Living History
Chronological History of Wootton High Street
1840 - 2006
The High Street as we know it today was originally part of the Robert Stayner Holford Estate and the village first started to develop around 1840,(the area was known as Bridgemead Field, and as today land was being leased to generate income for the estate).
A common theme ran through most of the leases; - “All plots had to be fenced or hedged within one month; a good substantial stone or brick dwelling house to be erected at lessee’s cost within twelve month’s. The site of domestic offices, outbuildings and pigsty to be concealed”. A final clause was, “the business of innkeeper, retailer of beer, brewer, cattle slaughterer, or any noisy nuisance or offensive trade or business could not be carried on”. All leases were for 1000 years, at the rate of £4 per annum, payable quarterly.
You may download this table information as a PDF file.
Starting from Mill Square going up on the right hand side.
| Chronological History of the High Street 1840 - 2006 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Street Number | Type of trade/business and any additional information |
| 1888-1904 | Ivy Hall | Corner of Mill Square and High Street George Taylor |
| 1924/25? | Miss Taylor | |
| 1840-2005 | Wesleyan Chapel [See information under Churches] |
Building ceased to be used for worship and closed |
| 2006 | Application for conversion into 3 units of living accommodation with vehicle access | |
| 1936 | 8/10 | Properties owned by Leonard Souter and would have been occupied by the mill workers. Recorded names of occupiers were Hartnell, Vanner, Donnelly, Barton and Kentfield |
| 1940+ | Names to be checked | |
| 1861 | 12/14/16 | Plots bought by Joseph Chappell, a Ryde builder. Annual rent £6. Lease stipulated that the houses had to have a value of at least £200 each. |
| 1862+ | 12 | |
| 1862+ | 14 | |
| 1990 | Dawnes & Edgerton | |
| 1993 | J P Edgeton | |
| 1862+ | 16 | |
| Junction High Street/ New Road upward | ||
| 1900 | 18/20 | Annual rent was £3 due to dark shape of plot. The cottage was built by John Mew, and was leased to the National Telephone Company. In 1900 telephones were a new invention, few people had access to them, so the provision of a public call box was an essential requirement. The call box was just inside the front garden “where subscribers may be rung from” in other words a public telephone. Telephone No. 1 |
| 1945-61 | Post Office Telephone Exchange (Laurence C. Smith) – Kiosk | |
| 1961+ | The property reverted to private house in 1961, a new exchange built higher up the High Street, [adjacent No. 44A/44B] | |
| 1857 | 22 | John Mew, farmer built a detached property |
| 1875-1906 | Edmund Mew, Baker, grocer and provisions | |
| 1894-1915 | Alfred J. Mew also ran a pork butcher, together with the bakery and provisions. It had one of only 6 telephones that existed in Wootton at that time. Telephone No.7 | |
| 1900-30 | For a brief period Alfred’s brother, George, ran the post office. Telephone No.2 available for post office business only. | |
| 1931-45 | Edgar Thorne ran his bakers business from these premises, bread being baked at the rear. During World War II, the bakery suffered a near miss from enemy aircraft. Listed in I.W. Timetable & Telephones. Telephone No.84 | |
| 1947-48 | Partnership between Dick Gray and Harry Coombes, trading as Coombes and Gray. Bakers, confectioners and Grocers | |
| 1961? | Havenstreet Electrical | |
| 1982-83 | B C Cooper. Newsagent. Telephone No.882130 | |
