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Lawsons Limited
(Drapers & Warehousemen, Established 1856)

Centenary Celebration As Published In
The House Magazine
THE GOOD ACCOUNT
 (new series - January 1956)
 


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BRIEF HISTORY

 In 1856, Robert Lawson, a Scottish packman to trade, set up shop in "tiny premises" at Cowane Street, Stirling selling household goods and clothing on carefully administered credit terms. From this very small beginning, through the able management of three generations of Roberts, and other family members, as well as a fairly large and loyal workforce, Lawsons Ltd as it eventually was known, became almost a byword for quality household merchandise, throughout much of Scotland, as well as in various parts of England. In Scotland the main branches were at Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen, while in England the company even reached cities like Portsmouth, Brighton, Reading and of course London. Although the company managed to attain its centenary, unfortunately it ceased to be a family run business shortly afterwards, but although the name Lawsons continued on for quite a few more years, its final demise in the 1990's, as is usual in these circumstances, affected the lives of a considerable number of people.    

The House Magazine of Lawsons Limited
THE GOOD ACCOUNT

According to the Centenary magazine, this publication began life in the following manner. An "Advertising Department" was attached  to Head office and the first issue of the staff magazine , "The Good Account," came out in February 1832.

The first series were printed on the premises, the Gestetner method of reproduction being used. The first number of the present series, printed by Messrs. Wm. Kidd & Sons, Ltd., Dundee, was issued at Christmas, 1939." The issue from which we quote is full of very useful information and detail about the history and staff of Lawsons Ltd, and includes a variety of photographs from all over the country. Note, however, that some of the Lawson family are only listed in an historical; context. For example, Robert Lawson, the founder of this company, and mentioned below, died in 1912.

Sadly we only have a copy of the Centenary issue, and would welcome access to any other editions of this magazine, so that its history, and that of Lawsons Ltd may be more fully documented and researched. If you think you could help with this appeal, please contact us. We would be delighted to hear from you.     

 Stories & Memorabilia

As with any commercial enterprise that existed for over 100 years, there are no doubt many interesting, personal stories that have been largely forgotten about by most people. If you have an interesting anecdote about Lawsons Limited, its staff, or merchandise, please let us know, and maybe we will be able to publish it on this webpage. Similarly, do you have any memorabilia or keepsakes relating to the company. For example, in the "Sport" section of the 1956 edition, it is very clear that bowling was something that many of the staff enjoyed. There is a photograph of the LAWSON CHALLENGE CUP being presented by Mrs A D Forrest to Glasgow branch on 7th September 1955 at Newport Green. Does this cup still exist? We would be very keen to have a close up photo of it. If you can help, please contact us.   

 

Lawson Members of Management and Staff
 

As some people mentioned in the following list are liable to be still living, Scottish Family Heritage makes the following declaration. If anyone mentioned in this dataset wishes to have their name removed, and can prove that they are the person listed here, Scottish Family Heritage will be only too happy to erase their name from the list.

 

