Programme adverts show how times have changed in Colchester

THE precious programme on this page is 70 years old and from a Colchester Repertory Theatre production.

It is full of advertisements for local companies and shops but, such has been the change over the past seven decades, nearly all have gone.

Such a transformation is not unique to Colchester. It has happened throughout Britain.

It is those advertised businesses that are the focus of my article, rather than that week’s eight performances.

Changing times - the front cover of the programme from 1951

Someone from 1951 looking around central Colchester today would notice most of the landmark buildings from that time are still there – notably the town hall, Jumbo, the fire office, The Red Lion and The George hotels.

However, while the majority of buildings are the same, very few are occupied by the same businesses. At first glance, the High Street is much the same, although lost from the street scene are St Nicholas Church and The Cups Hotel.

• To join our We grew up in Colchester and Tendring Facebook page, head HERE.

The former, with its tall tower, was demolished in 1955 while The Cups, next to the town hall, suffered the same fate in 1968.

The Rep, as it was affectionately known, was in the High Street building where The Co-operative Bank is now.

All change - some of the adverts that appeared in the 1951 programme

In 1972, professional theatre in Colchester moved to the newly-opened Mercury Theatre, which, almost 50 years later, has just completed a £10 million expansion and modernisation.

The 16-page programme – it cost six old pennies (in today’s coinage 2.5 pence) – about which I write is that from February 12 to 17, 1951 and a production of Pygmalion, by Bernard Shaw (his first name of George was not used).

In those days there was a different play every week and for the following week it was the comedy The Noble Spaniard, by W. Somerset Maugham.

There were six evening performances, Sunday excluded, with matinees on Thursday afternoon and at Saturday tea-time.

History - the theatre was housed at the Albert Hall which was once the Corne Exchange and dates back to the 1800s

Thursday was early closing day in Colchester, when all shops shut in the afternoon.

The centre pages of the A5-sized programme, printed by Benham and Company, whose works were in Culver Street, listed the characters and actors in order of appearance, as well as those responsible for the production.

There were three acts, with an interval of seven minutes between each.

A note stated: “Patrons are requested to smoke during the intervals only.”

Backstage - behind the scenes at the theatre in 1967

On page five there was an article by Robert Digby, joint-founder of the Colchester Repertory Company.

The programme carried 46 advertisements, all but four of them Colchester shops or companies.

Of those 42, only five still exist – and only two of them in the same premises as in 1951.

They are Gunton’s tea and coffee specialist at 81 Crouch Street and The George Hotel, in High Street.

Stage - the Rep Theatre in full swing in its hey-day

Three others have moved to new premises – Kent Blaxill from High Street to Layer Road, opticians Bethell & Clark from 11A High Street to round the corner in Head Street and the Colchester Gazette (in those days published only on a Tuesday) and the Friday Essex County Standard from High Street (where Superdrug is now) to the Colchester Business Park, off Severalls Lane.

All other Colchester advertisers no longer exist.

The inside front cover, for example, has adverts for fabric and fashions shop A & EP Baker at 7-9 Head Street, WM Cheshire & Son china and glass merchants at 16 St Botolph’s Street and two from the High Street - Joslins Ltd (“everything for the home, garden and farm”) at a now-demolished shop on the corner of Maidenburgh Street and gentlemen’s outfitters A Owen Ward, which was almost opposite The Rep. The six adverts on the back page were for The Essex County Telegraph (in those days Colchester had three weekly newspapers), Dualcars School of Motoring based in Sir Isaac’s Walk, clothing and fashions from AJ Lucking & Co Ltd with shops in St Botolph’s Street and at Headgate, Radio Center at 33 St John’s Street, Daniell & Sons Breweries Ltd (West Bergholt) and the final one, which made me chuckle, headed “last advert” and the slogan “First try Last’s”, who I recall were bakers with shops at that time in High Street and Crouch Street.

Gone - the theatre vacated the building in 1972 but the building is now the home of the Co-op Bank

“On sale in this theatre” was ice-cream made in Colchester, as stated in an advertisement by Priory Ice Cream, who had a “modern hygienic factory” at 115 North Station Road on the corner of Serpentine Walk and Cowdray Avenue.

Other advertisements included a baby-sitting service for theatre patrons, portable typewriters from Markhams in Priory Street and 63 High Street, with the biggest advert being for Sacks The Furriers at Headgate Corner, Thorogoods restaurant at 21 Head Street, furniture shop Griffins in Head Street and ironmongers HE Williams & Co Ltd at 149-152 High Street, who later merged to become Williams & Griffin department store, now where Fenwick is and S Bond & Son antiques, 14-15 North Hill.

Much has changed in the past 70 years, with a gradual evolution including Colchester’s first out-of-town retail starting around 50 years ago and the building of the Lion Walk shopping precinct.

As the theatre programme from 1951 illustrates, the scene in 2021 is markedly different to what it was then which, in turn, was markedly different to what it was in 1921.

Soiree - drinks after the show

The indications are that the future will see significant changes.

Whether they are positive or negative is the big unknown.

An article in ten years’ time could look back on 2021 and comment on those changes.

n There were also other advertisements in the programme from the following:

Participation - the audience enjoy a sing-a-long in the 1960s

Colchester Co-operative Society footwear department, Long Wyre Street; Robinson’s Chemists, High Street, opposite Red Lion Hotel; FR Cooper & Son, antique jewellery, 30 Culver Street; David Lewis couture, 1A Head Street; Turner & Leveridge, jewellers, 3B Short Wyre Street; Essex and Suffolk Equitable Insurance Society Ltd, Fire Office, High Street; Neal’s Man’s Shop, 5 High Street; Jacklin’s Café and Restaurant, 147 High Street; Peter Hickinbotham, piano teacher, 79 North Station Road; Tweeds Garage and Hire Service, 67 Heath Road, Lexden; FW Richards, ladies’ and gentlemen’s hairdressers, Head Street (opposite GPO); Mary Anne – “we can repair all types of stockings” – 50 Culver Street; Thorogood’s Restaurant, 21 Head Street; Wright Bros Oak Hall for dinners and private parties, Culver Street; Hawkins Brothers, jewellers, 95 Crouch Street and 7 St Botolph’s Street; AB Doncaster, books, 4 George Street and 29B Crouch Street; AEL Morison, opticians, 150B High Street (above Radcliffe, gunsmiths); Webb & Walker, fabrics, 15-17 Head Street; Cullingford and Co Ltd, stationers, High Street (next to the theatre); FH Page and Son, tailors, 37 Long Wyre Street. There was also an advert from Colchester and North Essex Master Printers Association about a “putting it in print” exhibition in Colchester Castle from February 19 to 24, 1951.

Advertisements from those outside Colchester were Sun Hotel, Dedham, Tolley (Suffolk brewers) and The White House café and guest house, Earls Colne.

READ MORE:

• 'It’s such a privilege' - teacher remembers 38 years helping pupils across north Essex
• Cyril's photo archive brings back memories of historic Colchester factory
• Nostalgia: Development and the changing face of this busy town centre road
• Teacher’s trip down memory lane links Colchester schooldays with Australia