Briggs Boot & Shoe Company – Somerset Street

Messrs Briggs & Co Boot and Shoe Manufacturers.
Messrs Briggs & Co were Mr William Edwin Briggs and his son Mr Arthur Edwin Briggs, a family of boot and shoe manufacturers from Leicestershire.

Messrs Briggs had stores in all major towns with many in South Wales, including, Brynmawr, Risca, Blackwood, Abercarn, Ebbw Vale and Newbridge.

In the early 1900’s the Messrs Briggs & Co Booters opened a branch at 19 Somerset Street, Abertillery (as seen in the featured image above). The company leased a room at the old Wilkins Temperance Hotel premises from a Mr George Jones who had previously had a boot shop in the same building. In April 1906 Mr Jones closed his business due to lack of trade and leased the shop to Messrs Briggs & Co for £100 per annum. It was stated that the trade was about £10 per week in takings, £1,209.00 in today’s money. The district manager at this time was Mr Edwin John Vranch.

In about 1907 the Briggs & Company Booters had a set of commemorative plates produced with a blue & white print and with a gold trim. The plates were a set of at least four with various transfer prints including – Cardiff Castle, Tredegar Clock, the Dual Bridge at Pontypridd and the Crumlin Viaduct.

In 1926 Mr Albert Parry Gower was the manager.