Newport Past
The first mention we have been able to find of Watkins’ stores in Newport is the 1891 Census. William Watkins and his wife Edith (nee Burfield) were operating as “Tobacconist, Newsagent, Toy & Fancy Goods Dealers” at 143 and 144 Chepstow Road.
Johns’ 1892 Directory advertises, “W. Watkins… ENQUIRE WITHIN… 143, 143a & 144 Chepstow Road Maindee.” The store is already selling a wide range of products both wholesale and retail.
This advertisement has aided our attempt to date the catalogue as it states the business was established in 1885. In our catalogue they say they have been operating 28½ years… so we arrive at a rough date of 1913. This is a surprise as the illustrations suggest an earlier date. Also they state that they have just opened a branch at 48 High Street and we have found this in the 1903 Directory. So as a guide we are suggesting a date of around 1910.
Watkins welcomed callers at their stores and also operated by post. As stated earlier they were operating both retail and wholesale.
Their main business seemed to concentrate on people starting up new shops and small shop holders. They sold “bargain crates” which could be ordered by post and paid for with “Post Office Order”.
They took orders from customers world wide and claimed to be the largest wholesale manufacturer and importer in the world!
With regard to setting up a new shop they offered the following advice, “Never buy a business from anyone. Watch the growing suburbs of any town. Pick out a shop on the side most frequented by the people (a corner shop if possible) and start with a good selection of useful goods with bright clean windows with goods well marked up with plain figures. If you have a situation keep it and allow your wife to manage the business until it is established.”
Was this how William Walkins and his wife began their business? In 1881 William was living with his parents in Livingstone Street, Newport. His occupation then was “switch man” with the GWR and his father was an agricultural labourer. William married in 1882 and his wife’s father had been an ironmonger in Crickhowell.
William died in 1921 and his son William Turberville Watkins took over.
The business continued well into the 20th century. In 1955 the shop was at 41 & 42 Bridge Street - Watkins Provider, picture frame maker. We have heard that they operated a dolls' hospital, but have so far not found any written records to confirm this.