For more than 100 years a “stylish” department store stood in Liverpool’s city centre offering more than just clothing.
Watson Prickard was founded in 1893 by A W Cockeram and occupied a huge building on North John Street in Liverpool. There was also a branch on Lord Street in Southport that was opened in 1993 by Cockeram’s great grandson, Howard Cockeram, and closed in 2010.
Many people will recall buying their school uniforms from the store, while others will have purchased their Sunday best. Watson Prickard was described as offering a “wide range of classic and contemporary clothing for men who appreciate quality and are discerning about how they look.”
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The ECHO uncovered an advert for Watson Prickard in the 1950s which reads: “Short stout men and tall men can be correctly fitted with a Watson Prickard ready-for-service Overcoat. There are different fittings for each chest size, and the style, cut and comfort will appeal to the most fastidious…
“We have luxurious Crombie coatings, hard wearing Scotch or English tweeds, and West of England cloths from which to make your selection.” The advert also states that the cost of the store’s overcoats at the time started from £14.
Not only did the department store sell clothes, there was a hairdressers, a “smorgasbord restaurant” in the basement, and a “huge” train set on the top floor. Howard Cockeram told the Southport Visiter back in 2010 that “lots of people” would phone to ask “if we still have the Hornby train set.”
A photo of the Watson Prickard store on North John Street was recently posted in our Liverpool memories and history Facebook page. Many people shared their memories of the store beneath the image.
Fiona commented: “I remember my dad used to get his hair cut there on a Saturday morning and I would sit and wait for him looking at the pictures in Private Eye (too young to understand it!!).” Teresa added: “My daughter Marcia did her work experience here window dressing. She loved it.”
Lesley said: “Beautiful shop, so stylish. I remember when they had a smorgasbord restaurant in the basement. Wonderful.” Susan wrote: “Great memories, I used to get school uniforms from here.”
Alan recalled Watson Prickard’s iconic train set. He said: “More than anything I remember that on the top floor was a huge electric railway that covered most of the floor. Getting there from the basement after a haircut was a real treat, via boys' wear if a new blazer or cap was needed. Simpler times, nicer times.”
Kris commented: “That was a lovely gentleman’s shop. Just an observation, but people seem to drink, drink, drink and eat, eat, eat, and dress like slobs. All the really lovely department stores and dress shops are all gone, replaced by bars etc. Plus libraries and banks closing - not good.”
What are your memories of Watson Prickard? Let us know in the comments section below.
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