| 1990 | D Cooper. Newsagents | |
| 1990> | Paul Jacobs. Wisteria Gallery – Picture Framing. Tel. No.882980. Note to the rear of Wisteria there was a Classic Furniture Restorer who closed in 2006. | |
| 1971-73 | 22 [a] | Ace Shoe Repairs- Full range of summer footwear stocked [business moved to Newport] |
| 1974-92 | [a] | B. C. Cooper. Newsagent |
| 1983> | [b] | Hair Care [ladies & gentlemen’s hairdressing] |
| High Street/Red Junction upward | ||
| 24/26/28 | The properties known as 1, 2 and 3 Bay Tree Cottages built with Grey fronted brick | |
| 1852-55 | 24 | John Osborne, cabinet maker |
| ? | Peter Fisher | |
| 1855-89 | 26 | William Osborne, mariner |
| 1855-? | 28 | George Bailey Osborne, carpenter |
| ? | 30/32/34 | Properties built of grey fronted bricks. Ownership unknown |
| 36/38 | Properties known as 1 and 2 Briar Bank. Ownership unknown | |
| 1907 | Reading Room [original site of conservative hall?] | |
| 1914-24 | 40 | Conservative Hall started just before start of First World War I and not completed until 1924. Construction re-commenced with the addition of a large hall 40 feet by 25 feet, capable of seating 200 persons. The cost of the project being £380 all but £80 being subscribed by local Conservatives. The hall opened in August 1924 by Mrs. Morgan Hickman, wife of a former Conservative candidate |
| 1930s | Aside from its political purpose, it was also used for village social functions including dances and many years staged village entertainments including a performance of Cinderella, sung by the Ugly sisters; - We’re going to the ball, There’s going to be drink and all, The Sloop is providing it mostly I think, There’s coffee from Abells for those who don’t drink, But when the wine’s ready, I’ll tip you the wink. These words were kindly supplied by Mr. Ron Cheverton of New Road |
|
| 1935 | Conservative Club – H. Simons. Hon. Secretary | |
| 1950s-56 | Wootton Creek Sailing Club | |
| 1961 | The hall closed and for many years was used by a cosmetics manufacturer [based in Binstead] | |
| 1981> | Re-opened as a private village shopping arcade, by the Rector, Revd. George Rayner. He was ably “assisted” by his Old English sheepdog Bumble, by whose name the arcade is now known by. Many small businesses have come and gone over the passage of time. These have included Gents Hairdresser, Ceramics Workshop, Clothing Manufacturer, Photograph Studio, Veterinary Surgeon, the original site of Wisteria Gallery and many others | |
| 1855 | 42/44 | William Henry Thearle, a carpenter together with his wife, Anne and family. These properties are also known as No’s 1 and 2 Oak Villas |
| 2006 | 44A | New Build |
| 2006 | 44B | New Build |
| 1961 | British Telecom Exchange [this is sited next to Elizabeth Ann] | |
| 1964-85 | H. J. Aedy, Wootton Garage Fiat, Morris and M.G. dealerships Telephone No 711/2.[Note, The garage was originally on Red Road next to the house called "Ebenezer". When the garage closed and was sold, the site became the home to several businesses as listed below. | |
| 1985> | Minghella I.W. Ltd. – purpose built factory for the manufacture of “real ice cream” | |
| 1990> | Elizabeth Ann Studio – Bedrooms and Kitchens | |
| 1990? | One Stop Supermarket | |
| 2005> | Tesco Express | |
| 1990/98? | Texaco [Harwood Garage] | |
| Dave Vale. – Wootton Cars – Used Car dealer.The land was sold and planning permission obtained for housing development. Sold to Tesco Express. Planning permission sought for new store, currently held over due to property access rights. Now built and open (2012) | ||
