Stan Beare's Barbers Shop - Harlow - Aug 2015

[nelly]

Stan Beare's name appears over the years to have been changed by local word of mouth to Beard. This is probably understandable as he was Harlow’s longest serving Barber.
Not a lot seems to have been documented about Beare’s career but we do know from a newspaper clipping that he owned a barbers shop at Mulberry Green in the late 1920s.



Sometime after this Stan appears to have moved the business to New Road where he worked alongside his daughter Kathy.
After Stan Beare’s death it would appear that Kathy kept the business running herself for a while until her own death when the ownership of the Barber shop fell into the hands of Kathy’s husband Basil who I believe worked as a tractor driver on Soper’s Farm.
It is said that when the Cowlin’s were built the developer wanted to buy and demolish the shop to incorporate the land into the new development but Basil wasn’t interested in selling
Basil sadly died in late 2014 and with no children to hand the property onto it’s future is uncertain.
I’m not exactly sure how long the Barber shop has been derelict and unused but I did find a newspaper on the window sill dated April 1981.
























​

 

[Sam Haltin]

Interesting story. I come from a time when a town would have a gentleman's barber. I used to use Brylcreem on my hair but as soon as I put it on my hair never moved, doesn't matter how windy it was. I like the "before" picture, but what do I see next to the bicycle - Nut Brown. This was a brand of tobacco for the pipe smoker. Nice post.

 

[krela]

Great story nelly, thanks.

 

[tumble112]

Really enjoyed that thanks.

 

[oldscrote]

Very nice that Nelly,the last time I went to a barbers like that it cost me 1/9 in old money

 

[smiler]

Well researched nelly, I liked it, Thanks

 

[Sam Haltin]

Very nice that Nelly,the last time I went to a barbers like that it cost me 1/9 in old money

It cost me 1/6d and I got my eyebrows trimmed.

 

[flyboys90]

What a beauty,cracking find and thanks for sharing.

 

[UrbanX]

Fantastic write up Mr Nelly!
What a lovely old place, and excellent photos!
Thanks for sharing

 

[DirtyJigsaw]

Nice one Nelly, been along time since Ive seen a report from yourself. hope youre well

 

[Dirus_Strictus]

Nicely done! A gents hairdressers must be one of the few businesses that you can still set up in the smallest of spaces on a High Street. There are two such establishments within walking distance of our cottage - barber's chair, basin, 2/3 old kitchen chairs for waiting clients and a toilet in the storage 'cupboard'. All this in a room about 10 ft x 6ft that opens onto the street - still for a 'one man' business why pay exorbitant business rates on space you don't need?

 

[krela]

Nicely done! A gents hairdressers must be one of the few businesses that you can still set up in the smallest of spaces on a High Street. There are two such establishments within walking distance of our cottage - barber's chair, basin, 2/3 old kitchen chairs for waiting clients and a toilet in the storage 'cupboard'. All this in a room about 10 ft x 6ft that opens onto the street - still for a 'one man' business why pay exorbitant business rates on space you don't need?

The council here sold off all the public toilets in the suburbs. My local one has become a gents barbers, it's tiny just like you say.

 

[ironsky]

This little barbers shop reminds me of the one I visited as a child, nice big seat to sit in and the large white sink in front and the belt to sharpen up your cut throat razor which the barber even used on us kid to straighten up the back of your hair. Newspapers and comics on the table to read while you waited just like the ones abandoned in this shop. Such places were treasure trove of local information. Nice set of photos .

 

[nelly]

Nice one Nelly, been along time since Ive seen a report from yourself. hope youre well

Thanks all. Been a bit slow here due to personal stuff but it's good to get a report up.

 

[degenerate]

Nice one, I really like them old signs.