Blacklers

The store was famous for its lavish Christmas grotto and its rocking horse, Blackie, which is now on display in the Museum of Liverpool.

Despite the building being severely damaged in The Blitz of May 1941 during World War II, the business survived.

The site now includes a Wetherspoons chain pub, named Richard John Blackler in honour of the store's founder.

The shop also boasted a large warehouse on Strand Road Bootle, which serviced the store daily.

Deliveries were also dispatched from there for customers throughout the northwest and an art department that built displays throughout the year.

The Blacklers department store building
Blacklers as it appeared in August 1988, shortly after its closure. Note that the ground floor is boarded up.