The History of Payne and Bond as I know it.

(World According to Chris Cessford Publications)

It is said that Payne and Bond has been a going concern since 1790.
Certainly, there has been an ironmonger’s shop of sorts in Lutterworth within various properties in
Church Street, not always in the same place or with the same name.

Unfortunately, official records are no longer available to prove the true lineage because of a major
fire during the 19th Century at Dunn and Bradstreet, London, who held such records.

What we do know is that around 1910 John Payne and George Bond established their beginnings in
an ironmongers shop on Church Street. Prior to this, both worked for James Payne who had a
‘whitesmiths’ shop in Bank Street where Velvet is now.
In those days they didn’t have plastic. All small lightweight fittings and mechanisms were generally
made of tin and lead, made by whitesmiths. We all know of blacksmiths, who deal with heavy iron
and steel materials.

It seems that the partnership did not last long as John Payne wasn’t around by the start of WW1. He
was a Quaker, related to the Payne brothers who were conscientious objectors. (This subject is
covered in a wonderful book written by the late Andy Ward - ‘Conchies’). The Payne family became
very unpopular and had to keep a low profile around this time. Perhaps George Bond had to
extricate him from the partnership to avoid it affecting the business.

George Bond came to Lutterworth in 1888 as a 3 year old. His father moved the family from
Desborough, Northants to take up a job as a gardener to the local doctor, Dr Buzzard whose house
stood where the Memorial Gardens are now situated.
Perhaps the garden he worked on was where Marston Terrace is now in George Street.

George obviously grew up in Lutterworth, presumably going to school here too. In his adult life he
was a keen sportsman, playing cricket and rugby representing Lutterworth, perhaps football too. He
was a Freemason and popular character within the community and as far as I’m aware, a bachelor
living with his sister at 21 Bitteswell Road.

In 1929 during the Great Depression George needed a ‘New boy’ to work for him in the shop which
was now across Church Street where Scrivens opticians are now. There was also a workshop and
blacksmiths in George Street (Morrison’s car park, near Wycliffe Rooms) and premises in Station
Road.

He contacted Frank Heaton the senior master at the Grammar School and told him that he wanted
the best boy that he’d got. “I’ll send the head-boy then, Arthur Sharpe”. Arthur was warned as Mr
Bond was a hard taskmaster he probably wouldn’t last long, the others didn’t!
Fortunately he did last, going on to work for Payne and Bond for over 50 years.

He was an exceptional pupil and when the Grammar school celebrated its 100 years, Arthur’s school
report was displayed as the best one ever! All A+’s and A’s, A- for Latin was the only one that let him
down.
I enquired once of him why he didn’t go to university and he replied that he was only a poor farmers
son and they couldn’t afford further education and he was lucky to get a job as he was the only one
to get employment that year.

Arthur must have been a good ‘best boy’ because with the outbreak of war on the horizon ten years
later, George told Arthur that if he got the ‘call up’, which he subsequently did he would make him a
partner in the business providing he survived the war.

Arthur who lived at West End Farm Bitteswell persuaded a WW1 soldier who lived in the
Almshouses to put him through his paces on the ‘The Green’ and train him in drill practice with an
old broom stick and perfect his military marching.
This paid dividends because on enrolment he shone brightly amongst the new recruits and achieved
rapid promotion within the army.
He went on to be stationed in India and by the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Major,
Major A Sharpe, no less.

One of his famous sayings was “it’s not what you do but what you organise that counts”, probably as
the result of his military experience.

After his safe return, as promised, George Bond made Arthur a partner in the business on 1st July
1947 but unfortunately on 8th September, just two months later, George unexpectedly died of a
heart attack.
This proved to be a very difficult and challenging time for Arthur. Payne and Bond was not just a
shop, it also operated from a large workshop and forge. All of the local large estates and farms were
maintained by the company. Lord Denbigh, Cromwell and Braye were customers and this involved
travelling as far as Shuckburgh Hall, specialising in plumbing and electrical work.

Interestingly, Payne and Bond’s phone number was 7 which is thought to be linked to its status as a
major employer in those days.

