>From Wallasey News Charter Supplement 1960 "Allanson's" In the year 1860 when Grange Road was known as Grange lane, John ALLANSON and his sister opened on the site of the present store a small draper's shop - no different from any other draper's shop in those days. John ALLANSON and his sister soon became known as the keenest drapers in the North of England, and customers came to their little shop from all over Lancashire and North Wales >From that small beginning, extending on a similar policy as that laid down by John ALLANSON, and added to every year by new additions to meet the growing public demand, there developed the present day large store in Grange road In 1934 it was converted into a public company and there are now hundreds of share holders from all over the country On September 29 1940 when Birkenhead was subjected to heavy bombing by the enemy, Allanson's store was hit by a shower of incendiaries causing a tremendous fire which destroyed half of the building and much valuable stock The present store is operated on two extensive floors and everything required for furnishing a home can be purchased" ...................................................................... Caryl