Let me tell you the story of my great-grandfather, Albert Morrow. He stands as a constant inspiration to me, a figure from the past whose life pushes me forward. Were it not for him, I might have abandoned the dream of Morrow’s long ago. My search for his legacy took me to forgotten libraries and hidden archives, and I pieced together his life like a mosaic. Sadly, it was not my grandfather, George Morrow, who told me these stories—he died when I was only thirteen. Instead, I found them in dusty historic directories in the quiet library of England’s fourth-oldest gentlemen’s club, The Athenaeum in Liverpool.
Albert Morrow was born in 1883, on a family farm in Ireland that had belonged to my ancestors for generations. The Morrows had been tied to the land since at least his grandfather Matthew, who held a 40-acre holding in Caledon in 1810. But Albert was not bound by the fields. He was the youngest of eleven children, a boy with big dreams despite the confines of rural life.
The Morrow family Farm in Ireland
He attended a small school called Minterburn near to the family farm but left in 1897 when he was 14 years old. That same year he made his way to England to visit his sister Sarah in Cheshire. He took the ferry from Belfast to Liverpool—a journey that must have opened his eyes to a world beyond his home in Ireland. What a sight it must have been for him to see Liverpool, with its famous architecture, bustling docks and large ships. Its constant movement must have dazzled the boy who had known only the quiet countryside.
Minterburn School
After his visit, Albert returned to Ireland and studied the weaving and dyeing of woollens at the Mullin Mills, Ballagh: he earned a meagre two shillings a week [a shilling was worth 5 pence]. But his visit to Liverpool had encouraged him to return and two years later, in pursuit of his dream, he left his family and Ireland. Before he boarded the ferry, his father gave him a solid gold sovereign, with the solemn instruction: “Son, keep this as your emergency money”.
An early photo of Albert Morrow
Once back in Liverpool, Albert found work as an assistant in a well-known gentlemen’s outfitters. He worked hard, saved what little he could and after years of effort, he opened his first shop in April 1912. It was a proud moment, for this wasn’t just any shop—it bore his name. Morrow’s had been born.
Agreement for sale of fixtures and fittings for No.13 Whitechapel between R.J. Blackler and Mr A. Morrow - 16th April 1912
In 1916 when Albert was 33, he married my Great Grandmother, Edith, who he had been courting several years. In the same year he expanded the business when he purchased his second shop at 251 Breck Road, Liverpool which was open for 67 years. At the time of his marriage he was living in a small flat above a shop in Breck Road. A year later, he opened another shop at 98 Wavertree Road which remained open for 64 years.
Albert's wife Edith Morrow
In September 1917 his eldest child, Kathleen was born and two years later his only son, George, was born. Their sister Nancy was born in 1927. Albert purchased three more properties in Liverpool: 279-281 Breck Road [this would serve as Morrow’s head office] and 210 Walton Breck Road. Albert and George traded from those two shops for 62 years.
Albert and Edith Morrow with daughter Kathleen and my Grandfather, George, on the far right.
Albert's granddaughter, Anne, has told me that he delayed marrying Edith until he had saved enough to buy a suitable family home. Shortly after opening his third shop he purchased 'Brentwood' on Judges Drive, overlooking Newsham Park. It's quite remarkable to be able to see the car which he used!
Albert's new home was a few houses down from Newsham House which was the Judges Lodgings in Liverpool. It still in use today for visiting High Court Judges when they sit in Liverpool.
The 1920s were Albert’s golden decade. He acquired shop after shop—309 Breck Road (which was open for 54 years), 228 County Road (open for 52 years), 335 and 337 Stanley Road (open for 38 years), 130 Oakfield Road (open for 58 years), and 212 Walton Breck Road (open for 9 years). He even expanded into the city centre, opening stores in the famous Clayton Square (open for 20 years) and at 30 Lime Street (open for 39 years) which is one of Liverpool’s most iconic streets.
Here are the earliest newspaper advertisements for Morrow's from the Liverpool Echo - 1926
Morrow's in Clayton Square (note Liverpool Central Station in the background). This is the earliest photo of a Morrow's shop and it was wonderful to see our current logo in use all those years ago.
We are very lucky that someone that long ago pointed a camera at our Clayton Square shop. Unfortunately a very handsome car is parked blocking the view of the entire shop window! You can see the top of the Morrow's logo right above the car.
