Photograph Collections:
Elm Grove area
My neck of the woods. I thought it was time to research some buildings around where I live. An area that doesn’t really get much of a mention in the history books.
Sadly I have few photos to show these shops as they were and have to rely on quite recent photos. I would dearly love to add photographs of how they used to look. If anyone has any old photographs of the shops listed below please contact me.
Image: © Carol Homewood
Briefly for a day or so in January 2015, the old signage for A Cut Above hairdressers business was visible.
A Cut Above started business here during the 1970s sometime. I recall going here as a child. Before this though, it was Clarkes the Bakers. It must have been on my trips with my Mum to take my brother to school at Elm Grove that I remember going into Clarkes bakers. I recall the counter being along the back wall.
124 Elm Grove had been a bakers for most of its years. Before Clarkes bakers during the 1960s it was Gigins the bakers. Gigins started business here c.1927 up until the late 1950s. Previous to this the Roberts family had their bakers business here from c.1905 up until 1926.
This shop has been boarded up for many years but now being renovated and to become a coffee shop. Much to the joy of the parents of children at Elm Grove school.
Image: © Carol Homewood
From the 1930s is was run by Frederick Wakeling. In the 1970s it was known as Verver's General Stores.
Image: © Carol Homewood
It was also known as St Paul's School for Boys and a little later as St Mary's School for Boys. It was a school up until the Second World War when it became the Education Committees work dept and later an Education supply store.
Image: © Carol Homewood
Image: © Carol Homewood
Dating back to c.1908 the first proprietor was J.E.Bissell. During the 1930s Mrs Lowe was the shopkeeper. She was here up until the 1960s. During the late 1960s it became Flair the Ladies Hairdressers, a place I remember being taken to as a little child.
I'm not sure when this closed. It was still there in 1972. Afterwards it was converted into the house we see today.
Image: © Carol Homewood
The Heather family ran this store up until the 1940s when it became Hartley's Stores ran by H.H & M.E Hartley. They were only here a short time before it was taken over by J.H.Woods. The store changed hands a few times after this before finally becoming a hairdressers. It seems to still exist as a hairdressers but I have yet to see it open.
Image: © Carol Homewood
From at least 1915 up until the 1960s this was Henry Robinsons newsagents. Later taken over by W.H Crane. I have a couple of memories of visiting this newsagents during the 1970s.
Image: © Carol Homewood
Now being converted into housing I believe.
Image: © Carol Homewood
Prior to this though it was a fish merchants. Arthur Allen had the business from the 1940s up until the mid 1960s. Previous to this it was owned by a John Marshall throughout the 1920s and 30s. Before this I cannot find any businesses listed at this address however there is a photograph of it as a shoes and boot repairers.