| Junction Rectory Drive/High Street upward | ||
| This area was originally Glebe land, sold by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 9 lots. Each plot of land having a frontage of 50 feet with an average depth of 175 feet | ||
| 1946 | 70 | |
| 1948-52 | Mildred A, Millicent I, Mona P K Wickenden | |
| 2007 | Road Survey – House name ‘Vippa’ | |
| 1946 | 72 | |
| 2007 | Road Survey – House Name ‘Spinakers’ | |
| 1946 | 74 | |
| 2007 | Road Survey – House Name ‘St Brelanes’ | |
| 1935-51 | 76 | Lydia, Ladies Hairdresser. [A.F.M.Jeffery] |
| 2007 | 78 | Road Survey – House name ‘Derry Down’ |
| 1904 | 80 | Thomas Barton – House name 'Mentone Villa' |
| 1924-25 | Arthur J White - House name ‘Mentone’ | |
| 1951 | George Henry William – builder | |
| 1987 | Vectis Organ Services, Melotone House | |
| 82 | ||
| 1977 | 84 | R S Williams |
| 86 | ||
| 1948 | 88 | E Barton – House name ‘Southover’ |
| 1946-52 | 90 | A P Bayzand – House name ‘Ingerthorpe’ |
| 1974-79 | A G Brieley | |
| 2007 | Road Survey – House name ‘The Briary’ | |
| 1981-83 | 92 | J Russell – House name ‘Overbrook’ |
| 1973-82 | 94 | D J Fisher |
| 1982> | Dr Beeble | |
| ? | Medina Healthcare | |
| 1968-82 | 96 | Herbert William Matthews – House name 'Hillside' |
| 1992 | M J Ash | |
| 98 | ||
| 100 | ||
| 1980> | 102 | Peter Mundell |
| 104 | House name, – ‘Cranbrook’ | |
| Plot 30 feet frontage Sold to IW Electric Light & Power Co | ||
| 1935 | 116 | Drs. Sim & Kennedy. Physcns & surgns. – House name ‘Gilwell’ |
| 1935-80 | Dr. Frank Robert Bernard Howard Kennedy and Dr. Porteous | |
| <1850 | Wootton Lodge [See under Houses & People] | |
| 1859-71 | Misses White. Francis White Popham – Lord of the Manor. J.P. Capt. William Makant. Col. John Clapham Minto – HM Indian Staff Command. Dwelling house lawn plantation paddock pieces of land stables, coach houses, Cottage laundry buildings being in the Parishes of Whippingham and North Arreton known as “Wootton Lodge” 17½ acres. John Walter Langton. |
|
| Junction of Church Road and High Street, also previously known as Wootton Hill | ||
| Starting from the Millpond and carrying on up the hill on the left hand side. Commencing at the Bridge alongside the Old Mill Pond, this area was part of the Fleming Estate. And prior to the 1907 boundary changes was located in the Parish of North Arreton. Down on the left now a tarmac road was the site of Lakeside Country Park [see separate article under Holiday Venues] | ||
| June 1937 | Lakeside | “Splendid New Café” and associated car park [See article under Holiday Venues] |
| 1938 | facilities boasted largest swimming pool with Tahit bar and dance floor | |
| 1945 | Island Estates Ltd – Lakeside Café | [William Sidney Coghlan] Telephone No. 3 |
| 1952 | Purchased by William Sydney Coghlan Telephone No. 130 | |
| 1957 | Joseph Morland - licensee | |
| 1961 | Fredrick Riles - licensee | |
| 1965 | William & Penelope Fulljames – Lakeside Inn | |
| 1971 | G J & John S Fulljames (Directors) - Lakeside Inn Telephone No.530. The island’s beauty spot, safe boating on our mile long natural lake. The Island’s largest swimming pool, hard tennis courts, modern camping site and luxury self-contained chalets. Fully licensed with dancing nightly in the Tahiti ballroom |
|
| 1988 | Purchase by Lakeside Investment Company Ltd | |
| 1991 | Wembley PLC – Restaurant renamed ‘Boathouse’ | |
| 2000 | Godshill Park Development | |
| 2008 | New Build – Hotel & Conference centre | |
| 2009 | Lakeside Park Hotel & Spa | |
| High Street | ||
