OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: March 19, 2021
Webpage updated: March 19, 2021

        

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

EDWARD STANLEY LEATHERBY (1884-1948)

Edward Stanley Leatherby was the eldest son of Mr Edward James Francis Leatherby (1859-1944) and his wife, formerly Miss Bessie Prynn, both of Devonport.  His date of birth was November 14th 1884.  He and his younger brother, Francis George Leatherby (1886-1957), were baptized together on May 1st 1888 at the Anglican Church of Saint Peter the Apostle, Plymouth.

Following the unexpected death of Mr Alfred Coster, the Plymouth draper, on Tuesday April 10th 1908, Mr Leatherby senior, together with members of the Prynn family, bought the successful business in Frankfort Street for 100 gold sovereigns for his two sons, who became joint managing directors.  Mr Edward Bond Prynn, his wife's father, was a tailor and outfitter in Devonport.

Mr Edward Stanley Leatherby married Miss Emily Sarah Proctor at Cobourg Street Primitive Methodist Chapel on March 13th 1910.

The business prospered under the brothers guidance and as other properties in Frankfort Street became available they bought them and extended their store.  In 1931 they gave the store a major revamp.  By buying the former Capital and Counties Bank at the rear in George Street, they were able to construct a glass arcade, over an eighth of a mile in length, between the two Streets.  The frontage in Frankfort Street was increased from 170 feet to 370 feet and the number of windows from 52 to 120.  The architect was Mr E H A Barron, the structural contractors were Messrs Pearn Brothers and the construction of the arcade was in the hands of Messrs Harris, of George Street.  Including the branches at Exeter and Torquay, the business was now employing some 250 staff.

New suits for men were being advertised in August 1940 at between £1 5s and £3 3s.  A striped tweed one could be had for £1 15s.

In November 1940 Coster's were advertising grey and dark grey flannel trousers for youths of 26 to 31 inch waist at 5s 11d and the same for men, 32 to 40 inch waist, at 6s 11d.

A pair of winter pyjamas cost 7s 11d at Coster's in November 1941 and a dressing gown was £1 10s.  Winter overcoats were on sale at £1 4s 11d for boys; £1 12s 6d for youths; and either £1 19s 11d for a men's blue coat or £2 2s for a men's Tweed Topcoat.    A coat for a toddler cost 16s 11d while flannel trousers (presumably for boys) were priced at 12s 6d.

Frankfurt Street was totally destroyed in the Blitz of March 1941 and Coster's, like the other stores, had to disperse to a variety of locations on the outskirts of the City Centre.  They were lucky in one respect because they were able to make use of the ground floor of the Prudential Building, which had been badly damaged but not destroyed. 

Mr Edward Stanley Leatherby died in Plympton on Tuesday March 23rd 1948 at the age of 64.  In addition to his role as joint managing director of Coster's he sat on Plymouth City Council, where he was credited with having turned Plymouth into a holiday resort.  He was a member of the Liberal Party and tt was his personal dream that the City should overcome the problem of having no beach by providing a lido and sun terraces, which came to fruition in his term as Mayor of Plymouth for 1933-34.  Also in that year he gave a fishermen's shelter on the Barbican, which is now used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Control of the business now passed entirely to his younger brother, Mr Francis George Leatherby (1886-1957).