Most model shops in one town/city

[ianmacc]

A different thread made me realise that for a period in as recently as the 1990s Blackpool had 5 model railway shops. Beatties, palatine, tower models and two on Dickson Road. 
 

Can anywhere beat that? Excepting London obviously until a decade or two ago. And also excepting up to the 1960s/70s when train sets were mainstream toys in newsagents etc. 
 

Sheffield had possibly 4 at once and is still served well with Marcway, Rails and Olivias.  
 

I thought this would be less depressing than those where entire areas are model shop ghost towns! 

Edited December 12, 2020 by ianmacc
Added comment

[Brit70053]

Hoping I've read the intent of the OP correctly, and apologies in advance if the following is out of intended scope.

At one time circa 1970s to at least 1980s, Newcastle Upon Tyne Boasted 'The Model Shop' on Blenheim Street (Later relocated at Marlborough Crescent until closure), Northumbria Models at Waterloo Street, Two Beatties stores, one on Northumberland Street, the other in Eldon Square, plus another shop, the name of which I can't recall on Dean Street. In addition Fenwicks Department Store had a Hornby concession at the time and, again in later years there was a Modelzone stocking a fairly extensive selection of model railway and associated items.

Only a depleted section in Fenwicks remains and the last time (over a year ago now) I was able to visit Newcastle the majority of their Model Railway stock was Bachmann.,

 

Regards

 

              John

 

Edited December 12, 2020 by Brit70053
addition of sentence

[pete_mcfarlane]

When I lived in Grantham in the late 90s there were 5. 

 

Two model railway shops (one on Blue Court, the other on Watergate, Two general model shops (one in Wide Westgate, and Access Models in the Market Place) and a big model section in Arbon and Watts toyshop. The one on Watergate is the only one of these left now (although that closed and eventually reopened) although there's also a place selling second hand stuff that I've yet to visit. 

 

And that's just one mid-sized East Midlands town.  There were also several others that came and went during the time I went there - I remember a huge toy shop in what used to be 'The little Dustpan' hardware shop that always seemed to be freezing and heated with ancient electric heaters. The original hardware shop's sign is still there, nearly 40 years after it closed.....

 

 

[johndon]

1 hour ago, Brit70053 said:

Hoping I've read the intent of the OP correctly, and apologies in advance if the following is out of intended scope.

At one time circa 1970s to at least 1980s, Newcastle Upon Tyne Boasted 'The Model Shop' on Blenheim Street (Later relocated at Marlborough Crescent until closure), Northumbria Models at Waterloo Street, Two Beatties stores, one on Northumberland Street, the other in Eldon Square, plus another shop, the name of which I can't recall on Dean Street.

 

 

I remember them all, the guy who ran Northumbria Models is still (at least until the virus hit) a regular at model railway shows in the North East.  There is a small model shop open now in the Green Market so Newcastle does still have one 'proper' model shop.  Fenwick still has a selection of Hornby, Bachmann, Scalextric and a few plastic kits.

 

John

  

Edited December 12, 2020 by johndon

[Mike Bellamy]

1 hour ago, pete_mcfarlane said:

When I lived in Grantham in the late 90s there were 5. 

 

Two model railway shops (one on Blue Court, the other on Watergate, Two general model shops (one in Wide Westgate, and Access Models in the Market Place) and a big model section in Arbon and Watts toyshop. The one on Watergate is the only one of these left now (although that closed and eventually reopened) although there's also a place selling second hand stuff that I've yet to visit. 

 

And that's just one mid-sized East Midlands town.  There were also several others that came and went during the time I went there - I remember a huge toy shop in what used to be 'The little Dustpan' hardware shop that always seemed to be freezing and heated with ancient electric heaters. The original hardware shop's sign is still there, nearly 40 years after it closed.....

 

 

Thanks for the walk down Memory Lane - I was brought up in Grantham but left in 1978 when I married and work took me to Leicester. We regularly visited family on Harrowby Road but that was usually on a Sunday when the shops were closed - but in any case I went through a long period when I wasn't interested in model railways. However I do remember Arbons (before Watts) and the Little Dustpan over the road.

.