Name: Title: Branch:  Country: Occupation: Inventory Number: Year
Adam, Stuart   Stirling Scotland inspector 89 1956
Aiken, N Mr Glasgow Scotland manager, Star Stores 89 1956
Aitken, Barbara Miss Aberdeen Scotland clerkess 89 1956
Aitken, Janet Miss Stirling Scotland employee? 89 1956
Allan, James   Dundee Scotland traveller 89 1956
Allan, John   Edinburgh Scotland right-hand man 89 1956
Allan, Margaret Mrs Paisley & Greenock, Renfrewshire Scotland assistant, Star Stores 89 1956
Allan, Stewart   Dundee Scotland caretaker 89 1956
Allison, Alexander   Aberdeen Scotland traveller 89 1956
Anderson, James Mr & Mrs Stirling Scotland employee? 89 1956
Anderson, Robert   Nottingham England manager, Star Stores 89 1956
Anderson, Thomas McNicol   Stirling Scotland   89 1956
Armstrong, R Mr Glasgow Scotland employee? 89 1956
Baillie, Hugh   Dundee Scotland employee? 89 1956
Baillie, Shirley (ms) Divers     Scotland   89 1956
Baker, Edward   Glasgow Scotland traveller 89 1956
Barthram, Harry   London England chargehand 89 1956
Beasley, ? Mr Sheffield England employee? George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Benzie, G Mr Aberdeen Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Birrell, William D   Dundee Scotland cashier 89 1956
Bisset, W C Mr Dundee Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Bisset, William   Dundee Scotland inspector, Star Stores 89 1956
Blain, James Mr & Mrs Edinburgh Scotland traveller 89 1956
Blair, David   Glasgow Scotland clerk 89 1956
Boss, William   Dundee & London Scotland & England buyer 89 1956
Bowman, Peter   Dundee Scotland traveller 89 1956
Boyle, James Mr & Mrs Cupar, Fifeshire Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Boyle, Maureen Miss Cupar, Fifeshire Scotland   89 1956
Bradshaw, G Mr & Mrs London England employee? 89 1956
Bree, W Mr Edinburgh? Scotland employee? 89 1956
Briddon, Elsie Miss Nottingham England charge hand, Star Stores 89 1956
Brown, John   Stirling Scotland grocer 89 1956
Bruce, George W   Edinburgh Scotland buyer 89 1956
Bryce, Harry   London England manager 89 1956
Buffey, Mary Catherine   Sheffield England   89 1956
Buffey, Peter Mr & Mrs Sheffield England employee? 89 1956
Cairnie, John   Dundee Scotland traveller, Star Stores 89 1956
Cairns, Daniel Mr & Mrs Irvine, Ayrshire Scotland employee? 89 1956
Caldwell Mr Aberdeen Scotland caretaker 89 1956
Cameron, George   Aberdeen Scotland traveller, Star Stores 89 1956
Cameron, James M   Dundee Scotland manager 89 1956
Carmichael, Alexander   Stirling & Glasgow Scotland buyer 89 1956
Cathro, Ina Miss Dundee Scotland office staff 89 1956
Chalmers, James   Stirling Scotland traveller 89 1956
Chambers, Charles Mr & Mrs Glasgow Scotland employee? 89 1956
Chambers, Charles Alan   Glasgow Scotland   89 1956
Clark, ? Mr Glasgow Scotland manager, Star Stores 89 1956
Clark, ? Miss Sheffield England employee?, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Clark, Ada Miss Sheffield England tailoress, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Clark, John   Motherwell, Lanarkshire Scotland traveller 89 1956
Combs, C V Mr Glasgow Scotland manager 89 1956
Cook, George   Glasgow Scotland   89 1956
Cook, James Mr & Mrs Glasgow Scotland employee? 89 1956
Cook, James   Glasgow Scotland charge 89 1956
Cook, James   Glasgow Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Cooper, H Mr Sheffield England buyer, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Cooper, Horace   Sheffield England employee?, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Cormack, George   Glasgow Scotland traveller 89 1956
Cowie, J   Dundee Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Crawford, Joyce Miss Edinburgh Scotland employee? 89 1956
Crighton, John   Glasgow Scotland tailor 89 1956
Cromar, I Mrs London England assistant 89 1956
Cromar, Peter   London England display 89 1956
Culbertson, Christine Miss Edinburgh Scotland employee? 89 1956
Dakin, Angela   Leicester England   89 1956
Dakin, Fred Mr & Mrs Leicester England employee? 89 1956
Daniel, James   Aberdeen Scotland traveller 89 1956
Davies, ? Mr Sheffield England traveller, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Dawson, Mary Miss Stirling Scotland charge-hand 89 1956
Dick, Sydney S   Edinburgh Scotland assistant manager 89 1956
Dickie, Joseph M   Aberdeen, Edinburgh & Glasgow Scotland inspector 89 1956
Divers, Shirley     Scotland   89 1956
Donaldson, John   Motherwell, Lanarkshire Scotland traveller 89 1956
Dorman, C R Mr & Mrs St Albans England employee? 89 1956
Dorman, Elizabeth Nancy   St Albans England   89 1956
