Page 7 - History Brief - Heaphys

Heapheys Redditch Heritage

Introduction

One of the oldest Shops in Redditch, Heaphys Mens, Boys Boys Wear is still surviving
and going from strength to strength. The 1871 census describes George Heaphy as
having been born between England and Scotland on the sea'. The shop is still thriving in
Church Green West in Redditch with branches in several other midlands towns.

Humble Beginnings

Heaphy's began in trouble-torn Ireland more than 200 years ago. The Heaphy family
lived in the Waterford area in Ireland, but because of the troubles they moved to England
land and settled in Plymtree, in Devon, where Thomas was born in 1787.

Thomas worked as a packman. His eldest son, also Thomas, arrived in 1808 and George
followed four years later. Thomas Senior died when he was only 42. but his two sons
carried on with the business. The womenfolk made woollen under garments, cotton
shirts and shifts, and during the summer months the two brothers walked northwards
with their donkey, selling these goods, together with ribbons, bobbins, cottons, needles
etc. From Plymtree they would go through Taunton, Bridgewater, Glastonbury, Bath, the
Costwolds, Nailsworth, Stroud, Cheltenham, Evesham and Alcester to Redditch, buying
needles at Alcester.

In 1830, tragedy struck at Redditch. They were going 'up the stones' (as the bottom of
Mount Pleasant was called in those days) when their faithful donkey dropped dead from
a heart attack. Unfortunately this was their most northerly port of call. The two brothers
decided to split the stock, and Thomas returned to Devon while George settled in Redditch.

The First Store

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