For some reason I could not find an article covering this story in the Liverpool newspapers. It remains a mystery why this was covered in a Yorkshire newspaper. My father (ex barrister) has told me that both advocates, Noel Goldie and Mr. Lynskey were both very famous Liverpool lawyers. Sir Noel Goldie became a KC in 1928 and was the Recorder of Manchester from 1935-1956. Sir George Lynskey became a KC in 1930 and was a High Court Judge from 1944-1957. The Judge, Sir Francis Kyffin Taylor, was one of the most famous judges in England. He is the longest serving Judge in English history and retired at the ripe old age of 93 years and 9 months. He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the British empire (GBE) and ennobled as Baron Maenon. Incidentally he was educated at Liverpool College where myself, my father and grandfather George, were educated.
It is worth noting that Albert interviewed his employee, Eileen, in his house on Judges Drive. My Grandfather, George, would have been 9 years old and was probably in the house at the time. In all the years that my father was practising law, my grandfather never mentioned this court case against Albert. So this was the first we heard about it!
By the time the decade ended, Albert was the owner of twelve shops. His success drew him into the world of politics, where, in 1921, he ran as the Conservative candidate for Anfield. He and his rival each won 41% of the vote—1,927 votes to 1,950—but the slim loss did not dishearten him. He ran again in 1924, and although that attempt was unsuccessful, he finally gained a seat on the City Council in 1929, representing West Derby.
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In the 1940’s, Albert’s life took yet another turn. He became a Justice of the Peace and was elected as an Alderman for Prince’s Park. This happened at the darkest moment in Liverpool's history. The Nazi's blitz of Liverpool in May 1941 which saw the city that Albert had come to love, turn into an inferno.
The devastation of the German bombs as seen from Derby Square in Liverpool city centre. This is an area that is a short walk from the Morrow's shops in Whitechapel and Clayton Square
Despite all of this destruction of which only a glimpse is seen in these photos, Liverpool still has the greatest number of listed buildings of any city outside of London.
Nevertheless, the Liverpool that Albert had known since 1897 would never be the same again. It is hard to believe that local independent businesses could survive such a colossal blow to their city. At the same time as managing some 12 shops Albert's son, George was also an Air Raid Warden. Knowing how Albert and George kept Morrow's afloat during these troubling times gave us much inspiration when trying to navigate the Covid lockdowns.
Having scoured the newspaper archives for references to Morrow's from 1912 onwards, I found that over 90% were for job advertisements during the two World Wars.
On 26th November 1943 the business was incorporated as Morrow’s Limited and traded as a Gentlemen’s, Ladies and Children’s Outfitters.
Here is a copy of an original share certificate which shows the 2% stake my father was given in 1970. Note my Grandfather's signature and that of K. Rothwell. This was the company secretary, Kathleen, who started working for Morrow's in 1916 when Albert only had 2 shops.
In 1943 Albert closed the Clayton Square shop after 20 years and moved to an imposing new location at 22, Dale Street, which remained open, apart from when it was redeveloped in 1960’s, for 42 years and was the last Morrow’s store in the city centre.
Morrow's new premises at No. 22 Dale Street
From what we have discovered, Morrow's survival during WW2 was in part due to the sailors, soldiers and airmen who passed through Liverpool. Almost 74,000 aeroplanes and gliders were brought into the port. Over 4.7 million troops passed through, of which 1.2 million were American. Most of the supplies for the North African invasion were sent from Merseyside. There was another more local and tragic reason for the survival of the business during this period. For those families whose houses and possessions were destroyed in the blitz, shops like Morrow's helped them to re-build their wardrobes
Advertisement (in the middle) for flannel trousers
During the War, food, clothing and other provisions were rationed, hence the need for coupons. The half coupon rate for the trousers mentioned in the middle clipping meant that they cost 37p or 57p in today’s money! I thought our stockroom in Putney was well stocked so I have no idea where Albert would have stored 1,000 pairs of flannel trousers!
1943 article on Liverpool's effort to fundraise for the War effort. Albert donated £1,100 which is 1,000 guineas (a guinea was £1 and 1 shilling). This was a considerable sum at the time (equivalent to about £67,000 today) and was a personal donation rather than from Morrow's
It has been a fascinating experience digging through newspaper archives and business directories. There are almost too many discoveries to post in a short e-mail series. I will leave you with this article I found from 1948. As with today, there is never a dull moment in a Morrow's shop.
