Shops

48, High Street. Throughout the first half of the 19th Century No. 48 was occupied by a painting and decorating business. From about 1861 until 1924, this was a chemist’s shop. In 1924, the men’s clothier George Goddard at No. 49 expanded into No. 48, joining the two into one shop.  c1822 – c1861 (Richard … Continue reading 48

49, High Street. No. 49 was one of the smaller High Street shops. On the ground floor c1900 there were two rooms, a kitchen, a side passage, back yard with outside toilet and a coal store. Upstairs was a sitting room, two bedrooms and clothing room. There were two attic rooms. For many years, from … Continue reading 49

50, High Street. c1836 (William Hunter) White’s Directory for 1836 lists William Hunter, a tailor and draper, at this address. He is also recorded here in the 1837 Poll Book. Earlier, in Pigot’s directory for 1822, where no addresses are given, a Wm. Hunter and a Thomas Hunter are both listed as tailors and drapers … Continue reading 50

51, High Street.      The old shop at No. 51 had three storeys, with residential accommodation on the first and second floors which was used by the owners for a family house until the early 1900s. There was a yard entrance to the left of the frontage, with the shop entrance immediately to the right … Continue reading 51

52 and 52½, High Street For very many years, from 1822 or earlier, this was a gun shop. There would appear to have been other commercial uses accommodated at this address, probably in buildings at the rear of the premises. In Kelly’s directory for 1858, alongside John Youngs Potter’s gun shop are listed Mrs. Mary … Continue reading 52

53 & 53a, High Street The numbering needs explanation here. Going in the direction of the Tuesday Market Place, No. 52 is followed by No. 53a, then No. 53. In earlier days, these were two narrow-fronted shops with a passage between them which led to a small yard at the rear of the properties. The … Continue reading 53

54 & 54a, High Street   This was a shop with a frontage that was comparable in width with many others in High Street. However, it had very little in the way of external space, accommodation or storage at the rear of the premises. In 1924, when Jonathan Empson had the premises altered, examination of … Continue reading 54

No. 55, High Street This was a most distinctive, three-storey property with an angled entrance on the corner of High Street and Norfolk Street. For over 150 years there was a pharmacy on the ground floor. The property was owned for many years by the William Cleave Charity, until it was sold by the trustees … Continue reading 55

1830 (Mary Ann Tuck) Mary Ann Tuck, a milliner and dressmaker, was listed here in 1830 (Pigot). c1836 (Frances Susan West) White’s Directory for 1836 lists Frances West (b. c1802 in Guist, Norfolk – d. 1867 in Birmingham, aged 61), a straw hat maker, at this address. Later that year, or early in 1837, she … Continue reading 56

No. 57, High Street c1822 – c1834 (Christopher Peek) Christopher Peek, a grocer, tea dealer and tallow chandler was listed here in 1830 (Pigot). He also had premises at No. 114, High Street, where further details of his family will be found. In Pigot’s earlier directory, for 1822, Christopher Peek is listed in High Street … Continue reading 57