[Fishoutofwater]

3 hours ago, ianmacc said:

Sheffield had possibly 4 at once and is still served well with Marcway, Rails and Olivias.

There is also Pufferwillies-Sheffield Transport Models

[Steamport Southport]

I remember Liverpool in the 1970s/'80s and there was loads. I would imagine other large towns and cities were the same. Just of the top of my head. Hattons, City Models, Hobbies, Catchpoles, Sota (in Bowring Park), Beatties, Zodiac Toys, at least a couple in Birkenhead that I can't remember the names of, also some that were only plastic kits or remote control plane retailers.

 

Funniest one was a sports goods shop in Huyton which is in the suburbs. Went in looking for trainers for school, came out with a Hornby LBSC E2! They had a selection of trains next to a load of Subbuteo sets.

 

That's excluding all the obvious department stores, Lewis's, Blacklers, WH Smiths, Woolies, etc.

 

Nearly every newsagent or Post office sold Humbrol paints and a selection of cheap kits.

 

Now? Zero, Zip, Zilch, Nada....

 

But there are quite a few out in the wilds. I have a feeling it's the City Centre rents/rates that are the problem. 

 

So whilst it is a bit gloomy, there are some out there. Just not in the cities. You've got to look in the small towns. Thankfully that's what t'internet is for.

 

 

Jason

[Bedlington North]

14 hours ago, johndon said:

 

I remember them all, the guy who ran Northumbria Models is still (at least until the virus hit) a regular at model railway shows in the North East.  There is a small model shop open now in the Green Market so Newcastle does still have one 'proper' model shop.  Fenwick still has a selection of Hornby, Bachmann, Scalextric and a few plastic kits.

 

John

  

I thought the Green Market was gone now after the redevelopment of Eldon Square? Are you meaning the Grainger Market? 

[Arun Sharma]

In the Borough of Leyton/Walthamstow there were several mainly along Hoe Street and Leyton High Road viz., Bridge Models at Hoe Street Station, Pirate Models along Hoe Street, Ditchfields toy shop in Leyton High Road, Janes post office which also sold train sets [also in Leyton High Road. Woolworths at the Baker's Arms sold train sets [and Airfix kits++].

Whilst specialist shops like Bridge and Pirate existed, almost every newsagent and small department store [remember them?] sold railway models.

[melmerby]

45 minutes ago, Bedlington North said:

I thought the Green Market was gone now after the redevelopment of Eldon Square? Are you meaning the Grainger Market? 

Didn't there used to be a small "market" area in the revamped Eldon Square called Green Market with an entrance off Nelson St at Grainger St. end?

You could go through it to High Friars IIRC.

[Ian Kirk]

In 1983 I bought a Capricorn Trade Directory for Model Shops and used it to go round trying to sell kits to shop owners.  In the 80s most model railway outlets had a small display of the bright yellow packaging of my 00 Coach range. I never throw much away and I found the Guide recently. It is staggering how few of the class of 83 seem to be still extant.   AS an example from the Guide: Lancashire  had 33, London 34, West Midlands 34.  That is just the ones the Guide found.  I knew of one or two that they had missed.

Lots of them gone now. "Sic in transit gloria mundi "

 

best wishes,

 

Ian

[Bedlington North]

1 hour ago, melmerby said:

Didn't there used to be a small "market" area in the revamped Eldon Square called Green Market with an entrance off Nelson St at Grainger St. end?

You could go through it to High Friars IIRC.

I think you might be thinking of the Green Market in the incarnation of the Eldon Square shopping centre that was built in the late 1970s. That part has now been demolished and redeveloped and there is no market only shops. Hence why I was asking John if he perhaps means the Grainger Market.

 

[ianmacc]

On 12/12/2020 at 21:19, Brit70053 said:

Hoping I've read the intent of the OP correctly, and apologies in advance if the following is out of intended scope.

At one time circa 1970s to at least 1980s, Newcastle Upon Tyne Boasted 'The Model Shop' on Blenheim Street (Later relocated at Marlborough Crescent until closure), Northumbria Models at Waterloo Street, Two Beatties stores, one on Northumberland Street, the other in Eldon Square, plus another shop, the name of which I can't recall on Dean Street. In addition Fenwicks Department Store had a Hornby concession at the time and, again in later years there was a Modelzone stocking a fairly extensive selection of model railway and associated items.

