Memories Local Shops
There were no shops or other business premises on the Ferndale Park Estate, all the buildings were homes. Our nearest shop was ‘The Handy Shop’ at the bottom of Pig’s Hill opposite the junction with St James’ Park, and the next nearest were around the junction of St James Road and Albion Road, and on the corner of Auckland Road and Western Road. Most of the residents on the estate got to know these shops, and the people who ran them, quite well. Here are some memories, history and information about those shops and the people who ran them.
A modern photograph of what used to be the Handy Shop at the bottom of Pig’s Hill, and is now a private house – photo thanks Eric Christian, Facebook RTWPP.
The Handy Shop, 83 Albion Road
When I was a child living at 40 Ravenswood Avenue, The Handy Shop at 83 Albion Road, at the bottom of Pig’s Hill at the junction with Dorking road, was our nearest shop. The 1911 Census for 83 Albion Road shows Elizabeth Grace Greenwood, a 60-years-old widow living there with her son Gordon, a 25-years-old single plumber and fitter in the building trade. There is no mention of the premises being used as a shop. The 1901 Census shows Elizabeth living at 31 St James’ Park with her husband David Greenwood, a tailor. She died in 1935.
The shop was in existence at least by 1914 when the following classified advertisement was published in the 28 August Courier, ‘Wanted, quantity of dripping weekly Apply Miss Urrv, The Handy Shop, Lower Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells.’ The 13 April 1934 Courier reported, ‘“Polly” (a parrot member), The Handy Shop, 83 Albion Road’ as a new member of the Pea-Nut Club.
The 1950 Kelly’s Directory entry for 83 Albion Road is ‘O’Malley, Mrs R C, shopkeeper’ and the 1953 entry is ‘Webb, Mrs R C, grocer’. The GRO has a marriage recorded at Tonbridge in 1950/3 between Ruby C O’Malley and Thomas C Webb. The 1957 entry is ‘Brookes, Mrs KM, grocer.’ A 1959 street directory shows J Barnes there and the 18 February 1966 Courier reported the death of 16 years-old Richard John Barnes, 83 Albion Road, after his motor-cycle was involved in a road traffic accident in London Road, Riverhead.
In the 1970s, the shop was run by Arthur Fleming; the 10 August 1979 Courier reported a road accident involving a ‘motor-cycle ridden by Mr Richard Fleming of 83 Albion Road...’
Another proprietor of the shop, although I don’t know when, was Mrs Ellen Richardson, whose Obituary was published in the 23 September 1960 Courier as follows, ‘Mrs Ellen Eliza Richardson died on Tuesday two hours after moving to her son’s home at 49 Colebrook Road, High Brooms. She was 81. Mrs Richardson, who was born at Tonbridge, was proprietor of the Handy Shop, Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells for some years. She left the area for a while and returned to live at 31 Dorking Road ten years ago...’
Writing on Facebook OTWPS in 2014, Derek Still (40 [now 62] Hilbert Road) said, ‘I was born in Hilbert Road two months before the war. I remember Pig’s Hill being refurbished and when the first 83 went up there, a boy was killed at the bottom outside The Handy Shop.’ In a later posting in 2018, Derek added, ‘On the first day of buses up Pig’s Hill, Charlie Medhurst was run over by one outside The Handy Shop, and sadly died. He was helping the milkman.’
Writing on Facebook OTWPS in July 2020, Paul Stoner-Lewis said, ‘Does anyone else remember the little shop on the corner of Dorking Road, opposite St James’ Park, half-way down Pig’s Hill? I have the name Fullers running round my head but I can’t be sure. I went to the shop all the time in the 70s when we lived in St James’ Park. It was the kind of shop that today would remind you of Arkwright and Open All Hours. Those replying to Paul included Sharon Brook, ‘Flemings - I can remember running errands for my mum. I think his name was Arthur Fleming but can’t swear to it.’ Brenda Gammon said, ‘My husband says it was Barnes before Flemings, and Fullers was the newsagent further up Albion Road.’ Carol MacPherson said, ‘Yes Fullers was further up Albion Road before that run by Mr Dredge and his daughter Beryl.’ Julia Wood said, ‘I used to live in Ravenswood Avenue and passed it on the way to school every day, we used to just call it the Handy Store.’ Sarah Capp said, ‘I remember Mr Fleming! He had a giant metal claw that got cereal boxes off the really high shelves! Eric Christian said, ‘In the 1950s the shop at the bottom of Pig’s Hill was known as The Handy Shop, also later as Barnes and then Flemings.’
