See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Top

Number 211

The 1792 survey of New Brentford shows a building with a frontage of 26 feet on this site, a good match to that recorded in the 1909/10 Valuation, 25 feet.

No. 211 was an ironmongers for over 40 years : George Fulham Searle 1839, 1841 and 1845; John Giles 1851, 1861, 1871 & 1881.

In 1887 an advert appeared in the Middlesex Independent for 'Henry Grubb, The Golden Key, 211 High Street, Ironmonger, Locksmith and Bellhanger' 'Kitchen utensils repaired and re-tinned' (L).

The premises were uninhabited in 1891. In 1901 Henry Power, mechanical engineer, headed a household of 10 at this address. He is listed as the occupier in the 1909/10 Valuation Records (Harry George Power), paying an annual rent of £50.

The 1911 census records Harry George Power, 'cycle making and general' at this address with his wife and 7 of his surviving 9 children (a further 4 had died by 1911). The house had 8 rooms.

The premises were on a good site with large workshops at rear at the time of the 1909/10 Valuation. No. 211 had a frontage of 25'.

No. 211 was G & N Wilsher's shop in the late 1950s, selling cycles, toys and fishing tackle. See links below to photos.

This was 'Brentford Tandoori' in 2003 (L).

Top

Number 212

The Poor Rate of 1836 records Bunting as the occupier of a house and shop three doors along from the Castle, followed by George Walbran, occupier of a house and shop. The Pigot Directory of 1839 includes William Bunting and George Walbran, linen drapers.

In the 1841 census William Bunting headed a household of 12, including four male apprentices and two female servants, the whole household was born in Middlesex. By 1851 George Walbran, who ran a drapers' shop next door, had taken over number 212. Number 212 continued as a drapers until around WW1, see notes for 213 for more information.

The 1909/10 Valuation records C E Low as the occupier, although there is a note from April 1915 explaining that the lessee has just forfeited the lease as the rent was excessive and no. 212 was vacant at the time of the inspection. The property was described as three storey stock brick built with parapet walls and common wood shops fronts. The premises were in poor repair.

Number 213 was put up for sale in 1918: numbers 212 and 213 were separate premises.

In 1921 Reginald Dear, cycle maker, lived at number 212. A fire took hold in the shop, reported in the Lancashire Evening Post 07 July 1924 and Reginald, his wife and two children avoided death by jumping 20 feet to the street below. The news item noted this was the narrowest point of the High Street. Having survived this, Dear continued as a cycle dealer at this address until 1928, later moving to 143 High Street by 1933.

Directories from 1933 & 1940 show James Baker, boot and shoe dealers, at this address. A photo from around 1945 shows awning ‘Wear Bakers Shoes’.

Following redevelopment in the 1960s, Vic Arnold, Scoutmaster of the 6th Brentford Scouts, ran Arnold's Sports from 212 High Street. He was President of the Brentford Chamber of Commerce between 1979 and 1982 (Brentford Chamber of Commerce website, accessed April 2020). Arnold's Camping and Sports continued at 212 High Street until August 1994.

Middlesex Chronicle 06 October 1994 announced that Brentford's crime prevention panel was to use 212 High Street to give advice to locals on how to keep safe from crime.

Labelworks was based at this address in 1997.See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a links to photos of this property.

Top

Number 213

The 1792 survey of New Brentford shows a building with frontage 19' 6" on this site, a good match to the 19' frontage in the 1909/10 Valuation.

A drapers from 1826 or earlier, initially run by George Walbran (recorded in the 1826 and 1839 Pigot trade directories). The 1851 census shows he was in born Thirsk, Yorkshire, employed 5 men and had taken over number 212 by the time of the census. George was unmarried and two sisters were living with him in 1851.

In 1861 5 shopmen were living in the premises and the household was headed by George Walbran (aged 62) and his two sisters, Mary 59 and Ann 57; they all gave their birthplace as Topcliffe, which is near Thirsk, Yorkshire.

George died in Brentford in 1869 and was succeeded by Charles Pearson Low (from Chester-le-Street, Durham) & George Low in 1871; Charles P Low is listed in 1881, 1891 and 1901.

