Lewis's Department Store

[arry_awk]

I remember Barm Brack being very similar tothe Welsh Bara Brith. Sort of fruitcake and very nice witha cuppa! Irish lady friend of ours used to bake soda breadand it was lovely eaten on the day of baking. Next day?Don't Ask! Sawdust comes to mind!Sweetbreads are an animal's pancreas, but some folk insistthat they are pigs'or bulls' testicles! Very tasty in a mixed grill!I never ask!

[arry_awk]

Think this last one should have gone in the 'Things You don't seeAnymore Thread! Sorry

[fevlad]

despite all the alterations and changes in display styles you could always spot signs of the original lewis' the bronze bannisters, some aspects of the flooring, the rickety escalators, ceiling detail.

[simonm]

arry awk wrote: I remember Barm Brack being very similar tothe Welsh Bara Brith. Sort of fruitcake and very nice witha cuppa! Irish lady friend of ours used to bake soda breadand it was lovely eaten on the day of baking. Next day?Don't Ask! Sawdust comes to mind!Sweetbreads are an animal's pancreas, but some folk insistthat they are pigs'or bulls' testicles! Very tasty in a mixed grill!I never ask! cracking items there mate. My grandma used to make her own Tea Brack. Also, you are so right about sweetbreads. Why people insist on them being the bulls / animals bo*ox is beyond me!

[fevlad]

there was a kind of heirarchy in the food outlets.in the basement it was a kind of canteen, finishing with a cream tea ans china cup kind of place on the upper floors

[BLAKEY]

fevlad wrote: despite all the alterations and changes in display styles you could always spot signs of the original lewis' the bronze bannisters, some aspects of the flooring, the rickety escalators, ceiling detail. Too true, you certainly could spot many things like that, especially when you had strong affectionate memories of the "glory days."During the fortnight when they were selling off the fittings to the public I sought out an official and got permission to photograph the beautiful stairways and brass bannisters - regrettably those pictures are at present "locked" into my old computer which won't part with anything, but I'll sort it when I've time.Does anyone remember, I wonder, the original glorious lifts (three I think) with glass doors adorned with bronze Greek statues and scenes ?? Above the door of each lift was a miniature illuminated lift in its own tiny shaft - the little lift moved up and down to indicate where the big lift was at the time - B,G,1,2,3.I THINK the lifts were in the same location as the later ones which were there to the end - its odds on that they were, as they will no doubt have used the same shafts.

[BLAKEY]

fevlad wrote: there was a kind of heirarchy in the food outlets.in the basement it was a kind of canteen, finishing with a cream tea ans china cup kind of place on the upper floors Oh yes, the wonderful huge basement self service cafe !! I have a strong impression still of harrassed serving ladies toiling away behind the hotplates as the never ending queue waited to be served. If you chose more than one course the plates were stacked vertically with battered aluminium separating "collars" to hopefully keep the second and third courses warm. When you arrived at the single till the lady had to price all the items in her head - no barcodes in those days. Very very happy days.

[Si]

Was the 'Croft' cafeteria in Lewis's or Schofields? Can't remember.

[fevlad]

BLAKEY wrote: fevlad wrote: despite all the alterations and changes in display styles you could always spot signs of the original lewis' the bronze bannisters, some aspects of the flooring, the rickety escalators, ceiling detail. Too true, you certainly could spot many things like that, especially when you had strong affectionate memories of the "glory days."During the fortnight when they were selling off the fittings to the public I sought out an official and got permission to photograph the beautiful stairways and brass bannisters - regrettably those pictures are at present "locked" into my old computer which won't part with anything, but I'll sort it when I've time.Does anyone remember, I wonder, the original glorious lifts (three I think) with glass doors adorned with bronze Greek statues and scenes ?? Above the door of each lift was a miniature illuminated lift in its own tiny shaft - the little lift moved up and down to indicate where the big lift was at the time - B,G,1,2,3.I THINK the lifts were in the same location as the later ones which were there to the end - its odds on that they were, as they will no doubt have used the same shafts.

[fevlad]

fevlad wrote: BLAKEY wrote: fevlad wrote: despite all the alterations and changes in display styles you could always spot signs of the original lewis' the bronze bannisters, some aspects of the flooring, the rickety escalators, ceiling detail. Too true, you certainly could spot many things like that, especially when you had strong affectionate memories of the "glory days."During the fortnight when they were selling off the fittings to the public I sought out an official and got permission to photograph the beautiful stairways and brass bannisters - regrettably those pictures are at present "locked" into my old computer which won't part with anything, but I'll sort it when I've time.Does anyone remember, I wonder, the original glorious lifts (three I think) with glass doors adorned with bronze Greek statues and scenes ?? Above the door of each lift was a miniature illuminated lift in its own tiny shaft - the little lift moved up and down to indicate where the big lift was at the time - B,G,1,2,3.I THINK the lifts were in the same location as the later ones which were there to the end - its odds on that they were, as they will no doubt have used the same shafts. i'd love to see those pics