Albion Road
In the 1950s there was a parade of four shops at 39, 41, 43 and 45 Albion Road, just west of the junction with St James’ Road. We walked past them on our way to St James School at the other end of Albion Road between 1949 and 1951.
The properties in Albion Road appear to have been built in the late 1860s and early 1870s. The first mention of Albion Road I can find is in a 9 October 1862 Courier advertising an auction for the sale of ‘10 newly-erected and substantially built freehold dwelling houses known as “Alfred Terrace” pleasantly situated in the Albion Road (about three minutes walk from St James Church), Calverley, Tunbridge Wells, of about, the annual value of £143 per annum.’ The road itself was built in 1871, a report of the meeting of the town’s Paving and Drainage Committee referred to the many defaulters for the payment of the special rate for the Woodbury Park Roads, and included, ‘Within the last six months Albion Road, a road all fours with the one under discussion, was made by the town, coming to precisely a similar amount, yet there the people were pleased, were paying, and would, no dount, pay the whole of the money without objection.’
This is confirmed by the 1861 and 1871 Censuses that does not show any houses for Albion Road in the 1861 Census, but for numbers 1-45 in the 1871 Census. Living at 39 was 48-years-old Alfred Briggs and his family. Alfred was working as a grocer’s assistant and his 16-years-old son as a grocer’s porter. Living at 41 was 51-years-old Frederick Cavie, a gamekeeper and his wife. Also living there was his 13-years-old nephew, Frederick Parrot, working as a newspaper boy and a 20-years-old lodger, working as a shoe maker. Living at 43 Albion Road was 43-years-old William Newman and his family, an outiftter’s assistant. His 20-years-old daughter Amelia was working as a shirt maker and his 17-years-old son Walter as a tailor’s assistant. Living at 45 Albion Road was a family not working in any trade.
I don’t know if the shops were originally built as such, or converted later, but suspect the former because of the four being in a row and from the occupations of the people living in the houses in the 1871 Census.
The only one of the four that interested me when I was a small boy walking to St James School between 1949 and 1951 was the newsagent at number 39 run by Mr Dredge, because it also sold sweets! Between 1952 and 1955, I went to St Barnabas School and walked there along Auckland Road and Western Road to Quarry Road, buying my sweets at the shop on the corner of Western Road and Avon Street.
39 Albion Road
The 1939 Register shows the following recorded for 39 Albion Road: Reginald T Dredge, born 11 August 1890, newsagent; Minnie Dredge, born 18 June 1887, UDD; Beryl C Dredge, born 17 August 1921, shorhand typist. UDD means ‘unpaid domestic duties’ and was the term used in the Register for woman looking after the home. The 1950, 1953 and 1957 Kelly’s Directory for Tunbridge Wells has the following listed for this addresses: ‘Dredge, Regnld T, newsagent’.
In my parents’ bathroom medicine cabinet when I was young, was a bottle of Sloan’s Liniment, used for ‘the temporary relief of muscle or joint pain caused by strains, sprains, arthritis, bruising or backaches’ that Mum used to rub onto us when we bruised ourselves playing. Whenever she got the bottle out, it made me think of Mr Dredge because he looked like the man on the bottle. In fact we used to jokingly refer to the bottle as ‘Mr Dredge’s’!
39 Albion Road had been a newsagents since at least 1910 when the 21 October 1910 Courier published an advertisement for ‘Dandy Lion’ Liver Pills manufactured by G E Collins, and listed their agents in Tunbridge Wells, that included, ‘Connor, L H, Newsagents, 39 Albion Road.’