In 1909 an advert appeared in a programme for Pleasant Saturday Evenings at the Brentford Town Mission: C E Low, draper and milliner, 212 and 213 High Street, noting New Millinery Showroom Now Open.

No. 213 was recorded in the 1909/10 Valuation as a house and shop, owned and occupied by Charles Edmund Lowe, sold in December 1908 for £800. It was a three storey stock brick built and tiled shop with cement upper part extending over right of way with a wood shop front to lower part. It contained a basement cellar, ground floor shop, store, kitchen and scullery and outside WC; first floor 3 rooms and top floor 4 rooms. There was a one storey stable at the rear in the yard and the property was in 'fair condition only'.

In the 1911 census numbers 213 and 214 were shown in the summary as 'buildings not used as dwellings', occupied by Mr Low. This is at odds with the address from a 1913 trade directory which shows the business was run by Charles E Low from numbers 212 and 213.

Advertisements were placed in 1918 and 1920 for the sale by auction of 213 High Street, a freehold property, with vacant possession in 1920. The adverts add more detail: for example the stables were detached and for six horses; in 1920 a portion of the premises was let at 7s 6d a week.

In 1921 Henry R Milsom, Customs & Excise Officer for Brentford, Ealing and part of Hanwell was recorded at no. 213.

By 1921 no. 212 was a cycle dealer's (Reginald Dear) and no. 213 was Hopes Ltd, domestic store, who remained there until 1943. In 1939 nobody lived at no. 213.

In January 1944 Timothy Whites & Taylor advertised for 'assistants in their household stores depts full or part-time' at this address.

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Top

Number 214

The 1792 survey of New Brentford marks a 'new gateway' between numbers 213 and 214, 10' 6" wide. This is visible in the tithe map, where the plot reference links it to the owner of 214, and it is also noted in the 1909/10 Valuation, see following notes. In 1792 no. 214 was 'Mr Woodcock's'.

Charles James Murphy, a printer/bookseller/bookbinder from 1839 - 1861; followed by Mrs Isabella Coulton, printer & stationer 1871/1874, then John Frederick Coulton printer & stationer 1881 - 1913.

The 1909/10 Valuation describes no. 214 as a house and shop of 3 storeys, stock brick built and tiled, with parapet walls and flat roof with workshops at rear (in good condition). The shop had a 'common wood front'. On the ground floor were a shop and office, private entrance, scullery and WC. In the basement: cellars and scullery. First floor: 2 rooms. Top floor: 3 rooms (poor condition). At the rear were a two storey workshops and lean-to machinery room. 'The property has right of way over side passage'. (The accompanying plan shows this running between numbers 213 and 214).

The 1911 census records 214 twice, in both cases as a building not used as a dwelling, first with no. 213, occupied by Mr Low, then on its own, occupier JF Coulton Ltd.

In 1913 the premises were shared with John Laycock, surveyor of customs & excise for Brentford & Francis Kelly, customs & excise, old age pensions & national insurance officer for Brentford & Hanwell.

Top

Number 215

In the 1792 survey of New Brentford, no. 215 was recorded with a frontage of 18', and the same was noted in the 1909/10 Valuation.

A pork butchers for over 60 years, according to trade directories / census returns from 1839 - 1901. Surnames of occupiers: Terry, Parker, Morris & Bates; not listed in the 1913 directory but reappears later as United Dairies (London) Ltd.

The 1911 census shows no. 215 was a shop with a flat over it, unoccupied at the time.

In the 1909/1910 Valuation, which took place on 9 April 1915 no. 215 was described asa 3 storey, stock brick built & tiled shop, with extensive stables at rear, with entrance from a Right of Way, formerly occupied by a butcher but now empty and in very bad condition' (T). See Elizabeth Thormod's research into her Bates family.

Top

Number 216

I believe a Henry John Robinson, plumber lived here in 1841. 70 years later the property was owned by a H Dalgarno-Robinson, possibly a descendant.

The property had a miscellany of businesses in the 1840 - 1940 period, including George Keyworth, cutter (1861), John Morris, chemist (1871) and John Langley, draper (1881) when the property was called The Little Wonder; John Langley was from Cario, Glamorgan and his sister Elizabeth a 'farmer's daughter' lived with him. It remained a drapers in 1890 / 1891: William Henry Pearce born in Wendover Bucks, 38 in 1891. He and his family had moved from Kent to Brentford in the last 7 years.

