56 
A BEWILDERING TOUR. 
Having exhausted the attractions of the premises on the 
northern side of North Street, the party crossed the road and 
examined the premises in which the estate agency and undertaking 
branches of the business are carried on. Then, passing through the 
extensive auction rooms, they found themselves in Brighton Place, 
where their attention was drawn to the premises in which the fur- 
niture repository branch of the business was started. The contrast 
between these and the fine buildings in D’Avigdor Road, Hove, 
furnishes a striking proof of the enormous extent to which this 
development of the undertaking has grown. Near by, overlook- 
ing a pleasant enclosed garden, are the quarters of the male 
employees of the firm, for whose recreation a well-appointed 
billiard room, a comfortable reading room and a library are 
provided. Passing through Market Street, the premises assigned 
to the ladies engaged in the business were reached, and the large, 
well-lighted and brightly furnished dining room and drawing 
room, overlooking Castle Square, were much admired. Then 
followed a bewildering tour through suites of magnificent show 
rooms, labyrinths of corridors and innumerable staircases, till all 
sense of locality was lost, and the visitors hazarded wild guesses 
as to their whereabouts. The ladies and gentlemen’s outfitting 
department, the trunk department, the household linen depart- 
ment, the cloth department, and the mantle and costume show 
rooms, were passed in review, and a peep was also afforded at the 
offices and counting house. Most of the party also ascended to 
the famous clock which overlooks Castle Square, and whose 
familiar chimes have kept a great part of Brighton informed of the 
time of day for over forty years. The end of their pilgrimage left 
the party amazed, and to some extent bewildered, by the great- 
ness of the interests which centre in the North Street and East 
Street premises. Tea had been thoughtfully provided, and after- 
wards Mr. Henry Davey proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the 
Directors of Hanningtons, Limited, for their kind permission to 
view the premises, to Mr. Isaac Wells for his kind invitation and 
for personally conducting the party over the establishment, and 
to Mr. and Mrs. Clewer (Mr. Wells’ son-in-law and daughter), 
who superintended the refreshments. Mr. Davey said the 
members of the Society had already visited several establish- 
ments, but he did not know that they had ever been more 
interested than on the present occasion. ‘Tne motion was carried 
with acclamation, and, in reply, Mr. Wells said there might be 
very little natural history in shop-keeping, but there was the 
philosophical side, and the Society owed a good deal to the shop- 
keeper. : 
’) a hee 
ee 