In writing about the local shops, Alan Dane (70 Ravenswood Avenue) said, “Newspaper delivery boys for Dredge of Albion Road were Michael Blaker (32 Hilbert Road), followed by David and Bob Joy (68 Ravenswood Avenue), followed by myself, assisted by my brother Brian. Who followed us I cannot say. Dredge of St James’ Road (I believe a brother of the Albion Road Dredge), I believe at one time, Eric Smith (12 Fairfield Avenue) was a paper boy for this Dredge.” The other Dredge shop mentioned by Alan was at 116 St James’ Road and is referred to in the St James’s Road shops section below, together with more information about the Dredge family.
Patricia Skittrall nee Taylor 20 (now 42) Hilbert Road, also writing about the local shops, said, “There was also a tobacconist called Mr Dredge, of Edwardian appearance, who would suddenly appear behind the counter between two tall glass cases full of cigarettes.”
By 1966, after Reginald Dredge died in 1962, the newsagent traded under the name RC & M Fuller, as a 1968 advertisement from the Courier shows. Living there in 1966 was Rodney James Fuller, and the 19 August 1966 Courier published a photograph of his wedding and reported, ‘Rodney James Fuller, son of Mr and Mrs Fuller of 39 Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells, married Miss Gloria Ann Howard, daughter of Mr and Mrs C Howard of 19 Bridge Street, Billingham, Lincs, at St James Church, Tunbridge Wells, recently...’
By 1986 the newsagent was trading as Albion Newsagent and Video Club, as the advertisement (right|) in a 1986 Courier shows.
Writing on Facebook OTWPS in 2020, John Neal said, ‘Before the Fullers took over the Albion Road shop, they lived opposite us in St James Park. Reg Fuller was a bus driver, driving one man buses, which were very unusual in the early 1950s. He was also a poster artist.
Sometime after 1986, the shop closed and was converted into a house.
41 Albion Road
The 1939 Register shows the following recorded for 41 Albion Road: Cyril H Ashdown, born 21 January 1906, electrical wireman plumber, manager. The 1950 Kelly’s Directory for Tunbridge Wells has the following listed for this addresses: ‘Ashdown Hy, boot mkr’ and ‘Ashdown, Cyril’; the 1953 directory has: ‘Ashdown Hy, boot mkr’ and the 1957 directory: ‘Barden, Harry J, boot repr’.
The shop appears to have been in existence in 1884 when the 4 January edition of the Courier, advertising a concert by the Blind Minstrels in Tunbridge Wells, said tickets were available from several addresses in the town, including, ‘Mr N C Colbran, 41 Albion Road.’
The 29 November 1929 Courier reported a wedding at St Peter’s Church, Southborough between Winifred Powell of Forge Road, Southborough and Cyril Ashdown of George Street, Tunbridge Wells, and said their future home will be at 41 Albion Road.
The shop later, at least by 1968, became ‘The Novely Shop’ selling wool, haberdashery and fancy good. It has now closed and been converted into a house.
43 Albion Road
The 1939 Register shows the following recorded for 43 Albion Road: Ernest Fowler, born 11 December 1895, shopkeeper master, fish and poultry; Kathleen M Ashdown, born 31 October 1904, branch manageress, dyers and cleaners. Civil nurse, Pembury County Hospital. The 1950, 1953 and 1957 Kelly’s Directory for Tunbridge Wells has the following listed for this addresses: ‘Simpson, Wltr, fishmonger’.
<43 Albion Road Courier 19190704.jpg>
The 8 May 1885 Courier reported that 14-years-old George Simpson, who lived with his father at 43 Albion Road and worked as a tailor for Mr Stephens in Vale Road, gave evidence at an inquest. The following year, the 20 May 1886 Courier reported that Mr H Simpson of 43 Albion Road was a local agent for the Blue Ribbon Assurance Company.