George Tarrant was recorded in Kelly's 1898 directory as provision dealer at this address, but he lived elsewhere. In 1901 locally-born Joseph Kirby, 31, provision manager lived here with his housekeeper, Annie Prince, widow age 34, also born in Brentford. Joseph was a 'worker', presumably for George Tarrant, as it is the latter's name recorded in a 1907 street directory.

The 1911 census records just Annie Prince, a Brentford-born widow, age 44, working as a housekeeper and occupying the flat over the shop. The property had 4 rooms.

By 1911 Arthur Purkis owned the provision store.

In 1915 it was described as a 'three storey stock brick built shop, flat roof, large projecting first floor window, wood framed, flat roof, extending over pavement'(T).

The business continued under the name Arthur Purkis in 1933 and 1937. Arthur retired around this time and in 1939 he and his wife Florence and family were at 8 Boston Manor Road (their name now spelt Purkiss). Meanwhile Annie Price, occupant in 1911, was still living over the shop; she was a retired grocer's assistant, age 73.

Arthur’s son Richard Harry Purkiss married Patricia Sarah Jones in 1933 and he took over the running of the business. He was recorded at no. 216 in a 1940 street directory.

Following the war it seems he moved away, as a Richard Harry Purkiss was advertised as the new proprietor of the Post Office Stores in East Hoathly, Sussex (Sussex Agricultural Express 09 February 1945). It seems likely to be the same man – it is an unusual combination of names.

The name Purkiss was still linked to the stores in 1946: Marylebone Mercury 02 November 1946 carried an advert: Grocery & Provisions Lady assistant required full or part time. Purkiss Stores, 216 High Street, Brentford.

In 2022 FaceBook had a great view of the bay window of no. 216 and at that point W J Daubney, greengrocer and fruiterer was the shop owner.

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Number 217

This was a saddlers and harness makers for many decades.

The 1793 Universal Directory includes William King, harness maker. Land tax records and the 1811 census show John King as a tenant of property some doors along from the Castle. The 1826 Pigot’s directory includes William King, saddler, and land tax records place him in the same property as previously tenanted by John King. The 1841 census shows he was 40, a harness maker, not born in Middlesex (which is odd if he is a relative of John King, the earlier tenant).

The 1851 census reveals more about William King: he was 53, a harness maker, born in Kelvedon, Essex, and living with him was his sister Susannah - both unmarried. In 1861 he termed himself 'gentleman' - presumably no longer working - and Susannah lived with him. Next door lived Henry Thick, saddler: is it a coincidence a younger saddler lived next door to an older harness maker?

By 1879 the High Street was numbered and Samuel Goddard's 'Auction and Estate Agency Offices' were at no. 217.

The 1881 census records 217 as Auctioneers Office S Goddard's and the property was occupied by William A Baker, 30, clerk to auctioneer, his wife, three sons age 5 and under and a 13-year-old nursemaid. Only the youngest son, Frederick, age 1 was born in Brentford: the family had moved here from Hammersmith.

By 1886 the business was Messrs Goddard and Wiggins, Business Agents.

Middlesex Independent 05 January 1887 reported Joseph Bates of 218 High Street and his son, together with Charles Wylding of 217 High Street, were summoned with obstructing the footpath on Christmas Eve (a meat sale).

In 1891 Arthur Massie and his brother Walter were running a butchers. They were 24 and 21, born Old Kent Road, London.

They had moved on within years as the Middlesex Independent, 16 January 1895, carried an advert for Winter, Practical Tailor, 217 High Street 'a marvel of cheapness' offering an overcoat for 21 shillings.

Directories show Mrs Sarah Wimpey, confectioner, at no.217 in 1898 and 1899.By 1901 another change of occupant: Ann Bissell, widow, age 66 and born Shropshire lived here with her daughters and a nephew. The girls, Ellen 34 and Louisa 28, were both confectioners working on their own account, so presumably no. 217 was a confectionery shop. The enumerator has added 'baker' by Ellen’s name: the shop sold cakes and the like. They also sold fireworks for Guy Fawkes night. Middlesex Independent 26 October 1901 carried this advert:
FIREWORKS! FIREWORKS! A good variety of Brock's Crystal Palace Fireworks can be obtained from E. and L. Bissell, 217, High Street, Brentford.

