160-year-old Morecambe shoe shop celebrates special milestone of matriarch Mary
The shoe shop is now being run by six-generation family members.
Briggs Shoes, a familiar landmark on Morecambe’s Central Promenade, is marking the 90th birthday of family matriarch Mary Powney, in the town it has called home for more than four decades.
Originally founded in 1863, Briggs Shoes is now in its sixth generation of direct family ownership, making it one of the area's longest-established independent retailers.
Opening its first Morecambe shop on Regent Road in 1985, the business later consolidated its commitment to the town by converting a former promenade chippy to its flagship store and head office in 2013, outlasting former neighbours Hitchens and Woolworths.
Representing a direct link to a business heritage stretching back more than 160 years, Mary's story is woven into the history of the business. A talented professional musician who had studied at the Royal Academy in London, the early death of her father Leslie called her and husband Ian back to support her mother Bessie in the business in 1968.
Throughout Briggs' history, many of its strongest influences have been the pioneering women of the family, from Mary’s “fiery redhead” grandmother Isabella Sophia Briggs to her mother Bessie, who stepped up when her brother Bert, a Dunkirk hero, died of malaria while awaiting repatriation from Asia at the end of the war.
Today, Briggs is run by Tom Powney (Mary’s son), Luke Powney (Mary’s Grandson) and Luke’s mum, Laura Domville. This makes Luke the sixth generation to come up through the business, having sold his first pair of shoes whilst helping out after school, aged seven.
Tom said: "Mum has always been at the heart of the family and the business, changing her life to return to it when I was just two, taking the helm during my father’s ill-health, and helping it adapt, survive and thrive through many challenging times.
“Reaching 90 is a wonderful milestone, and gives us a chance not only to celebrate her, but also the generations of customers, staff and local communities that have known Mary, and supported Briggs, over many years."
Evolution
Witnessing enormous changes since its beginnings as a Victorian bootmaker's shop, while footwear remains central to its identity, Briggs has continually evolved. Tom said: “Introducing new brand partnerships, clothing and accessories ranges to meet our customer’s changing needs, and being passionate about keeping independent High Street shopping alive has been the key to our success”.
Proactive and positive about Morecambe's future, Mary and the family are strong supporters of Eden Project Morecambe, even installing a roof camera overlooking the development to document progress as work, due to begin this month, moves forward. They’re also inviting people to join Mary’s celebrations by sharing their Briggs and Morecambe memories in the shop and on their social media pages.
Tom added: “We hope mum’s milestone helps remind people of independent businesses’ role in local communities like Morecambe: honouring the past while helping to shape an exciting future.”