The 4 April 1919 Courier published an advertisement (right) showing P L Knee, trading as Tolson & Co, had taken over the control of Ye Olde Fish, Poultry & Game Market at Market Place, Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, had opened a new branch at 43 Albion Road ‘For convenience of St James, Pembury and Southborough districts.’ Interestingly, the advertisement included two telephone numbers: Pantiles 87 and Albion Road 88, not many businesses had the telephone at that time. Later that year, the 28 November Courier reported, ‘Percy L Knee was summoned for selling at 43 Albion Road, part of a wild rabbit, one pound in weight, at 1/2 per lb, which exceeded the maximum price of 9½d per lb, on the 13 November. William Waghorn was summoned for a like offence at 43 Albion Road on the same date. Defendants pleaded not guilty.
‘Mr W C Cripps prosecuted on behalf of the Local Food Control Committee. Stanley Arthur Masters of the Food Control Office deposed to purchasing a pound of rabbit for 1/2, the price marked. Waghorn stated that it was cut up for the convenience of customers. On oath, Waghorn stated then the rabbit cost him 2/3, and he was only getting, therefore, one penny a pound profit. The price of 9½d per lb was for rabbits with the skin. He did not think he was breaking the law by cutting up the rabbit and charging more.
‘Mr Cripps pointed out that the Order had been in force for more than a year. Cross-examined: He sold the rabbit at 1/2 per lb and got 6d for the skin. Knee said he was perfecrtly satisfied that his manager was ignorant of the meaning of the Order. He was carrying out the spirit of the Act although he was breaking the law. He had recently been demobilised and was not fully cognisant with the Order himself. Defendants were each fined £3, including costs.’
The 14 January 1955 Courier reported that Walter Simpson, a fishmonger and poulterer of 43 Albion Road, was fined £2, with £2 2s costs, for careless driving with his van when it was involved in an accident at Mount Ephraim.
Although the shop still exists, it has been a self-service laundrette since at least 1967, as the advertisements right show.
45 Albion Road
The 1939 Register has a Closed Entry for 45 Albion Road, meaning the occupier(s) were likely to still be alive when the Register was released to the public on 2 November 2015. The 1950 Kelly’s Directory for Tunbridge Wells has the following listed for this addresses: ‘Acott A, baker’ and the 1953 and 1957 directories: ‘Acott A, baker’ and ‘Maynard, Fredk’.
The shop was in existence at least by 1906 when the 23 November Courier published a notice about Horniman’s Pure Tea and listed places where it could be purchased from that included, ‘45 Albion Road.’
The 19 September 1952 Courier reported the engagement of, ‘Shirley Josephine, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs F A Maynard of 45 Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells’ to Thomas Harry Brewer of Rustington, Sussex.
Derek Still (40 Hilbert Road), said, “The bakers was Acotts, HQ was at Wateringbury. I used to do week-end delivery fruit and veg for Russells. The shop opposite Dredge’s was Chatfields.”
Patricia Skittrall nee Taylor 20 (now 42) Hilbert Road, said, “The few shops at the top of the hill in Albion Road included the post office, a greengrocer, a baker (I think), a sweet shop and a haberdashers called Kay Aitch.”
The ‘A Acott’ referred to in the Kellys Directory was Albert Acott and the 1939 Register has the following record for him living at Yalding Post Office: Albert Acott, born 1 June 1891, a sub-postmaster and master baker and confectioner; Caroline Acott, born 5 November 1889, household duties; Kathleen J Acott, born 1 June 1922, at school.
<45 Albion Road For Sale Courier 19701030.jpg>
The GRO has a death record at Maidstone (the registration district that covers Wateringbury and Yalding) in 1969/1 for Albert Acott, age 77 (and at Maidstone in 1986 for Caroline Acott, born 5 November 1889). The year following Albert’s death, the 30 October 1970 Courier published an advertisement (right) offering several properties for sale by auction on 18 November, ‘By order of Exers, A Acott, deceased.’ The properties were 4-16 (even) Church Road, Paddock Wood; 1 Kingsland Cottages, Yalding; 1, 2 & 3 Killicks Cottages, Yalding; 1 & 2 Linden Cottages, Maidstone Road, Wateringbury and 45 Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells ‘offered in eight lots.’
