Harry Sorkin & Son North Street Leeds

[simon2710]

Hi all,

Haven't posted on here in such a long time but was hoping I could get some more info from some Leeds folk!
My grandmother's grandfather (my great great grandfather) was Harry Sorkin. Apparently he had a very large shop on North Street (long since gone now with the regeneration of the area) called Harry Sorkin & Sons Press Shop. This would been very close to the Eagle pub. Does anyone have any memories or history of this shop as I'm told he was (and his shop!) was very well known.

Thank you

[rikj]

Roughly when would he have had the shop there? And was it a press shop as in tailoring?

Sorkin is a fairly uncommon name, the only reference on Leodis shows a Sorkin Stores grocers on Compton Road in 1948, possibly a descendant?

Leodis has plenty of photos of North Street, so might show the shop under different ownership.

[liits]

Kelly's 1947.jpg (126.9 KiB) Viewed 3343 times

Kellys Trade.jpg (73.7 KiB) Viewed 3307 times

These from the 1947 Trade Directory . I'm not so sure it would have been a large shop as it seems to have shared an address with another business and there are sixteen businesses in a terrace of nine properties, although some of them are obviously using the upper floors of the buildings.

Sorkin & Son.jpg (164.77 KiB) Viewed 3343 times

The maps shows the premises in red and the Eagle Tavern in green.

[j.c.d.]

I remember Sorkiins very well the premises were on the corner, the opposite corner to the Eagle Pub. i worked on North Street from 1954 to about 59 and at that time as we all ways wore a suit to go out in I used to have a suit sponged and pressed every Friday.in the morning I would take my "Whistle" down there to Sorkins pressers. Mr. Sorkin was a man of few words, I would say "Sponge and press please" he would say Ok. and when I went to collect on the afternoon he would be standing at the open door and as I arrived his arm would go up and produce my suit from behind the door, at the same time his other arm would reach out and I would deposit 2/6 (twelve and a half pence) in his outstretched hand and the transaction was complete. this procedure was a weekly event and never did I get over the doorstep. Mr. Sorkin was a biggish man as I recall , I remember his pressers were always busy, I was aware of the heat from the shop and did not blame him from standing at the door for most of the day. North St. in those days was an hive of activity where cash was king and every other shop seemed to sell one thing yet dabble in another. i.e. a shop selling radio spare parts had a room in the back selling sit lengths of cloth, the antique shop had an illegal bookmakers in the back. working down there was not only educational but also very satisfying as anything one required it was there or could be got. Happy days.
Ps. Don't remember if Mr. Sorkin was Harry, I guess then he would be in his 40s back then. Regards.

[buffaloskinner]

1962 Phone Book entry for Harry Sorkin, 173 North Street.

[buffaloskinner]

Could this have been the probate for your GG Grandfather?

Was he born in Russia in 1893? if so the 1911 Census showed he was a Furrier in Bethnal Green??

[liits]

Could this have been the probate for your GG Grandfather?

Was he born in Russia in 1893? if so the 1911 Census showed he was a Furrier in Bethnal Green??

Subject: Harry Sorkin & Son North Street Leeds

Coincidentally, his father, Joseph, a Furrier [Squirrel] - age 42, shown on the 1911 census as you describe, but there is also a Joseph age 39, Fur Dealer, also born in Russia, lodging with a family, the Pollacks, in Concord Street in the Leylands.
I know that there is a difference in ages of three years for the two men, and that it could very well be two completely different people, but I wonder if his wife, Esther, had claimed he was in the house when, in actuality, he wasn't. The 1911 census for the Bethnal Green Joseph [and Harry] has been completed by the Census enumerator although it has been signed - presumably by Joseph. So he was literate, just not in English!

[simon2710]

Thank you very much for all your excellent replies, I will be showing these to my grandmother who will be pleased, particularly J.C.D's reply and the probate attachment. Harry Sorkin was born in Russia.

Thanks again

Simon

[j.c.d.]

Simon, Tell your Nan that the Mr. Sorkin I knew in the 1950s spent most every morning in Phil Jacksons Barbers 100 yards away on North St. where all the Jewish lads used to meet to discuss Horse racing, politics, sex and the latest news from around that area..

[simon2710]

Thank you very much JCD, I have let her know! Absolutely fantastic knowing someone who knew my great great grandfather!