Elm Grove area

Many lunchtimes spent in there buying a quarter of sherbert or sweet peanuts. I'm not sure when the Candy Box finally closed up shop and was converted into a house.

It started off back in the late 1890s as a tobacconists shop. In 1917 it became a confectioners and remained so right up until its closure in the late 1980s/90s. Many changes of ownership over the last century.

By 1908 it was owned by D. Burtenshaw. A. Herridge had his dairy business here from 1913 to 1919. From 1920 up until the late 1930's or early 1940's the business had become a grocers shop run by George Edgington. From the late 1940's until 1960 the grocers business was owned by Cyril Parsons.

I think this shop was best remembered as Trenchards during the 1960's and 70's until its conversion into housing. I have a vague memory of this being a shop as a child.

It was a quaint little grocers shop which sold fresh cakes in the window. I remember going here often as a child through the 1970s. Then later, after I had married and also became a 'Homewood' we found out through research that the owners of Homewoods were distantly related to my husband's family. A thing we always used to joke about when we used to go in and order our newspapers.

Homewoods were in business here right up until the early 2000s. I kick myself often for not taking some photographs before they closed, something I always meant to do. Previous to Homewoods store though, this business started off as a bakers shop. The earliest record I could find was in 1906 by the name of F Sickelmore. It changed hands a few times before the Homewoods took over but from a bakers it became a general store.

In more recent years it was a double glazing firm and now it has been converted into a home.

It was taken over by A.E.Voke in 1920 and by 1928 by B. Wileman. George Knight had his butchers business here from the late 1930s until the mid 1960s.

From around 1966 this building was E.F.Huggett's bookmakers. It was later taken over by Ladbrokes. Ladbrokes relocated from here sometime during the 1970s to the corner of Totland Road and these premises became a sweet shop owned by John Marshall. I remember us going into this sweetshop often during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

I'm not sure when this shop closed but it has been empty for many, many years.

It remained a confectioners right up until the 1970s. Various owners over the years including J Marsden in the 1920s. Frank Gunn during the 1930s. During the 50s Thomas Oldfield. best known as Craghills during the 1960s and Kempshalls during the 1970s.

I only have a little memory of this shop as a child. I called it the Orange Shop because the woodwork was painted orange. I can only remember standing outside looking longingly at the different coloured soft scoop ice creams in the window.

It was originally run by John Colwell. By 1908 It changed hands to the Peters family who were in business here until the mid 1930s when the Kendall family took over. They were at these premises for many years until the early 1960s.

During the 1970s Mr Bird was the proprietor. He was a lovely man, from what I recall as a child. My mother cleaned here during the lunchtimes when it was always closed. I would go along with her when I was a toddler and play in the shop whilst she worked. I can still smell the cleaning fluid now. I would often go and sit on the stairs out the back of the shop and watch Mr Bird cutting up the meat. It obviously fascinated me as I have this memory from most of the grocers shops that were in Elm Grove at the time. I also remember getting my head stuck in the railings on the stairs on several occasions due to me sitting there on the stairs watching all that was going on.

I remember the red and white barbers pole outside. Mr Moon was a very small, slim man. He always wore a long grey overall. I can still picture him vividly in my mind. My Great Uncle always had his hair cut here.

The history of this building goes back to c.1907. First owned by a Miss Eleanor Cornwell who ran her Ladies Outfitters business here. It was a Ladies Outfitters until 1917 when 187 Elm Grove became a confectioners. Ran by a lady called Miss Scott. Miss Scott ran her confectioners business here up until c.1935.

From at Least 1937 until its closure during the 1980's the Moon family had their hairdresser/barbers business here. I love the fact that their name is still on the door leading to their flat above. I wonder if the Moon family still live there?

By 1912 Frederick Smallwood, a carpenter born in Shoreham, was running a newsagents business here along with his wife Ellen. They were at this address until 1937. Previous to this address they had their shop at the corner of Brading Road at number 167.

From 1938 the shop was owned by Stephen Devereux. It was Devereux's up until the early 1960s when Clifford took over. Clifford ran this and two other newsagents from what I can recall. I saw him last year going into the newsagents so I guess he is still involved in some way. At one time, probably before Stephen Devereux took over, my Great Grandparents considered buying the shop. That never happened.

I remember the balls of wall covering the shelves all around the shop. It was quite a small shop but very colourful. I also recall baskets of wool outside the shop. I am not sure when this shop closed but I am guessing it was during the 1980s sometime. If anyone can help me out with the year please let me know.

Before it became Ayling's wool shop it an ironmongers for a short time. Previous to that from c.1915 up until the late 1930s maybe early 1940s it was C.Champions & Son credit drapers.