<45 Albion road Advert Courier 19721208.jpg>
<45 Albion Road Advert Courier 19731026.jpg>
The shop was purchased by someone from Crowborough who opened it as Levett & Martin by 1972 when a classified advertisement in the 8 December Courier offered washing machine service and repairs. This was followed by a display advertisement in the 26 October 1973 Courier and the shop is still trading today.
47 Albion Road
Next to 45 Albion Road was a house that I remember sold religious books and stationary. I often went there to buy pencils and exercise books and went down the side of the house to ring the front door bell. I remember the name Harmer and remember a man in a wheelchair, and sometimes a woman, answering the door and serving me.
The 1939 Register has the following recorded for this address: John W Harmer, born 17 May 1866, strict Baptist Minister; Mary Harmer, born 30 May 1866, UDD; Ebeneza Harmer, born 21 August 1903, bookseller and stationery; Julia Clarkson, born 21 August 1891 UDD; Arthur G Clarkson, born 21 November 1901, Civil Servant deputy supt, Land Charges HMLR. UDD means ‘unpaid domestic duties’ and was the term used in the Register for woman looking after the home
The 1950 Kelly’s Directory for Tunbridge Wells has the following listed for this addresses: ‘Harmer, EJ’ and ‘Harmer, EJ, stationer; books & printing’; the 1953 directory has: ‘Harmer, Ebenzr, Jn’ and ‘Harmer, EJ, stationer & bookseller’ and the 1957 directory: ‘Harmer, EJ, Jn’ and ‘Harmer, EJ, gooksllr & stationer’.
The man in the wheelchair was Ebenezer Harmer, as the following extract from the 21 May 1948 Courier shows, and the woman most probably Julia Clarkson. I think the Courier article, under the heading ‘The man in the wheel chair’ is worth reproducing here in full:
‘E J Harmer is the name above a stationers and bookshop in Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells. From the outside it look like any other shop; few would guess at the courage to which it testifies. For the owner of the shop, Mr Ebenezer John Harmer is a cripple, confined for life to a wheel chair.
‘Until he was seven, Ebenezer Harmer was a normal healthy boy, but a fall downstairs brought on spinal curvature and he gradually lost the use of his legs. He has not walked since he was 16. But Mr Harmer refused to remain helpless, dependent on the charity of others. He learnt basket making, and got orders from his friends. Next he began an agency for rubber stamps; then he bought a stock of stationery and displayed it in the window. Mr Harmer had set up shop. As time went on, he added books – mainly evangelical – to his stock, and took printing orders. Now he gets orders from all over Britain, and even from abroad.
‘“It’s been a long job,” he told the Courier, “but I think I’ve made it.” Mrs Harmer nodded quiet agreement. But his work is not enough for Mr Harmer. He wants to do some-thing for his fellow disabled. He is full of enthusiasm for the “Shut-In’s Day” scheme, which was started in Canada and the USA. There, the first Sunday in June is observed as “Shut-In’s Day”, when people visit, or send a gift or a letter to disabled persons in their neighbourhood. “Why shouldn’t we do it in Tunbroidge Wells?” demanded Mr Harmer. “I know a lot of people are shy, but if they only knew what a visit meant to those who are confined to one house, or one room, I feel sure they’d come forward. If they don’t know any cripples themselves, they could find out from their vicar,” he said. “It means such a lot to see new faces to have an interest in the outside world.” The man in the wheel-chair smiled, “You see, I know,” he said.’
