Jacksons in Reading.

This ledger dates back to 1920 - hundreds of handwritten entries in beautiful copperplate writing.

If there's one thing that I'll remember about the store, it's the hundreds of notices. Everywhere.

Staff graffiti on the back of one of the miles of shelving. Sophs and Rach are probably well into their forties by now.

1972 called. They want their hosiery department back.

Happy Legs

Cruella. A locally famous mannequin (sorry....demon child) that occasionally
appeared in the shop window display.
Reached a whopping £700 (!) in today's auction.

The Craft Department.

Dozens of shop dummies in the basement. Terrifying :)

A bottle of ink and a bottle of err....writing fluid(?)

I had to wonder when these irons were last used.

Ladies - measure yourself! This sign must be from the forties, judging by the sketches.

A forgotten room, right at the top of the building.

Bye bye.