We can trace our beginnings back to around 1860 when Robert Marcroft opened a shop selling nothing but enamelware. At that time the best place to source such goods was from Germany. He had just purchased and taken to the docks his latest batch of goods when the first world war broke out he was lucky to escape but the goods, needless to say, never arrived back in England. Having had his major source of goods removed he decided to enter into selling pottery and he made some good contacts with manufacturers, some of them were the best known names of the time. Many of the contacts he made were kept long after the second world war finished. During the first world war on what is now the site of the Memorial Gardens there was a row of wooden huts. Robert Marcroft traded from one of these until he was called up into the army. At that time Florence Marcroft took over the shop. She met up with a soldier by the name of Thomas Beddoes who was convalescing in the New Church after being injured serving with the Fifth Manchester regiment. They eventually married and after the war when Robert returned they moved to Hollinwood, just outside Oldham. By 1936 Robert had moved to 48 Market Street in Heywood (the site still occupied by Beddoes today) after the wooden huts had been pulled down. He eventually decided to sell the shop, Thomas and Florence bought it from him. All that was sold at that time, and right up until after the second world war, was pottery and pans.

In 1950 the shop was taken over by James Beddoes who ran what were known as "pot clubs" where people paid so much per week and then bought all the items they required. At one point there were over 50 pot clubs running, mainly within the many cotton mills in Heywood. In the end though these clubs ran their course as there are only so many pots and pans that are needed in any household. As some of the pot club members asked for other things so the range of goods on offer expanded. Carpets and lino were the first of the new goods available.

Television was the new medium for entertainment and it wasn't long before a lady asked if one could be obtained for her, one was purchased but before it was delivered had to be tested, sets were not as reliable as modern day equipment, many other people saw the TV and wanted one for themselves, thus starting another new line for Beddoes.

Our latest development is photo finishing, we have in store photoprocessing labs that enable us to offer a one hour service, sometimes we can even manage a 20 minute turnround. With the facilities to take media from phones, cd, dvd, memory chips or via bluetooh and email we feel there is no reason not to print your pictures. Now we specialise in small run printing of posters, order of service sheets, business cards and invites to name but a few with a fast return for those urgent occassions.