STRANGE as it seems, a ladies' underwear shop in Northwich was once renowned for doing the best Christmas dinners in town.

A number five Witton Street, Frederick Jackson’s was the go-to place for those treating themselves to a festive lunch they didn’t have to cook themselves.

The ladies’ outfitters and drapers sold everything for women of the day, from underwear to clothes, coats, bed linen and curtains.

The large restaurant upstairs sold delicious home cooked meals which were a huge hit with the town's diners for more than three decades.

Ruth Grimster’s dad set up the business in 1950, along with his brother and father, which he ran until he retired in 1985.

Ruth told the Northwich Heritage Project: “Mum and dad had a retail business in Preston before moving to Lostock Gralam in 1950.

“Dad bought premises on Witton Street, Frederick Jackson’s, with his dad and brother.

“It was mainly ladieswear they sold. There was no menswear. But it sold all kinds of different ladies’ underwear, tights, jumpers, cardigans, bedding, blankets, hankies.

“I remember those well as I used to work on the hankie stall because it was easiest job in the shop. 

"There was an office too, where me and my sister used to fiddle with the bookkeeper’s typewriter and mess everything up. Upstairs was all the ladies’ fashion, with changing rooms, dresses, coats et cetera.

“There was another big area which was all curtain materials, drapery, tablecloths, things like that. Dad used to go out to people’s houses and measure up for them, then hand it over to the lady who used to make them for us.

"That followed on to quite a big restaurant and a kitchen, where everything was home made.

"It was always so busy. People used to love coming to our restaurant, especially at Christmas time.

"We'd be booked up solid for Christmas lunch, and we used to have the windows especially dressed by a man who also did Kendal’s in Manchester.

"It looked really wonderful, and very festive. People used to comment on the display every year. A lot of the bigger shops in Northwich did the same, but dad’s was the best because of the long windows.

"There was a set menu, all for six shillings an sixpence, when you got cream of chicken soup or tomato juice, followed by roast turkey with pork sausage, stuffing, roast potatoes, and carrots. I've still got a menu somewhere. 

"For dessert was Christmas pudding with rum sauce, mincemeat tart, or cheese and biscuits. Coffee was an extra sixpence. That was in 1955.

"My sister and I used to go into the kitchen and help ourselves to ice-creams, mousses, or whatever was going. We used to have our old little table where we’d sit.

"Dad retired in 1985 and the shop had to close. He’d worked hard for long enough, so that was it. We were all a bit disappointed about it, but neither my sister nor I wanted to go into the business.

"He would have liked that, and if he’d had a son, maybe he would have done, but we didn’t want to do that kind of thing.

"Still, very happy memories. It was a lot of fun."