Photograph of Barker's clothes shop on Low Pavement, Chesterfield

Barker's were drapers and milliners established in Chesterfield in the 1880s by Fred Barker. The shop remained a family business until it closed in 1953 after over 70 years of trading. The shop subsequently became Hardy's furniture shop. Lots of hats and female collars can be seen in the large front windows, with adverts for raincoats ranging in price from 10s (shillings) 11d (pence) to 30s (shilling).

In 1913, the neighbouring building, The Tonine public house, was demolished and this gave Barker's significant space for advertising on their building: 1) THIS IS BARKER'S THE BIGGEST BARGAIN BUREAU - OUR GOODS ARE GOOD - OUR PRICES ARE PRIZES - THIS IS THE WAY IN [a hand and finger points left], 2) Our COATS, COSTUMES & DRESS SKIRTS ARE SMART & SERVICEABLE. LADIES & CHILDREN'S "READY TO WEAR" GARMENTS ARE WELL TAILORED & LOOK JUST LIKE MADE TO MEASURE GOODS. BLOUSES, UNDERWEAR ARE NOT MADE MERELY TO SELL THEY ARE MADE TO SATISIFY THE WEARER. 3) YES [a hand and finger points left] THIS IS THE WAY TO BARKER'S, 4) THE STYLES WE SHOW STAND HIGHEST IN FASHION'S FAVOUR. 5) MILLINERY FOR LADIES & CHILDREN ... THING WE EXCEL IN