Here's a lovely old photo showing where Goulds Surplus Store stands today.
Frederick Gould founded the shop in the early 1900s and they had outlets in various parts of Plymouth before moving into their present building in 1955. Many older residents will remember that the building once housed the Cinedrome, a cinema that was bombed during the Second World War. It's unique facade still remains and Plymouth City Council are eager to retain the older parts of the street, including the old shopfronts.
This photo features the number 24 tram on its route from Prince Rock to the Theatre Royal by Derry's Clock. With the constant heavy traffic nowadays, it's hard to imagine that trams ever travelled that way today and were the main form of transport. It's a very quiet scene and the tram driver seems to have stopped to pose for the camera. The only person on board is the conductor who is right at the back.
There are many interesting adverts on the walls of the buildings including ones for Pophams, G P Skinner, H Matthews' Restaurant, Four Castles Tea and a production at the local theatre. I wonder how many of these names are remembered by the people of Plymouth today? Popham's survived to well after the war but, today, in now long gone.
I haven't been along Ebrington Street for a long time but this photo makes me want to go there and see just how much has changed over the years.
Hi Derek. First of all, I enjoy reading your blog and books. On the topic of the 'Goulds' article and photograph, I would like to point out that the picture is not of Goulds but of the other cinema (can't recall the name without looking it up), further west in the old Ebrington Street. On one of the Facebook Plymouth history pages last year, someone posted the picture with the same statement - it created a very interesting dialogue where I finally persuaded him that it could not be Goulds. If you study the photo, there is a side street and a gentle slope in front of the cinema. It doesn't tally with old maps or today's layout.
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