Cliftonville Ephemera - Northdown Road

 I have started collecting paperwork and objects of local historical interest. I found a few pieces this morning at the local collectors fair, all relating to Northdown Road. It's an interesting road that locals often say "it's not what it used to be" but it still holds many gems and very few empty shops compared with 5 or 10 years ago.
The Trinity Square end of Northdown Road has been almost killed off by poor local planning decisions allowing shops to be badly converted to flats. At time of writing, a very nice original shop with 2 bed flat above is being ripped apart to provide 8 two bed flats, over developed, poorly conceived, poor quality. As it's been a rather sunny day i decided to visit a few of the addresses that the paperwork originated from to see if anything remained...
Above, one of my favourite finds, C. Savery Pastrycook & Confectioner at number 126 c.1925. Part of the original shopfront remains with many later additions and repairs, but have a closer look at the doorway...

 the property today

a mosaic tiled shop name that on closer inspection appears to have been altered from C. Savery to Mummery. but if you look closer at the paperwork A. J. Mummery signed the letter, I've yet to find out the connection. Savery easily converts to Mummery...

Next, much further down the road to number 241 c.1955. rather exciting to see that E. Saunders Ltd is still in the same location today. The Northdown Road side shopfront and doorway is a modern replacement but the side road appears to be original to the property with some lovely green glazed tiles below the decorative wooden display windows. Huge display windows that are sadly whitewashed and covered up.

Up next, a classic store that any Margatonian could point out. Still at number 242 Northdown Road. Two invoices from the 1920's. The shop front appears to have been modernised in the 1960's when they also rented televisions, sold pianos, records and organs. Good times. A brass/bronze name plate is incorporated above the corner window, I imagine this is a part of the original shopfront.

lastly, above and below, I didn't buy this item. I spotted it at Scott's Furniture Mart where you can buy it if it's still there.

A cardboard and wooden framed box for Terry's Chocolates, with a delivery address of 186 Northdown Road, today number 186 is an oriental take-away with a modern shopfront but a interesting marble chip composite forecourt that appears to be original, I guess this was a confectionery store...

That's it for today. If you are looking for a cheap new home and work space somewhere interesting with fresh air, take a walk down Northdown Road.