John Mellor, tobacconists, Derby Street, Leek

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Date:1911

Description:John Mellor's stationers, tobacconists and newsagents shop at 48 Derby Street, Leek.

John's parents and those of his wife Ellen (nee Booth) were employed in Leek's silk trade as was John himself: in 1891, aged 16, he was a braid twister. John Mellor was in business in the Derby Street premises by 1901, having married in 1898. In 1905 the Leek Branch of the Staffordshire Sentinel was opened by John at at 82, Broad Street when he was described as Wholesale Newsagent and Stationer.

Newspaper reports indicate that John Mellor found himself inadvertently on the wrong side of the law during World War I as he had failed to close his newsagents shop at Broad Street on December 31st, 1914, as required by the Shops Act under an order made by Leek Urban District Council. It was the first prosecution under the act in Leek. His alleged offence was to sell New Year's cards when the shop should have been closed except for the permitted sale of newspapers and periodicals. Items not for sale, such as greetings cards, should have been covered which they were not. Mrs Mellor and her assistant stopped sale at once when warned of the offence. It was accepted that there was no intention to avoid the law and the case was dismissed on payment of 7 shillings costs.

Image from 'Staffordshire Past and Present: An Historical Pictorial & Descriptive Guide' published in 1911 and edited by J.W. Bradley.

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Donor ref:LH2133_Mellor (37/41202)

Source: Staffordshire Museum Service

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