It's the end of an era for most of us from the Low Road to learn that Mulhollands shop has closed its doors. Many years back, in my childhood, and years before that, a lady called Sarah Morrow had a shop in Grand Street. It sold most things in the grocery line, even freshly cut bacon. It was very popular for those from the lower end of the Low Road, like our family. Hilden people, including Hilden Mill workers, used the shop too. My mother was always running up to Morrows shop for one thing or another, usually milk. It was very handy before cars and supermarkets. Another benefit for workers was that Mrs Morrow kept a book for customers which they probably paid weekly, when they were paid. Sarah's son Eddie carried on the business after Sarah died. Then Mr and Mrs mulholland took over and expanded the shop and sold coal and sticks, fuel and many more items.
Mulhollands shop was trading and every bit as busy until fairly recently. Then
a Mace store took over. Passing by today I got the shock of my life to see the shutters down and that popular store closed. As I say, the end of an era.

A Sad day indeed Ann and I'm very much surprised as I thought it's position on the road would have guaranteed it's success ,I think it must also have been a good meeting place as my late sister Catherine always seem to get the latest news (I meet so & So down in Mulhollands) and of course I remember Sarah Marrows and Ned before that , a sad end to an era indeed Regards Ted

Regarding Mulhollands ! Since my last input I have been speaking to a sister who uses the above shop and Ann I am delighted to tell you they have bought the Hilden Inn and this is were the business is to be conducted in future ! so the link is definitely broke with Sarah at least there is still the corner shop in existence were the exclusive news of the road will be analysed and shared Regards Ted

Ted, yes I see that the Hilden Inn has been turned into a Mace or Spar store. Better than what was there before. Imagine my grannys old house now a shop. Well, as a house it was always full of people anyway, so no change there. Still an awful pity about the old shop closing. It was part and parcel of my childhood and early married life. Everything changes.

"Mahallams" Shop as we Low Roaders called it, what a shop, everyone met there & all the news was passed on while waiting for the errands.



A small kitchen house turned into a busy shop, even a bacon cutter in one corner & all day & evening people coming with something under their arms from "Mahallams" who sold everything from sticks to Big luxury boxes of Cadbury's chocolates.



Meeting outside the shop caused another gathering after some event of news had happened or maybe just some scandal or a homecoing from America or a death or wedding.



No need for "The News" on radio or T.V. then, the wee shop had it all.



P.S> In my time it was always "Morrows Shop" (in dialect "Marraws Shop"



Pat

Donald, I was just talking about you this morning concerning your absence from the Forum. You've been missed, you know. If you hadn't put on a posting, I was about to enquire how you were. I know Pat was going to do the same.



Now, regarding my granny's old house, you could well be right about it being a milking parlour previously. I'm not completely sure, but I remember talk about the house actually being a condemned house. My granny took it anyway because she was uneasy about a neighbour who lived next door in Delacherois Avenue and she wanted to get away from him. SO, the whole family moved to Grand Street. Condemned or not, milking parlour previously or not, we all loved that house. It was always welcoming, nobody visiting was considered a nuisance, children or adults. Tea and a Paris bun was put out as soon as anyone came in, a big fire blazing winter or summer, maybe a pot of soup simmering away on the stove in the narrow kitchen, my granny sitting in the armchair with a woollen shawl around her, ready for a yarn and a laugh. No-one passed my granny's house without calling in. By standards today the house was poor in furnishings; no carpets, no lino except in the parlour, bare wooden stairs, no electricity, no hot water. However, there was a big fire, plenty of plain food, always a welcome and a more homely house we will never come across again.

Ann
I think it was your aunt who told us that once in Gabriel Kerr´s butchers. She said an old woman came once to the door and asked for a pint of milk as she was unaware that the milk parlour was closed years before.
In Hilden we shopped in the mill shop then run by the Corbett family who later owned a grocery store in Lambeg.The Davis family, Francis who married Ned Close took it over sometime in the 50s. Bleakleys was in Mill Street, a small sweet shop who sold cigarettes and lemonade also. Sam was a carter in Barbours and his wife ran the shop. Before my time the Tomann family also had a shop facing the dining room in Mill Street. Pamela may remember Dan and Lizzie Fitzsommons selling toffee apples from their house in Bridge Street and someone whose name escapes me sold home made ice lollies . In the despatch department in Barbours Billy ? sold sweets and cigarettes on tick until Friday.
donald

Donald, imagine no Health and Safety and we're all alive and well

We were probably immune to the germs

http://www.lisburntoday.co.uk/news/business/end-of-an-era-on-low-road-1-7294247

Read this just now, but when Sarah Morrow owned it there was always a counter in it. If I remember correctly Harry Mullholland also owned a hardware shop at the corner of Low Road / Spruce Street.
donald

Donald, as usual you are correct. Harry Mulhollands had a shop where you mention.