Our History

Nottingham’s of Lytham, which had been established for 118 years, is by far the oldest remaining butcher’s shop in the town.

In fact, the first record of a butcher in the family was as long ago as 1844. John Nottingham of Thistleton, the great-great-great grandfather of the current generation of owners, was recorded as a butcher on the birth certificate of his son, Thomas. He did not appear to last long in the profession however, as he was later recorded as a farm labourer on Thomas’s wedding certificate. Thomas was shown on this certificate as a groom, living in the Forest of Bowland. He married the local blacksmith’s daughter Elizabeth Sharp, from Dunsop Bridge, moving with her to Lytham as a coachman in 1875.

Thomas and Elizabeth had about 11 children, one of whom, William, started the current business 118 years ago. When William Nottingham began trading meat in 1889 at the age of 16, he had no premises. He was a mobile butcher who travelled from farm to farm, slaughtering and buying meat, and selling door to door from a horse and cart.

In 1898 William opened his first shop at 42 Albert Street, Lytham from where he traded for 8 years. In 1906, he moved the shop to rented premises nearer to the town centre. This first move was to number 6 Station Road, which is now occupied by Lytham Nail and Beauty. In 1913 he bought a house at number 13 across the road, and converted a downstairs room into the shop. The rest of the building was used as the family home.

One of the first motor vehicles seen around the Lytham area was William’s shiny sign-written new Model T Ford van – in black of course! The telephone number emblazoned on the door was 437.

William and his wife, Theresa, had 7 children. When William died in 1931, two of his son’s Thomas and Raphael, took over the shop. Unfortunately Raphael was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1936, aged only 26. Thomas bought out the other half of the business from his estate.

Thomas married a girl from Preston, Gladys Pemberton. They had 4 children, Dorothy, Joan, William (Bill) and Thomas (Tom). When Bill left school in 1943, aged 14, he joined his father in the family business. Apart from a stint of National Service, Bill has worked in the shop ever since. Tom went to work as an apprentice for Booths before joining Bill and their father in the shop.

Tom and Bill went on to buy the business from Thomas senior. Thomas snr continued to work in the shop in semi-retirement until forced to retire through ill health in his 80s. Bill and Tom modernised the shop front in the 1970s, adding the verandah and large refrigerated window display that can be seen today.

Bill and Tom have now notched up over 100 years between them working in the shop. The latest chapter of Nottingham’s history is the transfer of ownership to the fourth generation. Bill’s son, Darryl, and his wife, Tracey, now own the business. Bill and Tom are still very much involved, but they now work part time.

A major refurbishment has recently taken place, and the business has continued to thrive through competition from national chains and supermarkets, now employing two very experienced full time butchers and a part time shop assistant in addition to Bill and Tom. That makes over 150 years of butchery experience on tap! In fact it appears that Lytham residents appreciate the traditional service and trust they have in their local, family butcher. Nottingham’s looks forward to serving and working with the community for years to come.