Martin Street, Stafford

Description:This view of Martin Street in Stafford looks towards Greengate Street and shows several shops and offices some of which have changed use on several occasions.

Centre left is the former John Mottram’s jewellers shop, this was later subdivided, and one portion was occupied for a few years by a menswear shop. The main part facing Greengate Street became a Bonmarche women’s fashion shop, this was later a Greenwoods menswear shop. The premises stood empty for a while and in 2025 it became occupied by the Katherine House Hospice shop which relocated from their smaller building on the corner of Greengate Street and Mill Street.

In the centre St. Mary’s Church tower can be seen rising above Brookfields men and boys clothiers and complete outfitters which stood at 51 and 52 Greengate Street. In 1965 Bratt & Dyke bought and demolished Brookfields and built a new shop here before closing in 1973. The building was briefly Court’s furnishers, later it was subdivided with the left-hand section becoming a branch of MacDonald’s (which remains). The right-hand section was occupied by the Yorkshire Bank for many years, when the Bank moved out it stood empty for some while and currently (November 2025) it is a Greeting Card shop.

Also in the centre (towards the right) and facing Greengate Street is Briggs Shoe shop which later became a Starbucks coffee lounge, centre right is 4-5 Martin Street, which has had several occupants over the years including ‘The Dog House’, the Tandoori Mahal restaurant, Esprei and Satchmos. In the 1950s, 4-5 Martin Street was used as part of the Area Health Offices which organised ‘Home Helps’, who were public servants covered by NUPE (National Union of Public Employees). Home Helps worked in the separate homes of the aged and people with disabilities on various domestic tasks which provided some social and health care. In later years Home Helps became known as Care Workers. On the extreme right is a glimpse of the County Buildings which opened in Martin Street on 29 October 1895. .