Middlesex & Surrey Express 17 January 1908 reported a case heard at the Brentford Sessions involving the alleged theft of 10 shillings from Walter Ling, of 217 High Street, confectioner, but was not at this address three years later. In a trade directory of 1907 he was named as Walter LANG.

In 1911 Ernest Spiller, a commercial traveller in drapery, born in Wimborne, Dorset, lived at no. 217 with his wife Ada and stepdaughter Winifred James. The property had 5 rooms.

A 1921 directory shows Montagu William Arthur Telfer, confectioner, at 217.

1928: Miss Dorothy Asbury, confectioner.

The 1939 Register records Claude Blunden, news and tobacconist (manager) at 217 High Street, with his wife Alice, son Michael and Clara Phelps, a widow, possibly his mother-in-law.

Middlesex Chronicle 31 August 1940 reported the theft of 18 copies of a newspaper, value 3 shillings, the property of Herbert D Stannard.

The 1952 electoral register reords Frederick A and Florence Wood at this address.

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Top

Number 218

In 1881 William Hill, tailor, 32 born Oxford lived here with his wife, Eliza C, 31, also born Oxford and their children Florence L 10 born in Brentford, Kate 7 and William F 4 both born Southsea Hampshire and youngest son William E, 2, born Brentford. Richard B Cox, 18, a hatter born in Bristol, Somerset, boarded with the family.

Ten years later, 1891, the Kent family lived at 218: John Kent, widower, 77 a stationer with his brood of unmarried children: Emma S Norton, 50; John C Kent, 46, grocer's assistant; George M Kent, 41, teacher of music; Esther M Kent, 39, shop assistant. The eldest daughter was born in Brentford (and somehow came to have a different surname) and the two youngest in Tottenham; the father was born in Newington or Kensington (unclear) and John C's birthplace was London St (unclear).

The Kent family had moved away by 1898, Kelly's trade directory records Sidney Sheppard shoe maker at this address with a second shop at 20 Windmill Road. The same directory has George Montague Kent, toy dealer at 20 Half Acre; he may be the George M Kent noted in 1891.

Mrs Elizabeth Sheppard, National School teacher, lived here in 1901 and Sidney Sheppard, music seller, is recorded here in a 1913 trade directory.

The 1911 census reveals they were a married couple, Sidney a shopkeeper and musician and wife Elizabeth elementary school teacher. The census asks whether the person works at home and Sidney completed 'at home and out'. The couple had been married 27 years and one of their two children survived. Elizabeth was Brentford born.

In 1915 Sidney Sheppard was the owner and occupier of this ...old two storey stock brick built & tiled shop with attic dormer in roof. Large projecting wood-framed window to first floor extending over pavement...small shop with iron spiral staircase to first floor being only way up.

By 1928 Mrs M Woods ran an eel pie shop here and she is listed here in 1933 & 1940. 'This shop was especially important on Saturday nights, selling steak pies & mash or stewed eels & mash' (O).

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Number 219

A china shop run by the Christmas family for over 50 years: Mrs Elizabeth Christmas from 1839 - 1871, then her daughter Elizabeth, then her daughter Sarah Christmas until the early 1890s. There is a PCC will for William Christmas in 1839, husband to Elizabeth.

The premises were later a grocers, run by Albert E Moore in 1901. Middlesex Independent 25 September 1895 reported the marriage of Mr A E Moore of 219 High Street to Miss F Edwards of 20 Boston Park Road at the Wesleyan Church (five bridesmaids).

Moore advertised as a grover and provision dealer, tea blender and patent medicine dealer Middlesex Independent 20 June 1903.

In the 1911 census 219 was a shop in the category 'building not used as a dwelling', occupied by 'Mr More'.