| 1794 | A weather-board Methodist Chapel was built | |
| 1971 | 5A | W J Waight |
| ? | 7A | House |
| 3 | 3 cottages at right angles (now listed buildings) | |
| 1989> | 5 | David Moore & family |
| 1860 | 7 | |
| 1887 | Jubilee Fountain (now removed to gardens of 80 High Street) | |
| 1960 | 9 | Randells - Ironmongers |
| Randells – Fruit & Vegetables | ||
| 1967-71 | H. & B. Gawn – Butcher Telephone No.430. First quality meat, real beef and pork sausages, personal attention | |
| 1980s> | Hamilton Fine Foods. Butchers and greengrocers Telephone 882430 | |
| 1982 | 9a | Wootton Washeteria |
| 1990s | Wootton Laundrette. Mrs E Draper-Oatley | |
| Opposite New Road and up to what is now Brannon Way, in 1832 the land was part of the Fleming Estates, and it consisted of Haydens Farm containing Old Paddock, Wheat Earth Mead, Lower Mead, Hill Ground, a wood, barn, yard, pond, wash-house, garden & tenement. This area has now become the main shopping area for the village with many small thriving businesses, however over the years a number have ceased trading due to the impact of large supermarkets. Around 1984, houses were demolished to make way for Brannon Way and the associate housing development |
||
| 1860 | Site of 4 thatched cottages demolished to make way for the following | |
| 1971 | 25 | National Westminster Bank [sited at the lower end of the building] |
| 1990 | Schmidt | |
| 25A | Flat | |
| 1955-90 | 27 | Wray & Sons Ltd. – The Island grocers and bakers Telephone No.261. Licensed for the sale of wines and sprits, beer and tobacco.[A branch of the shop at the top of Newport High Street] |
| 1990 | Michael Royston studio [Kitchen equipment & design] | |
| ? | Mr. Stretch Veterinary Surgeon | |
| <2005 | Medina Veterinary Group (Neil Grant) Telephone 883955 | |
| 27A | Flat | |
| 1951-68 | 29 | John Pocock |
| 2000 | Balti King – Indian Take Away. Telephone 883872 | |
| 1908 | 31 | George Mew – Sub-postmaster Post Office / Call office Telephone No. 2. Stationery, Cards etc., Confectionery, cigarettes, tobacco, soft drinks |
| 1929-38 | Edmund George Gosden – Sub-postmaster | |
| 1938-47 | Mrs Mary E. Gosden – Postmistress | |
| 1951 | F. M. Hale — Postmistress | |
| 1965-70 | Ronald & Marjorie Fisher | |
| 1970-83 | George Loveless | |
| 1985-2005 | Mrs G Read — Postmistress | |
| 2006 | MIGA – Chinese Take Away | |
| 1832 | Hayden’s Farm (33) | John Cooper Ann Cooper – farmer |
| 1875-94 | George Moody – farmer & woodman | |
| 1898 | Thomas Scott | |
| 1900 | Leased around 1900 to Thomas Thorn and Charles Salter, Snr. | |
| 1904 | Charles Souter - farmer | |
| 1915-21 | House and 16 acres of pasture sold to Mrs Ellen Lintern for use as a Dairy [Mrs M. Sargent] nee Sarah Lintern | |
| July 1921 | Frederick Cole. Conveyance – “ The Purchaser for himself his heirs and assigns hereby conveyed with the Vendor that he will not at any time suffer the premises hereby conveyed or any building to be erected thereon to be used as a place of religious worship of any description or as a hotel, inn, beershop, victualling house, eating house or as a slaughter house, foundry, limekiln, brickiln, bone grinding mill or carry on the business of a butcher, grocer, draper, confectioner, shoemaker or hairdresser nor do or suffer any act which shall be a nuisance or annoyance to the tenants or occupiers of the adjoining lands” | |
| 1951 | 33 | Lloyds Bank. There is an extensive report on this property. |
| 1965 | Barry & Maureen Rawlance | |
| 1988 | Proprietor: J T M Scott Patterson. Creature Comforts-Pet Food | |
