Wilson's Department Store

Wilson's "Great Eastern Stores" was founded in Maldon in 1883. It was founded by William Arthur Wilson - he was by profession a draper and had been brought up in Southminster by his uncle, a boot maker.

Just six years later, in 1889, he bought houses and a large garden on the corner of Ingrave Road and the High Street and built a vast store over several floors. It was a department store offering many different products to the people of Brentwood, who had in previous decades been used to going to different shops to buy different things.

Within the large building were also apartments for the Wilson family and some of his staff. The 1891 Census shows William, his wife Emma, and their three children living at the shop. Along with five employees (all "Drapers assistants"), three of whom were his wife's siblings, and there were also two servants.

In 1901 another sibling is being employed by the store, who was "housekeeper" to 12 employees who lived in apartments in the building. The store was also employing two housemaids.

Unfortunately, this building was almost completely destroyed on September 4th 1909, when a fire broke out in the paraffin department. All of the family, employee, and servant quarters and belongings were also destroyed. A dramatic account of the fire was later printed in the newspapers:

Haverhill Echo, Saturday 11th September 1909, BRENTWOOD SHOPS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. A disastrous fire broke out at Brentwood early on Saturday morning, and resulted in the complete destruction of Wilson's Stores, the largest block of business premises in the town. The stores stood at the Chelmsford end of High Street, in a most conspicuons position at the corner of the main road, and Ingrave Road, where the thoroughfares are very wide. A clock tower surmounted the chief entrance, and was visible for a long distance. The business carried on was that of a "universal provider," the long range of shops containing departments for furniture, boots, clothing, drapery, hardware, fancy goods, and household requisites of all descriptions. The fire appears to have originated in the paraffin store, and it spread with such alarming rapidity that within a very short time the whole block of buildings was involved, and it was not possible to save either buildings or contents. The outbreak was discovered by Fireman W. Turner, of the Brentwood Fire Brigade, who was on his way to work at the additions which are being made to Brentwood Grammar School, which adjoins the stores. The fireman at once gave the alarm, and as it was immediately apparent that the fire would be a serious one, urgent messages were sent to the Fire Brigades of surrounding districts. Very soon the flames got a good hold of the large building, and they were fed by the paraffio, which was every minute or so spurted into the air by the explosion of the barrels of oil stored on the premises. The spectacle was an exciting one, and it speedily attracted large crowds, who had to be kept at a good distance owing to the intense heat and the danger of falling brickwork. The Brentwood Fire Brigade were on the scene as soon as they obtained horses for their engine. The Warley Garrison Fire Brigade did not wait for horses, the soldiers harnessing themselves to the engine and dragging it at full speed across the valley to the scene of the fire, a distance of nearly two miles, with a stiff hill on the second mile. Troops were sent to assist, and they worked splendidly, as also did a "handy man", who was conspicuous in his blue uniform. Other Fire Brigades on the scene were those of the Essex Lunatic Asylum, Romford Brewery, aud Great Burstead. A good pressure of water was found in the mains of the South Essex Waterworks Company, and soon the firemen were strenuously; fighting to keep back the flames from adjoining property. In this they succeeded, the only building involved beyond the business block being the private residence of Mr. W. A. Wilson, the prorrietor of the stores. There was grave danger of the ancient Grammar School, founded by Sir Anthony Browne over 350 years ago, becoming involved, but this was prevented by the hard work of the firemen. The house of Dr. C. R. Taylor, solicitor, sustained damage by smoke and water, but it was saved from the flames. The heat of the fire was so great that although the main road at the spot is quite 150 feet wide, it was impossible to pass the burning building. The plate glass windows of the shops on the opposite side of the road were splintered by the heat, and the woodwork was considerably scorched. A wax model of a beautiful lady in & hairdresser's window was melted at the neck, causing the head to turn to a position which seemed to suggest that the exciting scenes had given animation to the wax figure. The roof and portions of the outer walls of the store soon gave way, and in a comparatively short time after the fire was discovered nothing remained but tottering walls and bent and twisted iron columns and girders. Inside there were heaps of goods that blazed furiously, and flames coutinued to burst from isolated pieces of woodwork. It was not possible to perform any salvage work, and the firemen devoted themselves to safeguarding adjoining property, and to demolishing unsafe walls. Fortunately there was no persoual injury at the fire. The origin has not been ascertained. A strong force of police was quickly on duty, under Inspector Fordham. The property was insured. The damage will amount to several thousands of pounds.

Fortunately the building was insured they were able to rebuild, and in 1910-11 they rebuilt the store on the same plot with a similar outward appearance. However, internally the large deparment store was replaced with a plan of several smaller shops within a shopping parade.

It was William's idea to rent these out as individual shops, but the first world war put a stop to these plans. His son, Sidney, went to war and when he came back he took over the business. Later Sidney's son and even later his grandson would also be important leaders within the company.

During the second world war the grand clock on the facade stopped working, shrapnel from bombing having damaged one side of it.

The Wilson's business finally closed in 1978 and the building was bought by Cooper's Furniture. In 2003 Cooper's closed and the building was converted into many smaller shops.