Snowball & Son was a department store located in Gateshead.

History

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In 1850, William Snowball opened his department store at 15-25 High Street, Gateshead. The store sold a variety of household goods and furnishings.[1] William's older brother James Snowball was a successful businessman running the Snowball Fire Brick company and owning several Collierys.[2]

In 1882 William retired from the business to be replaced by his son, George Laverick Snowball and his son-inlaw William Fenwick McAllum.[3]

By 1889 the business employed over 200 people and was known as the Harrods of the North by locals.[4] However, during the Second World War the business struggled like many small department stores in the United Kingdom and closed its doors.[5]

The building was used from 1946 to 1949 by Shephards department store while the building was being rebuilt after a devastating fire.

References

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  1. ^ "Gateshead Local History". Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Lime Kiln Chronicles Fall/Winter 2013/14" (PDF). Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Clan McFarlane & Associated Clans Genealogy". Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Clan McFarlane & Associated Clans Genealogy". Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  5. ^ Gateshead Through time by Nick Neave