Looking back on Dressers- the timeless Darlington gem

Located on High Row, Dressers was known for its fine china, leather goods, stationery, and toys. It also featured a highly regarded book department.

Alongside Wilko, Woolworths, and Doggarts, Dressers is a big miss, and residents of the town often share their fond memories of Dressers.

Dressers in Darlington (Image: ARCHIVE)

One of those shoppers who remembers it well is Joan Young, who has lived in the town her whole life.

Joan has very kindly given us information on countless shops, cinemas, pubs, and other historic buildings from Darlington’s past.

Speaking about Dressers, Joan said: “A fascinating shop, with lots of things to consider buying.

Basically, Dressers was a stationery shop, selling the best quality writing paper with matching envelopes, “Black Swan” and Parker fountain pens, cards, diaries, plus all office necessities.

“Moving up two steps, we find the gift section with a comprehensive display of china and other items.

“Moving up once more, we reach the book department and toy section, where you could browse at leisure.

The Dressers shop in Darlington (Image: ARCHIVE)

“A (much missed) shop.”

Joan isn’t the only person to remember the store.

Previously, Margaret Ellerton told The Northern Echo that she was employed by Dressers twice.

She told us: “I joined Dressers for the first time in about 1962 in the store on High Row where Santander now is, and I was employed to help set up and work in the new toy department upstairs. I stayed with Dressers for about three years and then left to take up an apprenticeship in hairdressing.”

“In the early 1980s, I was once again employed by Dressers, and I worked in the book department under the care of Freda Lofthouse, a wonderful woman whose knowledge and love of books was inspirational.

“Dressers was an extremely traditional business with old-fashioned values. For instance, we were not allowed to use first names on the shop floor; it was always Mr or Miss, and it was frowned upon for a Dresser’s girl to sit on a bench outside of the store eating lunch

“Dressers was a beautiful store that sold fine china, superb leather goods, quality pens and stationery, toys and of course, the best book department in the area, and I was proud to be part of the business.

“I progressed from the book department into the office and, after almost 13 years, left to continue my career with a new and up-and-coming company in Darlington called Hutchinson Telecom, soon to become Orange.”