The 1909/10 Valuation returns describe the property in 1915 as a small shop owned by Alfred Platt, c/o Platts Stores, High Street Hounslow. By 1913 Albert Edward Moore, from Bristol, is listed as running a provision stores spanning number 219 - 221. Demolished ca 1968 (D)

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Top

Numbers 220/221

Two separate properties originally. In the 1792 survey of New Brentford 220 had a frontage of 13' and 221 of 12'.

In the 1901 census numbers 220 and 221 were reported as a single property. The frontage was 23' 3" (1909/10 Valuation).

Number 220 was used by tallow chandlers in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses.

Charles Teale, fishmonger and poulterer, 220 High Street, was defendant in a case heard at Brentford Petty Sessions and reported in the Uxbridge & W. Drayton Gazette 13 April 1878. He was accused of using abusive language towards his neighbour, Miss Sarah Christmas, at 219 High Street. Teale had lived at 220 High Street for five or six years according to the press report, so moved in around 1872 or 1873. There were tensions between Teale and Christmas: she had a letter published in the Middlesex Chronicle 08 December 1877 in which she complained about the smells emanating from Mr Teale's business.

Teale must have moved on not long after his run-in with Miss Christmas as Joseph Bates, fishmonger, was recorded here in 1881 and 1890 (trade directory). Middlesex Independent 29 August 1891 carried an advert for E Treadway, fishmonger, poulterer, etc of 220 High Street that notes he took over the business from Mr J Bates; his advert noted
'Haddocks cured on the premises'.
More smells for Miss Christmas!

Meanwhile, at no. 221 Miss Mary Ann Heath from Carshalton, Surrey, ran a dressmakers and milliners in 1851 and 1861, when she employed 2 apprentices and 2 women: the 1861 household included her sister, Eva Augusta and niece, Amelia. In 1871 Miss Rosa A Heath ran the business, she also came from Carshalton and is presumably related to Mary Ann Heath, but the connection is unknown, I have not found her in the 1861 census. If you are interested in the Heath family, see Jan Chinnery's list of Heath entries extracted from trade directories.

Middlesex Independent 04 November 1896 reported the Works Committee recommended the approval of plans from Mr Cost for alterations to shops No. 220 and 221 High Street for Mr Alfred Platt.- Agreed.

An article published in the run-up to Christmas, 1900, refers to Platt's Stores at 220 High Street, and in the census of 1901, 220 and 221 High Street were recorded as one property, occupied by Frank Dominey, 32, grocer's manager, two male grocer's assistants and a housekeeper.

1907 trade directory: numbers 220 and 221 'Platts Stores Limited, W E Holman manager'.

The 1911 census shows Frank Dominey (42), his wife May (26) and children Bruce (3) and Marion (1) living at no. 220, with Kate Blundell, a 15-year old servant (all except Frank were Northamptonshire born). Frank was a 'grocery manager' and the census summary shows numbers 220 and 221 recorded together. The return completed by Frank for no. 220 shows it had 7 rooms, this may include no. 221.

Frank Edwin Dominey married Lilian May Flack in the third quarter of 1906, Northampton registration district. Their son Bruce's birth was registered here in 1908, then Marion Winifred the following year, consistent with the Platt's grocery manager being W E Holman in 1907, not Dominey.

In 1911 Platts Stores were described as a new brick & slated modern shop with granite pilasters, double front, red brick and stone built floor ... Well built about 1896. There is a small sketch plan of the property in the Valuation Records at The National Archives. (T).

By 1928 David Greig Ltd ran the provision stores from numbers 219 - 221, he remained there until (at least) 1940; demolished ca 1968 (D)

Top

Number 222

John Browning's research, using Manorial Records and other documents held at Chiswick Library, suggests that from 1755 to 1788 John Southey, a tailor, occupied this property, which the New Brentford survey of 1792 shows as being owned by 'Strudwick', frontage 13'.

From 1816 John Gregory was tenant of a property owned by Mr Strudwick and the Pigot directory from 1826 includes John Gregory, baker & flour dealer, New Brentford. It is assumed this is the same man.

By 1841 the property was occupied by Henry Elgood, a baker, who remained at this property in 1851. He was followed by George Boxall, also a baker, in 1861 and 1871 and then Thomas Atkins, baker (1881 and 1882).

