Memories of employees at Newry’s famous Foster Newell store

Miss Ita O’Hare from Mayobridge was instrumental in creating eye-catching window displays. Newry and Mourne Museum Collection.

Fosters was founded in 1870 by Robert Foster who had a drapers and outfitters shop in North Street. After many expansions and fire damage, a new three-storey building opened in Hill Street.

From the 1900s until the early 1960s Foster’s employees could live in, as there was staff accommodation at the rear of the building.

Robert Foster died in 1919 and, by 1966, his daughter Ida Foster, then aged 85 was the only surviving member of six children. In that year, the firm merged with Newell, and the premises was rebranded Foster Newell.

Miss Miriam Kelly from Lisnagree, Poyntzpass, a buyer in the knitwear and separates department; and Mr. George Hewitson, a member of the dispatch department, is a veteran of both World Wars. Newry and Mourne Museum Collection.

Newells was also a long-established business, originally founded by three brothers, with drapery shops in Margaret Street, Newry and The Arcade, Warrenpoint. The brother most closely associated with the Newry business was Sam Newell, who retired in 1963 at the age of 80.

In a supplement promoting a ‘Modernisation Event’ Mr. W. V. Hogg (President of Newry Chamber of Commerce) regards Foster Newell ‘as a feather in the cap and a compliment to the people, that the owners have invested a large amount of money in improving the premises in view of the high unemployment figures. The firm, so far as employment was concerned was very necessary in the town, especially young boys and girls leaving school. In the store they got a training equal to that obtainable in a high-class city store. The town residents had the advantage of having a store which could not be bettered anywhere’ added Mr. Hogg.

The supplement also highlights the contribution of other members of staff as follows:

‘Responsibility for the eye-catching window displays rests with Ita O’Hare (22) of Mayobridge, who has been with the firm six years, and her assistant Bronagh Bailey (19) of Monaghan Street, who began three years ago. Both girls play camogie, while Ita also goes to “Keep Fit” classes. Two days a week are given over to thinking up ideas for the displays and preparing to put them into practice.’

Foster Newell Department store on Hill Street, Newry c.1960s. Newry and Mourne Museum Collection.

‘In the dispatch department is Mr. George Hewitson, a Belfast man who came to Newry in 1948. Since then, he has had a varied career with the firm, climbing the ladder from caretaker to his present post – in charge of a newly created department.

‘A veteran of both World Wars, he lives at Hill Street. In 1916 he joined the Second Bn. Royal Irish Rifles as a band boy but was invalided out over a year later. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the Navy and was invalided out in 1942. Mr. Hewitson is chairman of the Servies committee, and chairman of the Legion Club.‘

‘The buyer in the knitwear and separates department is Miss Miriam Kelly (28) of Lisnagree, Poyntzpass, who commenced her career with Newells in 1954. Miss Kelly has been a buyer since 1959. Around Christmas she became engaged to a farmer. No date has yet been fixed for the wedding. Among her hobbies are dancing and youth work.’