Page 8 - History Brief - Heaphys

Redditch Heritage Heapheys

In 1831, during the time of
William IV, George Heaphy
set up stall in the Redditch
Shambles. The Shambles
was an unadopted road
leading from the main
Evesham Road, it was later
demolished and part of the
Kingfisher Shopping Centre
has been built on the site. He
survived the cholera
epidemic of 1832 and in 1841
married Miss Margaret
Brasford, from Glastonbury,
the daughter of a draper with
a corner shop. George Junior
was born in 1842.

When the Shambles were
demolished in 1861, George
Senior and George Junior
decided to open a shop in
Evesham Street. Business
flourished and in 1876 they
took over the old stables on
the corner of Walford Street
and New street and
converted it into a shop
selling bed linen and ladies'
clothes. It was so popular
that in 1893 they closed the
shop in Evesham Street and expanders their New Street shop.

George Senior and George Junior were both honest, hard-working Christians, regularly
attending the Congregational Church. Poor families were given clothing coupons by the
Rector of Saint Stephen's for them to exchange at Heaphys for overcoats and warm
clothing. The family sometimes worked until the early hours but at midnight on Saturday
night it was company policy that everyone laid down their tools. No one was allowed to
world on a Sunday.

George Junior was very friendly with Mr Morris who owned the grocer's shop opposite.
One afternoon, they were out together and they happened to pass a large barn south of
Alcester. Two painters were supposed to be tarring the barn, but they were fast asleep
in the sun. Tip-toeing up to the sleeping painters, the two businessmen grabbed the
brushes and a pot of tar. Mr Heaphy wrote in large letters on the front of the barn 'Wear
Heaphys Trousers' while Mr Morris wrote, 'Drink Morris's Tea'. The graffiti was clearly
visible from the road and was only removed in the late 1980's.

Page: 8