Middlesex Independent 06 November 1889 carried an advertisement:
222 High Street, Brentford
E. J. King
(Late of Northolt),
Begs respectfully to inform the inhabitants of Brentford and its vicinity that he has taken the old-established business of
Bread and Biscuit Baker and Corn Dealer
Carried on by Mr T Atkins at the above address for many years past and is soliciting their esteemed patronage assures them that he will supply PURE AND FIRST-CLASS ARTICLES, and that nothing will be wanting on his part to give satisfaction.
Wedding & Other Cakes of every description made to order. Families waited upon daily.

The new occupier was Edward John King, whose name appears in a directory of 1890.

An advert placed in the Middlesex Independent 14 January 1891 announced E J King had 'lately largely developed that branch of his business which is devoted to CORN, HAY, STRAW, BIRD SEEDS, POULTRY FOOD, etc.'

The same advert appeared until 1 August 1891.

In 1898 W & R Fletcher Ltd, butchers were recorded at this address. In 1901 no. 222 was occupied by James Bates, a fruiterer and greengrocer (born Chiswick). A photo from 1905 shows 'C M Page' at this property. In 1907 (trade directory) J & P Field, butchers used the property and an advert from 1909 for Pleasant Sunday Evenings at the Brentford Town Mission, Old Spring Gardens, includes an advert

A 1911 trade directory lists William James, fishmonger, as trading from this address. In the census this year the property was a 'lock-up shop' with no occupier.

The property was valued in 1915, details noted include:

House and shop, gross value £50, rateable value £43.

Occupier J. Williams. Owner Frank Albert Field, London Road, Newbury (possibly the Frank A. Field who lived at no. 183 High Street in 1901, a carpenter)

Freehold. Rent £50. Former sales: about 1907, consideration £810.

A 2 storey and attic stock brick built tiles shop premises. Upper part cement faced. Lower part with open shop front. Contains:

Ground floor: shop, office, kitchen, small yard, stable First floor: 3 partitioned rooms. 2 attics, basement cellar. Fair condition only. Gross valuation: £750.

A small accompanying plan shows numbers 222 and 223. The stable behind no.222 was accessible from a right of way from Half Acre. The stable was in 'fair' condition.

In 1913 the property was used by Edward Michael and Co., butchers and it remained a butchers shop until at least 1940: British & Argentine Meat Co (1923) Ltd (1928 and 1933); Dewhursts (1940).

Was the property which appears in photos from the early 1900s the same property as John Southey lived in over 150 years previously, following a rebuilding of neighbouring properties on the east (between 1881 and 1891) and west (1896)? Quentin Pickard advises

'I think it is certainly pre-19th century. Most of the Victorian buildings in the High Street were wider, taller and more grandiose than the 'Page' shop, which seems to be of a similar scale to the bow-fronted buildings on the left of the picture (which I think are also pre-19th century). The steeply-pitched tiled roof with dormers is seen in quite a number of pre-Victorian buildings in Brentford (see for instance the 1848 engraving of Brentford market place by Wilkins). Tiled roofs (at least in London) tend to be pre-Victorian because it was the railways that first enabled Welsh slate to be transported cheaply enough for use in London. The 'cement faced' upper floor mentioned, could in fact be a facing to a timber frame, again suggesting an earlier date.'

Top

Number 223

Originally no. 223 was next but one to the Half Acre and High Street junction. The 1792 survey of New Brentford (Chiswick Library) shows Henderson owned this property and numbers 221 and 224. 223 and 224

No. 223 appears to have been unoccupied in 1841 and 1851. In 1861 it is possible Henry Ilsley, a greengrocer, lived here. By 1871 George Buchanan, a gas fitter, occupied no. 223 and he remained here in 1881.

A rebuild of numbers 223 and 224 took place between 1881 and 1891 to create bank premises for Barclays. Edward Prisnall was the bank manager recorded at this address in 1891 and 1901; the property was called 'Old Bank' in an 1898 Kelly's directory, which is a mystery as it was relatively new. Was there a bank on this site before 1861? An 1839 Pigot directory records a Savings Bank in New Brentford, open every Monday from 12 until 2, Joseph Hill secretary, but there is no evidence it was at this location.

