Category Archives: Burton

The Story of Montague Burton – the Tailor of Taste

Posted on January 28, 2017 by buildingourpast

Introduction Montague Burton was not the first to establish a successful chain of tailor’s shops throughout Britain: Joseph Hepworth and his son Norris had opened their first shops in 1884. Nevertheless, between the 1920s and the 1960s, Burton was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Burton, Fashion and Clothing | 9 Comments

Burton’s ‘Modern Temples of Commerce’

Posted on January 28, 2017 by buildingourpast

Montague Burton began to build new shops – ‘modern temples of commerce’ – around 1923, when he had amassed around 200 branches. The next year the company opened in a wing of Woolworth’s new superstore in Liverpool where Burton’s architect, Harry Wilson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Burton, Fashion and Clothing | 17 Comments

A Spotter’s Guide to Montague Burton – the Tailor of Taste, Part 2

Posted on January 28, 2017 by buildingourpast

Art Deco Motifs Burton’s architect, Harry Wilson, had fully embraced art deco by 1930 and seems to have had great fun dressing façades in variants of this popular style. This involved the application of stylised geometric motifs, sometimes in profusion. By … Continue reading →

Posted in Burton, Fashion and Clothing, Spotter's Guides | 4 Comments

A Spotter’s Guide to Montague Burton – the Tailor of Taste, Part 1

Posted on January 27, 2017 by buildingourpast

‘The Tailor of Taste’ When Montague Burton became a limited company in 1917, it was registered as ‘Montague Burton the Tailor of Taste Ltd’. The slogan, as part of Burton’s name, formed part of firm’s logo, appearing on fascias, parapets, … Continue reading →

Posted in Burton, Fashion and Clothing, Spotter's Guides | 2 Comments