Shops dish up a taste for the past

"I used to work at Graingers and Smiths tailoring factory in King Street and Friday was always pay day," says Mrs Hall, now aged 93.

"For lunch I would be sent on the 'runabout' collecting the fish and chip order from Hobbs for about 10 of the factory girls.

"I was allowed to leave the factory 10 minutes early to give me time to get to the shop and Mr Hobbs would give me free fish and chips for collecting the order."

Doris ended up marrying first husband, tailor Arthur Ashmore and the couple set up a business next to Hobbs fish and chip shop in Hall Street, Dudley.

Yesterday Doris, who now lives in Sedgley, was reunited with former neighbour Sadie Hobbs, who used to work at the fish and chips shop.

Hobbs Fish and Chip shop has dished up the nation's favourite food to countless Black Country folk.

Originally situated in 41-42 Hall Street along with a gentleman's outfitters the landmark building was moved and rebuilt brick by brick at the Black Country Living Museum where it forms the centrepiece of the new 1930s High Street.

Joseph Hobbs started out as a barrow boy when he was nine-years-old, selling fruit and vegetables from a hand cart.

He lived in Birmingham Street and saved his money to buy a proper barrow and eventually purchased a small fruit and veg shop.

"There was too much waste in greengrocery and so he gave it up and started the fish and chip shop," says Sadie Hobbs.

"I was Joseph Hobbs's daughter-in-law and worked in the fish and chip shop with my husband Reg, from 1947 – before that I had been a customer and the shop.

"Joyce, who was Mr and Mrs Hobbs's daughter and her husband Brian Lamas also worked in the business and all six of us lived on the premises."

Next to the fish and chip shop is Morrall's Outfitters.

Until 1901, both number 41 and 42 Hall Street were owned by Dudley Grammar School.

They were auctioned off to William Thomas Martin of North Street, Dudley, who paid £1,020 for them.

By 1928, Harry Morrall and his wife Elizabeth moved in to number 42, running their gentlemen's outfitting business there.

From 1935 onwards the shop was run as a tailor and gentlemen's outfitter by Archibald Victor Rogers.

He remained there until his death in 1952, and in 1953 the shop was taken over by Arthur Ashmore. Sadie Hobbs, 81, who now lives in Kingswinford, says: "It made my eyes well-up to see the fish and chip shop looking how it was – it was very emotional.

"I remember the shop used to be tiled completely from top to bottom and there were beautiful fish tiles. In the window was a big free-standing tray where the cooked fish was displayed and customers could point to what they wanted.

"The fryers were at the back of the shop and there could be as many as six or seven people serving at one time." Doris Hall says: "It was wonderful to see the outfitters back up and running and good to see that visitors to the museum will be able to buy some of the items on display."

Morrall's Outfitters is selling hats, gloves, ties, shirts, collars, collar studs and braces to visitors.

Doris added: "It is like being transported back in time and it is wonderful to meet up with Sadie so we can reminisce about the good old days."