In 1911 Percival Mallinson, born Croydon, was the bank manager occupying 'Barclays Bank House' at 223 High Street, with his wife and teenage children (born Egham, Surrey). The property had 9 rooms. In 1913 the bank manager was Herbert Oscar Jarvis.

In 1915 it was assessed as part of the 1909/10 Valuation Returns and described as a 'substantially built corner premises ... 3 storeys, upper part red brick built & slated'; it continued to be Barclays Bank with bank managers Charles William Ashman, 1933 and in B J Lane in 1940.

In 1970 Goddards Furniture moved into newly built premises which occupied former numbers 217 to 224: the new premises were addressed as '225 High Street' in 1997. Barclays Bank occupied no. 203 on the corner of Market Place in 1997 (L).

Top

Number 224

Owned by Henderson in 1792, this property was on the western corner of Half Acre until 1882, when it was demolished and the bank was built. The new bank premises occupied the site of the original no. 223 and part of the site of 224: 23 feet of the 30 feet available.

In the period 1861 - 1881 it was the Crown and Anchor beerhouse, run by Richard Lunn (1861), Francis Reed (1871), Mrs F. Reed (1874) and John Taylor, who was also a car man, (1881). The number of residents ranged from 11 to 16 in the three censuses. Vic Rosewarne has researched the history of the Crown and Anchor.

Prior to being a beerhouse, no. 224 was probably occupied by Thomas Davis, carpenter in 1851 and Samuel Grocock, auctioneer & appraiser, in 1841.

Top

Photos/Ephemera/Maps

Links are included below to any photos, ephemera or maps accessible on this site.

Photos

References such as '1899 (X11)' indicate the date of a photo (1899) and where it is published (X11). Details of 'X' are available: see Mainly paper sources page; '11' refers to the page no, or photo no. in the publication.

209 - 210 1945/6 (H)

209 - 212 June 1966 (A57); postcard 1930

211 - 211a Pearks 1945 (H); G & N Wilsher late 1950s postcard

212 Lewis' drapers 1905 (C17); 1909 advert C E Low draper & milliner (L); 1945/6 photo; late 1950s postcard

213 Dairy Supply Co. 1905 (C17) & A(54); 1909 advert C E Low draper & milliner (L); postcard 1930;1945/6 photo; late 1950s postcard; June 1966 (A57)

214 Advert J.F. Coulton printer etc., St George's Parish Magazine 1898 (L); Frederick Coulton, printer 1905 (C17); c 1905 (K117); July 1905 (A54); June 1966 (A57); 1945/6 photo (H)

215 July 1905 (A54); June 1966 (A57); Thomas Bates, butcher 1905 (C17); Thomas Bates, cash butcher 1905 (K117); 1960s (L)

215 - 220 1960s (L)

215-222 1960s Quentin Pickard (larger version of photo at the top of this page)

216 - 219 1945/6 (H)

216 Tarrants dairy July 1905 (A54); June 1966 (A57); Tarrants Dairy 1905 (C17); Tarrants Dairy July 1905 (D8); Tarrants Dairy, 1905 (K117)

217 - 222 Pre WW1 (A53)

217 July 1905 confectioners (A54); Chas Nias confr 1905 (C17)

218 July 1905 (A54); Sheppards boot 1905 (C17); July 1905 (D8); Pre WW1 (A53)

219 - 223 1905 (D8)

221 Platts Stores Pre WW1 (A53); Platts Stores, 1905 (D8)

222 1935 (A52); C M Page 1905 (D8); 1909 advert J & P Field, butchers (L)

223 1935 Barclays Bank (A52); Goddards Furniture store in 1996 (A); Goddards Furniture 1978

Maps

1838 Tithe map modern numbers 209 to 224 are tithe property refs 321 to 336

1894 Ordnance Survey Map annotated with house numbers

Hand-drawn plan showing 1930's shops and the later building line after the construction of Lion Way

Top

Roads Off

'New Gateway' marked in late 18th-century plan survived as an entry between numbers 213 and 214 into the 20th century and possibly later

Half Acre between numbers 224 and 225

Published 2006; last updated April 2022