Historic Darlington butchers Taylor's celebrates centenary

Taylor’s butchers, founded in Darlington, has become almost synonymous with the town, serving hundreds of thousands of customers over the long period.

First established in 1922 by Harry Taylor, the business has spanned several generations of the same family and gradually expanded to become one of the regions most popular butchers.

Founder Harry Taylor outside the initial Skinnergate store in 1922

Taylor's began its journey in 43 Skinnergate, Darlington, before expanding into next door and then moving into further along the street throughout the Second World War.  

The business has always stayed strong to its family roots, with Harry’s sons Bobby, Cyril, Dick and Jimmy working alongside their father once they were of age. Harry Taylor died in 1947, leaving his sons to carry on the legacy.

How the store looked in the 1970s

In 1952, Bobby Taylor left the business and just five years later his brother Cyril sadly died, leaving Jimmy to run the business solo. Under Jimmy’s reign, the butchers saw another expansion on Skinnergate to house the growing workforce of 50 employees.

Jimmy retired in 1975, leaving the business to his daughter Pamela and his nephew Tony. With the business still expanding, the pair purchased a factory on Green Street, off Yarm Road in Darlington, and Pamela had recruited the help of her sons, Paul, Stuart and Nigel. 

The Skinnergate store in 1994

Over the years the business saw immense growth with the addition of wholesale customers and a fleet of vans delivering across the North East. In 2006, Paul, Stuart and Nigel took over and in 2007 they opened a larger purpose-built factory on Lingfield Way. 

In 2012 an opportunity arose to open a butcher’s shop in Framwellgate Moor, Durham. This was the first of many out-of-town shops that opened, including further properties in Ferryhill, Richmond, Middlesbrough and Newton Hall.

What started as a one-shop family-run business has now turned into a chain of butchers spanning across the North East. The fifth generation of Taylor’s has now joined the business, with James, Alex and Andrew set to take over. The trio are undergoing various courses to support the business and continue the legacy of the trade. 

The butchers have been a firm favourite in the North East for the past 100 years and is only set to continue growing.

An old bill for the firm in the 1940s

Timeline of events: 

1922 - The business established 

1922 - 43 Skinnergate is purchased 

1930 - 44 Skinnergate is purchased 

1939 - 1945 - 41 & 42 Skinnergate is purchased

1947 - Harry Taylor passed away 

1952 - Bobby Taylor leaves the business 

1957 - Cyril Taylor passed away 

1959 - 45 Skinnergate is purchased

1975 - Jimmy Taylor retires

1992 - Green Street is purchased 

2006 - Pam Taylor-Garthwaite and Tony Taylor step down as directors 

2010 - Cafe opened 

2012 - Framwell Gate Moor shop opened

2013 - Ferryhill shop opened

2014 - Richmond shop opened

2015 - Belmont shop opened

2016 - Newton Hall shop opened

2017 - Middlesbrough shop opened

2019 - Blackhall shop opened

An article in The Northern Echo from 1989 on the business

Left to right: Andrew, Nigel, James, Paul, Alex and Stuart, all of the Taylor family outside the Skinnergate shop in 2022

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054