| 1903-15 | 35 | John Jones – Butcher |
| 1924-39 | Loader Brother – Butchers. [Bob Mundell – manager]. Telephone No.30 | |
| F. P. Lester – Butcher J F L Dove | ||
| 1965 | Cecil, Mabel, Michael Jolliffe | |
| 1968-82 | The Fishing Smack– Local & Fresh Wet fish, etc., - Mr. Smith | |
| 1990 | Tony’s Fish & Chip shop | |
| ?> | Terry’s Fish & Chip Take Away | |
| 1910-35 | 37 | Mrs. Amelia Warder family – Drapery |
| 1930s | Mrs. Tribbick | |
| 1964-67 | Elise. Telephone No.360. General Drapery, ladies, men’s children’s & babies wear. Wootton C.P. School uniforms,knitting wools, toys, costume jewellery, seasonal gifts. | |
| Kenneth, Shelia Lamb Harry, Betty Gawn |
||
| 1968 | Michael, Rosemary Blackman | |
| 1983 | Ladies & Children’s Clothes, wool, haberdashery, “Leisurewear” | |
| 1990 | Londis (double fronted) – Foodmarket | |
| 1997> | Sightguard Security. Telephone 884000 | |
| 1910 | 39 | William Benson – Grocers |
| 1915-48 | William John Abell – Grocer [1924-25 William jnr] Telephone No.54 | |
| 1962-64 | D & A Colley | |
| 1965-90 | John H. Sweet – Supermarket. Telephone No.454. Permanent price reductions and special offers, prompt delivery for goods bought and left at the cash desk | |
| 1990-97 | Londis – Foodmarket (Closed 1997) | |
| 1997> | Sightguard Security | |
| 1915 | 41 | James Johnson – Shoe Repairs |
| 1924-35 | Alice Johnson – Confectionery | |
| 1931-35 | Mrs. Alice Johnson – Lending Library | |
| 1935 | Arthur & Elizabeth Hill | |
| 1939 | Mrs. Marjory Kate Bennett - Shopkeeper | |
| 1947-48 | R.A. & M.K. Bennett – Confectionery. Telephone No. 223. Also stockists of hardware, stationery, tobacco, toys and ice creams, Lending Library | |
| 1964-67 | Raymond, Patricia Jones – DIY. Telephone No.203 | |
| 1971 | Fred, Maud Bates - Handyman supplies, prompt service, friendly advice, daily deliveries | |
| 1982 | Wootton Homecare – DIY Centre | |
| 1990-97 | Sightguard | |
| 1997-2005 | M G Heating (IW) Ltd | |
| 2005 | A1 Garage Doors Specialists. Telephone: 884600 | |
| 2006 | ½ share Wootton Estates – Estate Agents. Telephone 883333 | |
| 2008> | Wootton Estate Agents | |
| 1924-27 | 43 | Norman Adam – tea room, shopkeeper |
| 1938-48 | Cyril Archer Brading. Dispensing Chemist. Telephone No. 73 | |
| 1970s | Prop:- M. J. W. Haynes. M.P.S. Agents for Dorothy Gray, Yardley, Max Factor & Morny, films developed & printed. | |
| 1998> | Siddy’s Dispensing Chemist (Jim Siddy). Telephone 882473 | |
| 1951 | 45 | Frank Stears – Schoolteacher |
| Malcolm Henderson, Florence Sejourney, Ida Byrce | ||
| 1981 | M Vening | |
| ? | Norma Baggett - Tearoom | |
| 1990 | Soft Furnishings / Hairs Anna – Unisex hairdressers | |
| 2004 | Anna Haywood – Hairdresser. Telephone 883675 | |
| 2006 | Daydreams – Unisex hairdressers (Lisa Day) | |
| 1951 | 47 | Herbert Wheldon |
| Robert, Florence, Cora, Donald Glassey | ||
| 1979-84 | D W Baggett | |
| Roger Williams – ‘Squirrel Haven’ | ||
| 1965-70 | 49 | Lydia Smith |
| 1990-2000 | Fox & Sons – Estate Agents | |
| 2002> | Caring Cancer Care | |
| Houses demolished to make way for Joannes Walk, Brannon Way with access to Mary Rose Avenue housing estate | ||
| Joannes Walk, Brannon Way | ||
| 1990 | 1 | Creature Comforts – Pet foods (J. Gisson). Telephone: 884270 |
| 2 | The Lawns Veterinary Group | |
| 2006 | Natural Beauty (Charlotte Cohen). Telephone 884036 | |
| 1990 | 3 | Deacons – Estate Agents |
| Vectis Trophyman (R. Butt). Telephone 884388 | ||
| 4/5 | Associate Finance | |
| 2000 | 4 | Wootton Bridge Help & Information Centre |
