Masons are celebrating 75 years as a family run business in Abingdon this year. The family bought the shop at 39 Stert Street in 1939 and initially sold children’s clothes, hosiery, and knitting wool.
That was joined by the shops at 20 Bath Street
and 22 Bath Street in about 1961.
The above adverts from the Abingdon Directory in 1960 and 1973 show that they have always been a shop you will enjoy visiting.
Masons now specialise in knitting wool and upholstery at 39 Stert Street, Fabrics and Haberdashery at 20 Bath Street, and crafts at 22 Bath Street. They also have a fourth shop window on the world wide web.
The BEST shops in the town!
my aunt loved visiting them when she came to visit.
I was sent in there years ago as a kid by my mum to buy some wool – think I was the only male in there.
it was somewhat akin to having to try buying a dirty mag in a newsagent on a ‘don’t look at me!” level.
Fantastic shops, the wool shop even has a ‘man’ chair so chaps can wait whilst their other halves choose some wool (my husband always uses it!).
I love Masons too, especially all the fabrics and ribbons next door. I understand people travel for miles to shop there.
We love Masons
A few weeks ago my sister, who lives in London, visited Masons and bought loads of beads and buttons for the necklaces she makes; she was very impressed.
It’s impossible to visit either of the Bath Street shops without coming away with all sorts! Long may they continue.
Absolutely the best shops in Abingdon – here’s to the next 75 years!
Congratulations Masons! I was delighted when I had a job interview in Abingdon four years ago to realize I would be moving to a town with these shops! It is indeed very difficult to come away without buying something.
Rudi: if this was a dinner party, I’d now be fetching your coat as you rang for a taxi.
Think our house is begining to resemble this shop ……. my wife can’t come home without a trip there
Congratulations to the Mason family! One of the bright retail spots in town, even expanding its business in recent years. It must be one of the oldest family businesses surviving today – not that there is much competition for the title. Smith’s the chemists & the Co-op are older, but not family run. Are there any Challenors running the long-established solicitors? Ballard’s is older, but now has a Radley address. I think that Viney’s may still have family connections, so is perhaps the oldest business. Any challengers?
There’s an old saying in the business world that a family business usual lasts three generations, the first to start the business, the second to build on it and the third to wreck it ! But I’m pleased to see there are several exceptions to this tale in Abingdon. The May family is I believe possibly the oldest at 4 generations and pre war? the Coxeter family, I believe the building “Coxeter House” is still in the family? Fred Knight & Sons ,must be over 50 years trading and second generation? The ubiquitous Drew family of builders/painters/plumbers that are still going in various forms? the Chadwicks too?
Oldest family business?
I should have included Coxeter’s, listed in an 1854 Post Office Directory as in business on Ock Street. (My parents’ engraved wedding gift clock from there in 1930 still chimes on our mantlepiece).
Richard Drew, “stonemason, Ock Street” is also in this 1854 directory. [So too is William Honey, ‘Bee Hive,’ Stert Street!].
Friends from Australia arrive with a list for shopping at Masons when they are here to visit us.
The staff in the fabric shop are some of the loveliest people you can meet in Abingdonian shops. I’m always greeted with a smile and so are my girls who have been in the shop since I carried them there in a sling as babies!