PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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Miss HILDA M HADDON
The Plymouth business house of Miss Hilda M Haddon, furniture and carpet retailer, was located at number 1 Belle Vue Place, Cobourg Street, and in Saltash Road (on the corner with Albert Road), before the Second World War and at 97-99 New George Street afterwards. Miss Hilda May Haddon was the youngest of two daughters born to Mr Samuel Charles Frederick Piper Haddon, a cab and hotel proprietor, and his wife Rebecca, of number 2 Albert Road, Plymouth. [1] Her father gave her money to go to a sale of goods in the Royal Dockyard and she returned with linen baskets, mincing machines and furniture, which she put on sale in the former stables at the rear of their home. It all sold so quickly that she was convinced she would make a good businesswoman. [2] Miss Hilda Mat Haddon married Mr Hubert Charlie G Davy in 1924 and in 1928 she opened a proper shop at Belle Vue Corner, not far from the family home. From there she moved to premises in York Street in 1929, where she survived for six weeks during the 1930s financial crisis without selling anything. In 1937 she moved to number 71 Cobourg Street, where she put on the first ever furniture exhibition to be held in the City. She also started a hire purchase system for selected customers. [3] Unfortunately the Cobourg Street shop was one of the first in the City to be hit during the Blitz (in January 1940) and after that had happened for the 14th time she put a notice in the window saying "Bombed, blasted and burned .. but still beating the Blitz". At the end of the War she was joined by her nephew, Mr Fred Haddon. At what point her son, Mr Noel Haddon, joined the business is not known. [3] After apparently divorcing Mr Davy, Miss Haddon married again in 1945, to Mr Jack Davis Levy. [4] After the War ended she had a Nissen hut in William Street, Plymouth, where she sold utility furniture before moving first to 52 Ebrington Street, then Drake Circus and finally back to 71 Cobourg Street. In March 1962 she opened a brand new store at numbers 97-99 New George Street. [3] On Wednesday January 17th 1968 the business was sold to Messrs Wade's Departmental Stores for £150,000 but Miss Haddon continued to have a consultative role in the operation. [3] Mr Jack Davis Levy died in 1981 during a Mediterranean cruise. [2][4] Mrs Hilda May Levy passed away on Sunday December 2nd 1984 at her home, "The Homestead", Thornhill Road, Mannamead, Plymouth. She was 87 years of age. She had been well-known in the City for her charity work, especially the Plymouth Abbeyfield Society and was considered by the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce to be one of Plymouth's first female entrepreneurs. The funeral was held at Emmanuel Church on Thursday December 6th 1984 and she was buried at Efford Cemetery. [2]
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