Draper, James B   Motherwell, Lanarkshire Scotland manager 89 1956
Duncan, Alexander   Aberdeen Scotland charge-hand 89 1956
Dunn, Hugh   Glasgow Scotland director 89 1956
Duthie, John   Stirling Scotland traveller 89 1956
Dyer, Agnes Miss Dundee Scotland charge, Star Stores 89 1956
Eaton Mr Sheffield England traveller, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Falconer, I Miss Dundee Scotland charge 89 1956
Fearn, Walter   Dundee Scotland superintendent 89 1956
Fearn, Walter D   Dundee Scotland inspector 89 1956
Ferguson, Chrissie Miss Nottingham England chief clerk, Star Stores 89 1956
Ferguson, Duncan   Nottingham England inspector, Star Stores 89 1956
Ferrie, J Mr Dundee Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Findlay, Charles   Aberdeen Scotland traveller 89 1956
Findlay, Jenny (ms) Mackie   Dundee Scotland office staff 89 1956
Florence, James   Aberdeen Scotland traveller, Star Stores 89 1956
Forbes, Patrick   Aberdeen Scotland superintendent 89 1956
Ford, Grace Miss Dundee Scotland chief -clerk 89 1956
Forrest, A D Mr Dundee Scotland employee? 89 1956
Forrest, A D Mr Dundee & Newport on Tay Scotland manager, Star Stores 89 1956
Forrest, Mary Miss Aberdeen Scotland clerkess, Star Stores 89 1956
French, Leslie Mr London England supervisor 89 1956
Galletly, Grant   Glasgow Scotland inspector, Star Stores 89 1956
Galloway, Gordon   99 Strathmore Drive Scotland   89 1956
Galloway, John Mr & Mrs 99 Strathmore Drive Scotland employee? 89 1956
Garden, Jean Miss Dundee Scotland private secretary 89 1956
Garner, ? (ms)? McLean   Stirling Scotland employee? 89 1956
Garrett, R Mr Edinburgh? Scotland employee? 89 1956
Gentle, A Mr Edinburgh Scotland employee? 89 1956
Gerrie, James   Stirling Scotland despatch 89 1956
Gibson, John   Aberdeen Scotland traveller 89 1956
Gibson, W Mr Dundee Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Graham, George   Stirling Scotland traveller 89 1956
Grange, William   Dundee Scotland traveller 89 1956
Grant, William   Glasgow Scotland inspector, Star Stores 89 1956
Gray, D G Mr Dundee Scotland buyer 89 1956
Gray, James   Glasgow Scotland manager 89 1956
Gray, James   Aberdeen Scotland clerk 89 1956
Greig, S R Mr Glasgow Scotland employee? 89 1956
Hallam Mrs Sheffield England office staff, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Hamilton, J Mr Dundee Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Hardie, I B Miss London England charge-hand 89 1956
Hatlee, B Miss London England employee? 89 1956
Haxton, Alexander   Stirling Scotland inspector 89 1956
Heggie, William   Dundee Scotland traveller 89 1956
Henderson, A Mr Glasgow Scotland traveller, Star Stores 89 1956
Hendry, H Mr Dundee Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Hinley, L Miss Motherwell, Lanarkshire Scotland charge 89 1956
Hogg, A Mr Edinburgh & Motherwell Scotland buyer + 89 1956
Holmes Mr & Mrs Newmains, Lanarkshire Scotland employee? 89 1956
Holmes, Frank   London England   89 1956
Holmes, William McCutcheon   Newmains, Lanarkshire Scotland   89 1956
Hooper, W H Mr Sheffield England manager, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Hootan Mr Luton England supervisor 89 1956
Howe, Ina (ms) Kelman   Aberdeen Scotland employee? 89 1956
Howe, Tom     Scotland   89 1956
Inglis, Jemima J Miss Glasgow Scotland assistant chief clerk 89 1956
Inglis, W B Mr Dundee Scotland manager 89 1956
Ironside, Alexander   Aberdeen Scotland traveller 89 1956
Jamieson, Thomas   Edinburgh Scotland porter 89 1956
Johnston, David   Glasgow Scotland manager, Star Stores 89 1956
Johnston, James   Aberdeen Scotland buyer 89 1956
Johnston, Robert   Kirkaldy, Fifeshire Scotland manager 89 1956
Johnstone Mr Dundee Scotland employee? 89 1956
Jones, George   London England assistant manager 89 1956
Joyce, Aileen Agnes Miss Hamilton, Lanarkshire Scotland   89 1956
Joyce, J Mr & Mrs Hamilton, , Lanarkshire Scotland employee? 89 1956
Keith, ? Mr Dundee Scotland employee? 89 1956
Kempton, L Miss London England employee? 89 1956
Kennison, V Miss Reading England employee? 89 1956
Kettle, Benjamin   London England tailor 89 1956
Knowles, Gordon   Edinburgh Scotland   89 1956
Knowles, Helen-Theresa Miss Edinburgh Scotland   89 1956
Knowles, Jasper Mr & Mrs Edinburgh Scotland employee? 89 1956
Knowles, Mitchell   Edinburgh Scotland   89 1956
Knowles, Stephen   Edinburgh Scotland   89 1956
Lamont, Jessie Miss Dundee Scotland employee? 89 1956
Latham, ? Mr Sheffield England traveller, George Binns Ltd 89 1956
Lauder, Henry   Dundee Scotland buyer, Star Stores 89 1956
Law Mr Edinburgh Scotland traveller 89 1956
