Marriotts House Furnishers, Company

Marriotts was formed in 1926 by Ted Marriott. In those days most small retail furniture shops made their own furniture. Ted and his wife Margaret moved to 97 New Road shortly after they were married. At the rear of the property, which many years before had been a farm, there was a large shed building that Ted gradually converted into a machine workshop and later a section for manufacture and recovery of upholstery as well as cabinet making. He employed up to seven men and training apprentices in this craft. The company made furniture to customers' orders. Following the formation of Marriotts House Furnishers, Ted and Margaret Marriott had twin boys Patrick and Peter in 1927 and later a daughter Sheila. These were very hard years working long hours, seven days a week. During the war (1939 - 1945), the shop was converted into a Wardens Post and Ted Marriott went back to his craft as a Pattern Maker in South Wales in a munitions factory. After the war, Ted and Margaret moved back to New Road and restarted the business.After completing National Services, Patrick returned to join the business. In 1948 the shop had expanded to 99 New Road and the company of Marriotts House Furnishers Ltd was officially formed in 1949/50. After the war, much larger manufacturing units sprang up, so Ted and Patrick discontinued manufacturing and reupholstering and purchased from these units.