Shop attendants, 30 Royal Exchange

Mrs Evans (left) and Mrs Lane at Carter's Umbrellas, 30 Royal Exchange, 1974. They had worked there for 15 and 11 years respectively when this photograph was taken and had both been associated with the umbrella trade since leaving school. They jokingly called themselves 'the two old ladies of Threadneedle Street' in reference to the 'old lady' nickname for the nearby Bank of England. The women told photographer John Eastcott that over the years they had seen an increase in patterned gentlemen's umbrellas, more fancy colourful ladies' umbrellas, and a tremendous rise in price. In 1974 the price of ladies' umbrellas ranged from £1.75 to £6.50, and gentlemen's from £2.10 to £10.95.