Only a depleted section in Fenwicks remains and the last time (over a year ago now) I was able to visit Newcastle the majority of their Model Railway stock was Bachmann.,

 

Regards

 

              John

 

Yep that’s the intent read well. Hard to imagine that luxury now!

Edited August 23, 2022 by ianmacc

[ianmacc]

1 hour ago, Ian Kirk said:

In 1983 I bought a Capricorn Trade Directory for Model Shops and used it to go round trying to sell kits to shop owners.  In the 80s most model railway outlets had a small display of the bright yellow packaging of my 00 Coach range. I never throw much away and I found the Guide recently. It is staggering how few of the class of 83 seem to be still extant.   AS an example from the Guide: Lancashire  had 33, London 34, West Midlands 34.  That is just the ones the Guide found.  I knew of one or two that they had missed.

Lots of them gone now. "Sic in transit gloria mundi "

 

best wishes,

 

Ian

Indeed. Probably more for the gone but not forgotten thread. 

[melmerby]

1 hour ago, Bedlington North said:

I think you might be thinking of the Green Market in the incarnation of the Eldon Square shopping centre that was built in the late 1970s. That part has now been demolished and redeveloped and there is no market only shops. Hence why I was asking John if he perhaps means the Grainger Market.

 

No

That's the 1976 Green Market off Clayton Street, closed in 2007.

There used to be a good Greggs in there, when they used to be a proper baker.

When it closed for redevelopment a new (smaller) Green Market was built with entrances in High Friars and Nelson Street, the entrance in Nelson Street is still there but unused, since it closed some years back.

https://goo.gl/maps/KAA3MNF8qM2P6aff9

 

EDIT

Found this:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/historic-greenmarket-set-close-good-1418623

 

 

Edited December 13, 2020 by melmerby

[Bedlington North]

16 minutes ago, melmerby said:

No

That's the 1976 Green Market off Clayton Street, closed in 2007.

There used to be a good Greggs in there, when they used to be a proper baker.

When it closed for redevelopment a new (smaller) Green Market was built with entrances in High Friars and Nelson Street, the entrance in Nelson Street is still there but unused, since it closed some years back.

https://goo.gl/maps/KAA3MNF8qM2P6aff9

 

EDIT

Found this:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/historic-greenmarket-set-close-good-1418623

 

 

As I said...

[melmerby]

7 minutes ago, Bedlington North said:

As I said...

?

[ianmacc]

Glad this thread is a useful avenue to discuss Newcastle history 

Edited December 13, 2020 by ianmacc
Removed emoji

[andyman7]

Sittingbourne had 3 until the mid 90s (Signalman, Beaneys and the Toymaster) which was quite extraordinary for a single shopping street less than a mile long.

[melmerby]

2 hours ago, Ian Kirk said:

In 1983 I bought a Capricorn Trade Directory for Model Shops and used it to go round trying to sell kits to shop owners.  In the 80s most model railway outlets had a small display of the bright yellow packaging of my 00 Coach range. I never throw much away and I found the Guide recently. It is staggering how few of the class of 83 seem to be still extant.   AS an example from the Guide: Lancashire  had 33, London 34, West Midlands 34.  That is just the ones the Guide found.  I knew of one or two that they had missed.

Lots of them gone now. "Sic in transit gloria mundi "

 

best wishes,

 

Ian

Back in the 1960s, Birmingham alone had dozens, with virtually every shopping parade having at least one.

e.g. I used to shop in one in Ladypool Road which sold Hornby Dublo and Meccano (I bought some loose Meccano there) as well as other stuff.

There were several in the City Centre, including later a large Beatties. A couple in arcades/passages.

Horntons on the corner of Stephenson Street & Navigation Street before New St. Station was rebuilt. They used to have a train in the window controlled by putting your hand over a light sensor.

One by one from the 60s onwards they closed.

