I’m including the Burton building Swindon in this series for the same reason as I’ve included 20 Fleet Street – the YMCA building. That reason being to record in Swindon in 50 More Buildings a fine building (another one) going to waste and dereliction. Both of these buildings are in peril now and that makes me sad.

Otherwise known as 24-25 Bridge Street, AJ Colborne built this lovely art deco store for Montague Burton Ltd and the Lucania Temperance billiard hall.* Begun in 1929, 1931 saw it completed.

Here it is in its Burton heyday – the image is from Local Studies:

And here it is today having very much gone for a burton! It’s tragic!

Still in situ either side of the doorway on Bridge Street – foundation stones laid by the children of Montague Burton when the shop opened.

In the years since it’s men’s-garment-glory-days the building has served variously as Beatties toy shop, the Footplate and Firkin, Elington’s and The Bedroom. But it does of course now stand empty.

The Bridge Street/Fleet Street area used to be Swindon’s tram centre and the corner site occupied by Burtons had once had the Oxford Hotel on it. But it was demolished thus making way for Burton’s.

Burton’s in Swindon also had premises in Regent. And below, reminiscences of a long-gone age of hand-written receipts and the old L.S.D – pounds, shillings and pence.

About Burton’s – The Tailor of Taste

This Mason and Sons website carries a history of Montague Burton that is well worth having a look at – there’s too much to repeat here. But: …

Sir Montagu Maurice Burton entered the world as Meshe David Osinsky in Lithuania in 1885. He travelled alone to England in 1900 to escape the Russian pogroms. Although a well educated young man, he arrived in the country unable to speak English. His transformation from that to heading a clothing empire is quite the tale.

And the British fashion and business press have well-documented the demise of the Burton group. The circumstances surrounding its death and the loss of so many jobs are a stark contrast to the way in which Sir Montague Burton, and his sons, brought the company to life and nurtured its growth.

Known for his concern for his workers’ welfare, Burton established a welfare office at the Leeds factory. He gave his workforce free meals and free eye and dental treatment. He received a knighthood in 1931 for for services to industrial relations. Raymond Burton acquired his father’s social conscience, as well as his business acumen. He received a CBE for services to charity in 1995.

*Lucania Temperance billiard halls

If you’ve ever watched any American gangster films you’ll be aware of the temperance movement – formed to combat alcoholism. As this article from the Victorian Web points out, one of steps they took was the building of ‘dry’ recreational halls and hotels. These establishments often rivalled the architecture of the opulent pubic houses of the late C19. The buildings often used the same decorative materials that pubs used. Such things as tiled facades and stained glass windows. All designed to emulate the congenial atmosphere of a pub but minus the pitfalls of available alcohol.

In the first instance, Temperance Billiard Halls Ltd targeted the suburbs of south London where many new pubs had been built in the late C19. And also in north-west England from where the firm originated. But, by the beginning of WWI, billiard halls had appeared across London. Built by both Temperance Billiard Halls Ltd and Lucania Temperance Billiard Halls Ltd. By 1939 there were over fifty temperance billiard halls in London.

And one over the Burton’s store in Swindon.

Please leave this field empty

Sign up to receive awesome Swindon content in your inbox, every week.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.