A Victorian, silk handkerchief advertising Thomas W. Swaby of Grimsby c1880s.

An original Chinese-made, silk pocket handkerchief.

at the time of the 1881 Census, Thomas William Swaby was a draper living and working from 344 Victoria Street, Grimsby as shown on the handkerchief. By 1891, Thomas and family were living at 68 Heneage Street (now Road).Three draper’s assistants and two servants were living there too.

It’s assumed that Thomas William Swaby’s shop, in late Victorian times, was at 26, Freeman Street, as shown. By 1909, his shop was at 157 to 161 Freeman Street.

Thomas William Swaby died in 1923 but his shop carried on until at least the start of WW2. His wife died in 1926. Sons Thomas Hardisty Swaby and Jeffray William Swaby, both drapers, must have continued to run the business.

Jeffray William Swaby lived in Mablethorpe in his later years. He died in 1966. (Thomas Hardisty Swaby appears to have changed his name to William Hardisty Swaby sometime between 1922 and 1938. To be checked.)

The silk handkerchief advertisement is encouraging shoppers to buy their Christmas presents from Swaby’s. They stocked a wide range of fancy clothes from a number of countries.