[D9020 Nimbus]

3 hours ago, Bedlington North said:

I thought the Green Market was gone now after the redevelopment of Eldon Square? Are you meaning the Grainger Market? 

I think he means Eldon Garden. There is a small model shop there but plastic kits only. There is (was?) a shop in the Grainger Market selling "collectibles". I'm not aware of any others. Nearest shop selling railways Is Pooley's Puffers, on the Team 
Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead.

 

As well as the shops mentioned, round about 1970 there were:

The Grainger Model Shop in the Grainger Market. Part of a local chain with other branches in Whitley Bay and South Shields. The Grainger Market site was latterly the "cheap tab shop".

 

Boydell's of New Bridge Street. Also part of a local chain, with other branches in the Newcastle suburb of Gosforth, Sunderland and Durham. Moved to Eldon Square, then took a second shop in the centre. Sold out to Beatties, hence the second Beatties in Newcastle. The New Bridge Street site lies underneath the southern extension to John Dobson Street.

 

Boydell's of Percy Street. Independent of the other Boydell's shops — a different branch of the same family. Scheduled for demolition as part of the construction of Eldon Square, so the business moved to Gallowgate and closed not long afterwards.

 

Alfreds and Warner of Blackett Street. This shop closed when the side of the street it was on was demolished as part of the creation of Eldon Square.

[ianmacc]

20 hours ago, Fishoutofwater said:

There is also Pufferwillies-Sheffield Transport Models

That’s online only isn’t it? I think

the shop itself closed a few years ago. 

[acg5324]

Brighton has had a fair few over the years..all gone.

Southern Models - London Rd

Wicks Toys- Open Market

Filbys - Lewes Rd

two branches of Gamleys - Imperial Arcade and Church Rd Hove

Model Aerodrome - West st

Kemp Models- Kemp St and moved to various locations in the town

John Taylor Models - Preston St then Spring St

there was also model shop on the top floor of Churchill Sq, can’t remember the name. Models & Hobbies?

Beatties - Dyke Rd

[St Enodoc]

1 hour ago, acg5324 said:

Brighton has had a fair few over the years..all gone.

Southern Models - London Rd

Wicks Toys- Open Market

Filbys - Lewes Rd

two branches of Gamleys - Imperial Arcade and Church Rd Hove

Model Aerodrome - West st

Kemp Models- Kemp St and moved to various locations in the town

John Taylor Models - Preston St then Spring St

there was also model shop on the top floor of Churchill Sq, can’t remember the name. Models & Hobbies?

Beatties - Dyke Rd

Valelink on Queen's Road.

[Legend]

Glasgow had at least 4 in the city in the late 70s and a further 2 in the suburbs

 

Argyle Models . Under Central Station . Glorious place , Construction kits on main floor then stairs down to the excitement of Model Railway dept .  My first encounter with Trix and Wrenn  as well as all Hornby stuff . Think they sold kits too . Vaguely remember seeing Gem, Wills and Ks boxes .

 

Railmail  in St Vincent street , latterly moved to Parnie Street and became D&F models , much missed . I think retired 2012 ish.  The last man standing, or actually lady as for many a year there were two really nice ladies running it. Always cheery . 

 

Scale Model Scotland , just round the corner from Railmail at one stage in Wellington St .  Had full range of railways but also produced transfers/ decals . Moved to Anderson Centre then disappeared

 

Shop in Cambridge street . Very small shop , you really couldn't browse as it really was just a counter with a man behind it . Sold all sorts of construction kits and railways  and I think was maybe more into engineering than the others .  Closed in 76 as I got a Hymek in the closing sale but then reopened in same premises . Was certainly there in 84.

 

MacMillan models had 2 shops in outskirts . The only one I was in was in Clarkston , but I think they had a bigger one in Cathcart . Usually came across them at their stand at Model Rail Scotland in Maclellan Galleries when the source of excitement was seeing if they had the new Hornby Catalogue .

 

All gone 

 

I suppose best served in Scotland now is Edinburgh with Harburn and Wonderland . I used to visit before Pandemic, hopefully will be able to do again in 2021.

 

Edited December 15, 2020 by Legend
shop in Cambridge St wasn't NF Millar