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The shop of Frederick Withers, draper, was in Tetbury by 1840, and situated on Market Place. His wares are listed as linen or woollen depending on the source viewed.
By 1859 he was in partnership with Thomas Webb from Longworth, BRK. In 1861 Frederick was also listed as a shipping merchant and he must have decided that this was the way for him to carry on his trade as in March 1863 the partnership of Withers & Webb was dissolved and Thomas Webb was to carry on the trade of draper. Frederick moved to Worcester, WOR and worked as a shipping merchant.
Thomas’s son, George was to follow in his fathers’ footsteps and by the age of 18 was working in the shop as his fathers’ assistant. By 1881 George was in sole charge of the drapery and tailors shop and employed 10 men and 16 women.
The shop is still listed in the trade directories of 1919 as a wholesale and retail linen draper. Frank Peters described it in his book ‘A boy in Tetbury’ as a “very important shop... outfitters for ladies and gentlemen and drapers and milliners among other things”
Thomas retired to Clevedon, SOM by 1881. Frederick Withers was also living in Clevedon at this time.
See below for two adverts from the Tetbury directory and almanacs for 1931 and 1938. You will notice that the earlier directory advert has the name C T Barker under the shop name of G T Webb, indicating a different ownership.
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