| 2000 | 5 | Wootton Bridge Parish Office. Telephone 884555 |
| 2000 | Community Centre – Brannon Way opp. Car Park | |
| High Street continued | ||
| 1915-28 | 59 | Thomas Scott – House name ‘Hayden Lodge’ |
| H T Scott | ||
| 61 | ||
| 1914-49 | 63 | John Harbour- House name ‘Roslyn Cottage’ |
| 65 | House name ‘Highbury’ | |
| 67 | Dr. J. Mackett | |
| 69 | ||
| 71 | ||
| <1908 | 73 | House name ‘Jesemond Dene’ |
| 2006 | Road survey house name ‘Rose Cottage’ | |
| <1908 | 75 | House name ‘Fernleigh Villa’ |
| 2006 | Road survey ‘Bumble Cottage’ | |
| 1924-25 | 77 | Mrs. Barton- House name ‘Killarney Villa’ James Blackmore Harbour |
| 1915-35 | 79 | Frank Greenham Warne – baker & confectioner. House name ‘Clovelly’ |
| 1924-35 | Charles Salter – Carrier. Telephone No. 22 | |
| 1938 | Mrs. F & Harry Warne – baker House name change ‘Clovelly Villa’ | |
| George Canning – baker ‘Model Bakery’ | ||
| 2006 | Road survey – House name ‘Clovelly Villa’ | |
| <1902 | 81 | House name ‘Bellevue Villa’ |
| <1902 | 83 | House name ‘Glenfield’ |
| <1902 | 85 | House name ‘Rosedale’ |
| 1924-25 | Samuel Coffin – House name ‘Rosendale’ | |
| 87 | House name ‘Brooklands’ | |
| <1902 | 89 | |
| 1922-48 | H B Cullen – Sanitary Inspector | |
| *#60;1902 | 91 | House name ‘Bowers’ |
| 93 | ||
| 95 | ||
| 1924-25 | 97 | Rev. Thomas Atherton Causton – curate in charge – House name ‘Meadow View’ |
| 1939 | Mrs. Ethel Cockcroft – SRN, midwife | |
| 99 | ||
| 101 | ||
| 103 | ||
| 105 | House name ‘Lancaster’ | |
| 1935 | 107 | Arthur George Shepherd – Insurance Agent – house name ‘Sunnylaw’ |
| 1992> | Ken R Morris | |
| 109 | ||
| 111 | ||
| 1844 | 115 | Jonathan Gain, James & Thomas Hollis |
| John Cooper Thomas Nicholson, Thomas Cooper Nicholson Ann Cooper Diana Nicholson William Jefferies & Agnes Mary Ford Beckingsale |
||
| 1874 | William Cook of Brooke, Alfred Moody of Newport | |
| Alfred Hardy Ann Moody |
||
| 1937 | Leonard Whitbread – By Will – House name ‘De-Aar’ | |
| 1939 | Herbert Edward & Kathleen Johncox | |
| 1947-52 | Leonard Whitbread [by Assent] | |
| Muriel Glassey – School of Dancing | ||
| Peter & Doreen Margaret Heggs | ||
| Harold Terence Parsons | ||
| 1976-93 | Robert Edwin Eason | |
| Nigel Michael Davey | ||
| Possible site of Woodbine Cottage | ||
| <1823 | Woodbine Cottage – James Russell – mason | |
| 1841 | John Lambert | |
| 1840s | James, Ann Gawn – waterman | |
| 1840s-47 | William Gawn passed away aged 76 | |
| 1849 | Charles, Mary Pitt - sawyer | |
| 1851 | Charles Flux - sawyer | |
| 1861 | Stephen Thompson – brickmaker, Maria – school-mistress | |
| 1875 | Ann Attrill, George Bright | |
| 1881 | James Whittington - mason | |
| George, Maetha, Elizabeth Dunning | ||
| 117 | ||
| 119 | ||
| Pathway to Downsview Gardens | ||
| Kennedy Close | ||
| 1927-55 | 129 | J. Hendy & Son – Newsagents. Telephone No.209 |
| 1965-71 | Conway’s Spar Self-Service Store. Telephone No.565. Newspapers and magazines | |
| 1990 | Fryer’s – Spar grocers | |
| Spar Convenience Store | ||
| Junction of Station Road and High Street | ||
| The Cedars – Public House on corner | ||
| 1951 | Linden Nurseries, Ronald Cheverton – nurseryman | |
To the viewer, if there is any information that you can add to this listing, we would be very happy to receive it. Photocopies of original title deeds are very helpful in tracing the exact layouts of plots of land, original owners and builders.
This page was last edited on: 26th January, 2022 17:50:33
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