John Crockatt Ltd., dyers and cleaners, 23 Sea View Street, Cleethorpes c1920.

An original, unposted, real photographic postcard by J. W. Hardy.

George Arthur Hibbert (1876 Bootle – 1933) and his wife Emma (1876 Leeds – 1952) ran the shop in 1911 and 1921. Presumably, that’s Emma standing by the door. The business was still at 23 Sea View Street in 1937. Emma remarried after the death of George in 1933 and, in 1940, became the wife of Charles H. Jackson. In 1939, 23 Sea View Street was the home of a ship’s painter. In 1958, it was the premises of ‘Margaret Ladies Wear’. Today, it’s the premises of ‘Hats and Tiaras Boutique’.

The Leeds based firm of Crockatt’s dyers and dry cleaners was founded in 1875 by John Crockatt. Crockatt’s became part of the Johnson Group in 1935. The Crockatt name finally disappeared from the high street in 1997 to be replaced by Johnson’s Cleaners.

The poster between the shops, and in another shop photo by J. W. Hardy, is advertising the film ‘Man’s Plaything’ starring Grace Davidson and Montague Love. This dates the photograph nicely to 1920.

John William Hardy worked as a busy photographer through many decades. He still had the studio at his home at 52 St Peter’s Avenue when he died on 29th or 30th July 1954. His son, (John) Keith Hardy (1907-1955), was also working there as a photographer.

Note: It’s not quite possible the read the former name of the shop beneath “Crockatt”. It’s probably the name of the former owner in 1910, G. Overton, greengrocer.

Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.