Law, Alexander   Paisley, Renfrewhire Scotland despatch 89 1956
Law, George   Dundee Scotland assistant, Star Stores 89 1956
Law, T junior Edinburgh Scotland employee? 89 1956
Lawson, Archibald   Dundee Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, Archibald   Newport-on-Tay, Fifeshire Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, David   Dundee Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, Douglas   Dundee Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, E W Mr Stirling & Sheffield Scotland assistant manager 89 1956
Lawson, Ernest Mr & Mrs Sheffield England management, George Binns 89 1956
Lawson, Harry D     Scotland assistant managing director 89 1956
Lawson, James Dr Dundee Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, James   Dundee Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, Janet (ms) Muirhead   Stirling Scotland   89 1956
Lawson, Lorna (ms) Tait     Scotland   89 1956
Lawson, Reginald A   Edinburgh Scotland director 89 1956
Lawson, Robert   Dundee Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, Robert junior Edinburgh Scotland chairman 89 1956
Lawson, Robert junior Glasgow & Edinburgh Scotland director 89 1956
Lawson, Robert   Stirling Scotland founder 89 1956
Lawson, Robert William   Glasgow Scotland accountant & director 89 1956
Lawson, William   Dundee, Aberdeen & London Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, William   Stirling Scotland management 89 1956
Lawson, William Scott   Glasgow & Stirling Scotland director 89 1956
Lawson, William Ure   Glasgow Scotland accountant & director 89 1956
Letham, D Mr Edinburgh? Scotland employee? 89 1956
Lindsay Mr Dundee Scotland employee? 89 1956
Lindsay, A N Mr Edinburgh Scotland employee? 89 1956
Lindsay, William   Dundee Scotland traveller 89 1956
Linton, E Mr Motherwell & Stirling Scotland employee? 89 1956
Linton, Eric S   Motherwell, Lanarkshire Scotland buyer 89 1956
Lowson, A S junior Glasgow Scotland manager 89 1956
Lowson, Alan S   Glasgow Scotland management 89 1956
Macdonald, Duncan   Dundee Scotland warehouseman 89 1956
Macdonald, Isabella Miss Stirling Scotland employee? 89 1956
MacDonald, T Mr Dundee Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
Mahon, J Mr London England employee? 89 1956
Mahon, J Mr & Mrs Luton England employee? 89 1956
Mahon, J Geraldine Miss Luton England   89 1956
Masson, Alexander   Edinburgh Scotland traveller 89 1956
Matheson, William   Aberdeen Scotland buyer, Star Stores 89 1956
Mathieson, James   Dundee Scotland inspector 89 1956
Matthew, J Mr London England employee? 89 1956
Matthew, James   London England chief clerk 89 1956
Maver, James   Aberdeen Scotland manager, Star Stores 89 1956
Maye, G Mr & Mrs Havant, Portsmouth England employee? 89 1956
Maye, G Stephen   Havant, Portsmouth England   89 1956
McAllister, J Mr Edinburgh Scotland employee? 89 1956
McAllister, James S   Edinburgh Scotland superintendent 89 1956
McCallum, Mary Miss Glasgow Scotland charge-hand 89 1956
McDiarmid, John   Edinburgh Scotland traveller 89 1956
McDonald Mr Dundee Scotland employee? 89 1956
McDonald Mr & Mrs Paisley, Renfrewshire Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
McDonald, A Mr Paisley, Renfrewshire Scotland manager, Star Stores 89 1956
McDougall, J Mr Stirling Scotland inspector 89 1956
McIntosh, D S Mr Edinburgh Scotland employee? 89 1956
McIntosh, John   Aberdeen Scotland inspector 89 1956
McKenzie, W Mr Dundee Scotland employee?, Star Stores 89 1956
McKinnon, John   Glasgow Scotland traveller 89 1956
McLachlan, John   London England assistant manager 89 1956
McLaclan, J Mr London England employee? 89 1956
McLaren, Margaret Miss Edinburgh Scotland charge-hand 89 1956
McLean, Peter     Scotland   89 1956
McNaughton Mrs Glasgow Scotland   89 1956
McNaughton, Stewart   Dundee Scotland assistant buyer 89 1956
McNaughton, Stewart   Glasgow Scotland assistant buyer 89 1956
Mill, D Mr Edinburgh? Scotland employee? 89 1956
Milne, Forbes J   Glasgow Scotland superintendent 89 1956
Milne, George R   Glasgow Scotland manager, Star Stores 89 1956
Mitchell, ? Mr Dundee Scotland manager, Star Stores 89 1956
Moriarty, A Mr Portsmouth, Hampshire England manager 89 1956
Morrison, D Mr Dundee Scotland employee? 89 1956
Morrison, T Hunter   Glasgow & Aberdeen Scotland manager 89 1956
Muirhead, Janet   New Monkland & Stirling Scotland   89 1956
Mulligan, John   Dundee Scotland charge 89 1956
Murray, Grace Miss Glasgow Scotland clerkess 89 1956
Neilson, Eric J   Glasgow Scotland traveller 89 1956
Newman, Sidney   Reading, Berkshire England manager 89 1956
Newton, ? Mr