My Grandfather, Yakov Robinson

Introduction

I grew up and lived in Carlow, Ireland, until 1973, after which I studied in Dublin before making aliyah in 1978. The request below was received by my brother, who still resides in Ireland.

"I wondered if you might be interested in taking part in a project. I am doing a feature in the Nationalist (local newspaper) and in an upcoming book about Carlow. It will focus on businesses established more than 50 years ago. It would be good to include the story of how the Robinsons came to Carlow to establish their business and how it progressed through the years."

Background

In the early 1900s, the Jewish community in Ireland was relatively small but diverse. Most Jewish immigrants to Ireland during this time came from Eastern Europe, particularly Lithuania, Poland, and Russia, seeking economic opportunities and fleeing persecution. Towards the end of the 19th century, there were sufficient numbers in some rural towns to establish an organized Jewish community. The community never numbered much in excess of 60 families, probably reaching its peak just prior to World War I, and went into gradual decline during the interwar years.

Dublin had the largest Jewish community in Ireland, followed by Cork, Limerick, and Belfast. Synagogues, kosher shops, and Jewish social and cultural organizations were established in these cities to serve the needs of the growing Jewish population.

Despite their relatively small numbers, Irish Jews made significant contributions to various aspects of Irish society. Many Jewish immigrants became successful businessmen, particularly in the textile and clothing industries. Some prominent Jewish families established well-known businesses that are still operational today.

F. Robinson & Sons

This is the story of the business established by my paternal grandfather.

F. Robinson & Sons, buyers and sellers of new and second-hand high-class furniture, was established in Carlow around 1910.

Grandfather Yakov arrived in Ireland around 1906. He came to Ireland from England, where his family had found refuge from the pogroms in Russia in the late 19th century. He was advised that it was easier to make a living in Ireland, so he worked as a peddler, roaming from town to town with a pack on his back, buying and selling whatever he could. After a few years, he was able to settle down. Yakov chose to set up shop in Carlow because there was a small Jewish community there, and property was likely more affordable.

Yakov was advised to adopt a more English-sounding name and chose Philip, although he was unsure whether it was spelled with a P or an F, so the name he chose to put over the shop was P.F. Robinson & Sons. The P was later dropped.

Records from the 1911 census indicate that he resided in Carlow with his wife Fanny and their three eldest children, Rose, Ben, and Miriam, who were born in England. Fanny gave birth to four more children: Aaron (Harry), Abraham (Abe, my father), Esther, and Henry. All the boys worked in the furniture store after school before joining the family business full-time once their schooling was complete.

Abe married Adele Cuckle (my mother) in 1953. She was from Hull in the north of England and had been living and working in London. Needless to say, it was quite a culture shock, but Mum quickly made friends and learned the Irish way of doing things! A new generation of Robinsons began with my birth, and four years later, my twin brothers, Peter and John. Our childhood summers were spent climbing on rolls of carpet and playing at the back of the shop. There always seemed to be a new corner waiting for discovery.

The business was a success and gradually grew. Many new housing estates were springing up around Carlow, all needing affordable furniture. When Yakov died in 1959, Abe and Henry took over the business, extending and remodelling it in 1969. Abe specialized in buying and selling antique furniture, although he didn't always know the true value and sometimes sold items at a loss. He was closely monitored by keen antique dealers looking for a bargain!

Both brothers were keen philanthropists and generous businessmen. They would regularly include an extra chair or two and a bed or table as a gift to struggling newlyweds. The affordable floor covering of the time was linoleum or 'lino,' and customers would often come into the shop with a piece of string saying they wanted 'this much lino'!

The success of the business was largely down to the implementation of a hire purchase scheme, which enabled many people to furnish a house with a small down payment followed by affordable weekly payments. Abe's motto was: "It doesn't matter what you pay, as long as you pay something." The minimum payment was 2 shillings a week. Most houses in Carlow were furnished in this way.

No business is complete without a delivery service, and Billy and Paddy, the van drivers, were skilled at loading three houses' worth of furniture into a small van! Another summer holiday treat was to be allowed to ride "in the back of the van"!

The shop in Burrin Street was situated beside the river, so flooding was a constant threat. On several occasions, the shop was flooded, with much of the stock being ruined.

Unfortunately, the proximity to water didn't stop the premises from being engulfed in fire in 1976. The family was just having breakfast, it was close to 9am, and somebody called to the door and said: 'Your shop is on fire.' Significant fire and water damage was caused, and it took a few months before the business reopened. However, in the 'fire-damaged' sale, Robinsons managed to sell items that had been in stock for years, which nobody had wanted previously.

When Abe died in 1982, Peter, who had worked there since he left school, took over his role in the business, partnered by his uncle. In his obituary, Abe was remembered as a man who furnished many homes of newly married couples at little or no cost to them. Mum and Dad were charitable and quietly helped many people in need. My mother made aliyah in 1990 and, after another culture shock, she found her niche in Israel until she passed away in 2012.

The young Peter and Henry worked together until Henry's death in 1999. At this point, large wholesale stores were beginning to dominate the market, and business became difficult. Peter hoped to redevelop the site, but planning permission was refused, and in 2000 he made the difficult decision to close the doors.

There was little or no antisemitism in those days, and the local community always treated our family with respect. My father loved chatting about Jewish traditions, and there was always a place at our table for Jewish passers-by. On Shabbat, my father would walk to the store, chat with customers, but he never handled money nor wrote. Everybody knew the store stayed closed on Jewish Holydays when the family went to the synagogue in Dublin.

F. Robinson & Sons was one of the iconic businesses of Carlow in the second half of the 1900s. The shop was a meeting place for buyers and sellers, and there was always a bargain to be found and a story to be told.

In memory of Dad, (1914-1982)

Phillipa (née Robinson) Blatt, 2024