In the 1960’s the BBC programme Panorama featured an interview by David Dimbleby with Lord
Redmayne who lived at Walcote and had been a Tory Chief whip, at the time he was Chairman of
The House of Fraser the owners of Harrods.
When it was put to him that he probably thought Harrods was the best shop in world he responded
by saying that actually there was a small hardware shop called Payne and Bond near to where he
lived and he always enjoyed shopping there.

Just prior to this Clive Weston, the next owner came on the scene. He lived in Station Road and on
his way home from the High School as a teenager he would call into the workshop also on Station
Road and ask if any jobs needed doing? They must have taken to him as they got him running
errands and making tea in return for a bit of pocket money. This was the start for Clive as for when
he left school he got a full time job in the shop.

During the late 60’s Arthur’s main shop manager was Frank Ambler.
Much to Arthur’s upset, Frank left him and set up a new hardware shop of his own in Bank Street
where the Vojon Indian restaurant is now. He had a new spacious modern shop while Payne and
Bond had a small old fashioned premises with lots of stores scattered about.
Clive by now had become a partner in the business and persuaded Arthur to develop and modernise
the old store across the road which is presently Age UK. This was subsequently done, making Payne
and Bond a good match for Amblers.
Lutterworth now had two modern and competitive hardware stores in town.

Not long after the opening of the new store, Chris Cessford, the present owner, started working for
Payne and Bond in October 1975, working part time after school and on Saturdays. This was the
beginning of Chris’s long association with the company.

By 1979 after 50 years at the helm, Arthur started to wind down into retirement working part time
for a few years. Clive had become the major shareholder, taken over and was now the ‘new boss’. In
all Arthur gave 55 years of service and dedication to the business.

Over the next few years, Clive developed and improved the properties turning the company into
several individual shops. P&B hardware shop, ‘Homestyle’ - painting and decorating shop, ‘Choice’ -
gift shop and ‘It’s Electric’ came into being. Chris was made a Director in 1985 and was involved in
this evolution.

In 1990 Payne and Bond was divided into two businesses, one a retail trade company, the other a
property development company.

Chris took control and eventual ownership of the retail company keeping possession of and
maintaining the name ‘Payne and Bond’

Clive went on to further develop the property company, CSW properties.

Unfortunately for Chris, it transpired that this was not a great time to takeover. Retail was struggling
generally and particularly in the DIY trade where massive changes were going on. DIY superstores
were being built everywhere and this was detrimental to small independent shops like Payne and
Bond.
Although Amblers DIY store had gone, Chris needed a different approach and came up with the idea
of incorporating a One Hour Photo processing Lab within the store, which proved to be a success, if
rather a strange mix, it developed the business and worked well.

In 1997 the Photo business was going strong but the hardware DIY side was still in the doldrums.
However an opportunity arose to downsize the shop and move next door into a new smaller shop.
This had been Charlie Robinson’s house!
Charlie, who was the last household resident in Church Street, had gone into a residential home, so
his house was sold and developed into a shop.

A few years went by, Chris expanded the Photo processing business and opened an additional shop
in Market Harborough which was successful for a while. Payne and Bond had now expanded further
afield for the first time, venturing into pastures new.
Alas, the bubble burst with the advent of ‘Digital photography’ and Photo processing became
unviable very quickly. The Market Harborough shop had to close.

Fortunately, by now the DIY hardware part of the business was improving. People were not so happy
with the big superstores, their prices and service were not so appealing anymore. With competitive
prices, a large range of stock and personal service, Payne and Bond was able to flourish again.

This now brings us up to date. Over all these years Payne and Bond has moved between various
premises, had many personalities, owners, covered a massive variety of trades and employed a great
many people, mostly local.

What the future holds, no one knows but Chris hopes Payne and Bond will go on for many more
years and has plans in place. One thing is for sure, Chris is after Arthur’s record of 55 years of service
but he still has 6 years to go!

As we approach 2025 Payne and Bond enters a new era. Chris is taking a back seat to enjoy some
retirement. Richard Brown who has been with the company since 2016 has been promoted to
General manager and will deal with the day to day running and management decisions.

Hopefully in Richards hands the future bodes well.