A Laurie & McConnall mangle owned by the Coote family

9 – 17, (121 – 129) Fitzroy Street, Laurie and McConnal, Cambridge

History of 121 - 129 Fitzroy Street

Listed Building. No. 17.

1883 Laurie McConnal opened in the former drapery, china and hardware premises of Samuel Young.

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1900 11 23

Fire broke out at the rear of the premises of Messrs Laurie & McConnal, Fitzroy Street, Cambridge. An employee noticed smoke coming from stacks of brooms, a bag of feathers, a stock of confetti and other material in the cellar. The staff of the firm set to work to extinguish the blaze and, by dint of the application of water from a line of buckets and from a hose attached to the water tap, the fire was practically extinguished before the arrival of the fire brigade. It is surmised that a match was dropped down the lift hole by a passer-by and so caused the outbreak.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990

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1902 12 23

At the spacious premises of Laurie and McConnal, Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, readers can secure anything they require for a seasonable gift. A special showroom is set apart for the display of cards, pictures, books, toys and games, and they have a choice selection of mechanical toys which are quite a novelty in themselves. There is also a variety of artificial grasses and plants which it would be difficult to tell from real; these would make very pretty decorations. There has just recently been added a lending library which includes books by the best-known writers.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

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1903 02 14

Messrs Laurie and McConnal are almost universal providers, for their extensive premises, nos. 121–124 Fitzroy Street, contained many departments. Today they are no more. In their place is a great gap, a space which, instead of containing the thousand and one articles wherewith to furnish the homes of Cambridge, has nothing to show but heaps of charred timber, twisted iron girders and dismembered masses of masonry. The whole premises have been destroyed as completely as fire can destroy. In less than three hours the flames licked up goods and buildings valued at up to £100,000.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1903 02 17

Many thousands of Cambridge people witnessed the spectacle of the fire at Laurie and McConnal’s in Fitzroy Street. The crowd increased to gigantic proportions and to keep them in check it was necessary to stretch ropes across on either side. The Mayor, aldermen and members of the Fire Brigade Committee watched the progress of the fire and the unremitting efforts of the firemen. The interested crowd did not let the firemen work without encouragement and the fireman with the nozzle, working in clouds of smoke, was cheered heartily when he commenced his task. As soon as the hopelessness of saving Laurie’s was recognised, special attention was turned to defending the adjoining premises of Messrs Sturton and Mumford.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1903 02 20

After the great fire in Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, public opinion was strongly expressed in favour of the Volunteer Fire Brigade being in possession of a steam fire engine. It would require, with driver and stoker, eight men to work the engine and, with reliefs of the same number, would necessitate 16 men being engaged. But with only one engine they would have been able to play four jets on either the front or back of the fire, and one side would be entirely unprovided for. The engines and paid brigade would be so expensive that the town authorities would not be justified in incurring the outlay for protecting the few buildings at which they might be necessary.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1903 02 20

The Great Fire. Laurie & McConnal Ltd, Universal Stores, Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, will open their temporary premises in Fair Street with brand-new stock of furnishing, general ironmongery, stationery, haberdashery, china and glass. Business as usual in the Boot and Tool Department, right opposite the destroyed building. – Advert

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1903 05 21

Cambridge councillors discussed plans for the erection of new premises for Laurie and McConnal, Fitzroy Street. The bye-laws said there should be a certain amount of air space behind domestic buildings—house, office or shop—and these had no such space. There was no doubt the plans were in contravention of the bye-laws; the question was whether the Council would refuse them. If they were passed it would be an illegal act. They should not alter the bye-laws to suit the convenience of any class of people.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1903 11 21

One of the events of the year was the great fire which swept away the extensive premises of Messrs Laurie & McConnal in Fitzroy Street, Cambridge. Now, within nine months, the ruins have been replaced by more convenient, commodious and up-to-date premises and the business is in full swing in its new home. They are the first entirely steel-frame buildings erected in this country. Those who remember the former premises cannot but be struck by the immense improvement effected, with lifts driven by an electric motor at the service of customers at any time of the day.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

1903 The premises were destroyed by fire. Rebuilding took place at once and led to the construction of the little bandstand at the top of the store. “From it the Cambridge Town Band used to play for the entertainment of Saturday shoppers while teas were served on the roof garden. A sixpenny ham tea was a favourite speciality.” (Down Your Street, 1984, p136.)

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1905 Postcard to Mrs FitzGerald at 127.

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1913 (121-129)

Laurie and McConnal Ltd, ironmongers, furniture, grocers etc etc

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1954 07 07

The old-established department store of Laurie and McConnal of Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, has been purchased by the London firm of Shirley Bros, but they say the public will not notice the changes. The store was opened by Mr James Laurie and, in recognition of advice given by his friend Mr McConnal, he decided to use both names as a trading title, though only members of the Laurie family actually held shares. It prospered as an ironmonger’s shop but, following a major fire in 1903, was rebuilt as one of the biggest department stores in East Anglia, increasing its scope to include almost everything for the home and garden.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

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1962 (9-17)

Laurie and McConnal Ltd, departmental stores

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1975 06 23

Shoppers in Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, were astonished to hear the strains of a brass band drifting down to them, apparently right out of the sky. But the band was real enough. Perched in the little bandstand on top of Laurie & McConnal’s store, the players jogged memories back 40 years or more to the time when such entertainment was a regular event for Saturday shoppers. The revival was the idea of Kite Community Action. Eight members of a local jazz group agreed to revive the past and play again. Whether the Saturday morning concerts continue is up to the players. The store would be very happy to have them play at any time.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

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1977 10 04

The Cambridge department store Laurie and McConnal in Fitzroy Street is to close in December. Indecision over plans for the Kite area redevelopment is the reason, said Mr Anthony Frais. “We have tried everything we know to get something moving in the Kite, and while the Council is now at last seeing sense, we cannot afford to wait the two years before anything actually happens. As a small family company we are paying penal rates.” The business was established nearly 100 years ago.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

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1978 01 19

Laurie & McConnal’s department store in Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, opened its doors for the last time as the auctioneers moved in, just over a month after it closed. Between 200 and 300 people milled around the five floors as the leftovers of almost 100 years of trading went under the hammer. Most of the faces were strangers, but a few former employees called in just to pay their respects. The sale will strip the building down to its last box of light bulbs—even part of a tin of toilet soap was in the catalogue. According to the agents, the building itself has attracted a few offers around the asking price of £250,000, but no one has signed anything yet.

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

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1985 10 23

Eight years after Laurie’s doors closed for ever, the tiers of galleries around the central well which gave the old store such a distinctive character will be alive with shoppers once again. At the official opening a band will once more occupy the bandstand on top of the building in Fitzroy Street. Traders hope that the arrival of Habitat will bring an influx of new shoppers to boost the whole area. Sofas are its best-selling furniture line in a range which includes lighting, self-assembly kitchens and fabrics. 85 10 23

Credit: Mike Petty, Fitzroy Street Cambridge Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

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2021

Wilko

Sketching Cambridge by Michael Large

 

2026