Family's barber business to close after 120 years

8:54am Tuesday 24th April 2007

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A BARBER'S shop run by the same family for almost 120 years is closing.

Don Gowland is hanging up his comb and scissors after running his gentlemen's hairdressing salon for 50 years.

The shop in Nelson Street, Consett, County Durham, was first opened by his grandfather, Bob, in 1889.

When he retired, Mr Gowland's father, Edgar, took over and taught Don the tricks of the trade when he was 15.

But Edgar Gowland died four years later and 19-year-old Don took over the running of the shop to support his mother, Vera.

The furnishings remain the same as when he took over, with old-fashioned chairs, ashtrays on stands and signs advertising Brylcreem products.

Mr Gowland, who is 69, and lives in Bridgehill, Consett, said: "I have never altered it. There is no point.

"People like it more this way. It is old-fashioned and that is part of the appeal.

"My father was a barber before me and his father before him, so it is like a family tradition.

"I learned from watching my dad, and eventually some of the older customers would say 'Let the lad have a go'.

"I have got fellas that come in here and have never had their cut anywhere else."

Mr Gowland has two children, but neither has followed him into the family business.

His son, Nigel, is the general manager of a Liverpool-based leisure company while daughter Julie is the area manager of an insurance company.

Mr Gowland started off doing shaves as well as haircuts but said the fashion for a wet shave using a cut-throat razor had faded.

He does straight-forward haircuts for men, but does not cater for women.

He said: "There's no one can cut a bloke's hair like another bloke.

"The trend seems to be to have unisex salons, but women just faff about too much.

"Haircuts seem to have gone full circle. Young kids these days want the same as they did 50 years ago - a short back and sides."

Mr Gowland is planning to travel to Spain and the US later in the year following his retirement on May 12.

He said that busy days standing over people put too much strain on his back and legs.

He added: "I used to be one of the youngest barbers in Consett and now I am one of the oldest."