47 Albion Road was in existence at least by 1901 when the following news item was published in the 19 September 1901 Courier: ‘On Saturday night, when PC Westover was on duty in the east end of Tunbridge Wells, he noticed flames and smoke inside one of the rooms of 47 Albion Road, a house occupied by a family named Wiseman. The constable at once forced his way into the house, and with assistance was able to extinguish the fire before it assumed more formidable proportions. It was subsequently ascertained that the outbreak had been caused by an explosion of gas, presumably in connection with a chandelier in the room in which the constable discovered the fire. In this room the windows had been shattered, the panel of a door partly destroyed, and a ceiling much damaged by the explosion. Mrs and Miss Wiseman fortunately were able to escape without injury, getting out of the house quickly during the somewhat alarming occurrence. Considerable damage was done to property inside the house, and the explosion created much excitement in Albion Road.’
A few years later, the Wiseman family left 47 Albion Road because an auction sale for ‘the excellent house-hold furniture and effects’ was advertised in the 17 February Courier ‘by order of the executors of the late Mr William Wiseman, “Vine Cottage”, 47 Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells.’ The auction was on 7 March 1905. Three months later, the 30 June Courier advertised another sale by auction, also ‘by order of the executors of the late Mr William Wiseman, “Vine Cottage”, 47 Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells’ for ‘the above charming little freehold property, comprising a conveniently arranged and well-built creeper clad detached residence...’
The GRO has a death record at Tonbridge (the district covering Tunbridge Wells) in 1963/3 for Ebenzer J Harmer, aged 59 and a record at Lewisham in 1963/4 for Julia Clarkson, aged 72.
55 Albion Road
On the corner of Albion Road and St James’ Road was another shop at 55 Albion Road, a greengrocer, and the 1939 Register has the following recorded for this address: Reginald C Russell, born 15 May 1893, fruiterer and greengrocer, shop keeper; Emma Jane Russell, born 1 September 1894, UDD; Irene D Russell, born 9 April 1921, telephonist, Civil Service. UDD means ‘unpaid domestic duties’ and was the term used in the Register for woman looking after the home
The entry in the 1950 and 1953 Kelly’s Directory is ‘Russell, Regnld C, green-grocer’ and in the 1957 directory is ‘Summers D, green-gro’. It therefore appears that between 1953 and 1957, the shop changed from Reginald Russell to D Summers. The GRO has a death record at Tonbridge (the district that covered Tunbridge Wells) in 1963/2 for Reginald C Russell aged 70. In 1962 the shop was trading as Acotts, as a classified advertisement in the 30 November 1962 Courier shows (right), with other fruit and vegetable shops at 80 Grosvenor Road and 32 Colebrook Road in addition to 55 Albion Road. During the 1960s, this shop, and the bakers at 45 Albion Road, were both trading as Acotts
In 1968 the shop was still selling fruit and vegetables, but under the name Hilken Stores, as an advertisement (right) from the 11 October 1968 Courier shows. In 1995 it changed to Bridal Exchange, stockists of wedding and bridesmaid dresses and accessories, and has now been converted into a house.
Alan Dane (70 Ravenswood Avenue) said, “Russell’s greengrocers were on the corner of St James’ and Albion Road.”
St James’ Road
Opposite 55 Albion Road at 70-72 St James Road was Kay Aitch, and between there and The Mitre public house on the corner of St James’ Road and Western Road were a few more shops between 74 and 84 St James’ Road. There were other shops in St James’s Road but apart from 116, these are the only ones I am going to write about because they were the shops mainly used by the residents of the Ferndale Park Estate.
Patricia, 20 (now 42) Hilbert Road, said, “The few shops [at the top of the hill in Albion Road] included the post office, a greengrocer, a baker (I think), a sweet shop and a haberdashers called Kay Aitch.”
From examining the census records, it appears St James’ Road was built from the St James Church end of the road down to the Grosvenor Bridge end in the late 1860s. St James Church was built in 1861 and the consecration of the building took place in 1862. In 1861 the Tunbridge Wells Gazette had this to say about the site for the new church, ‘It is to be raised in the midst of a district which may be called remote from any place of worship. It is at the very centre of extensive building operations that are every day being enlarged so that the population of the locality is growing rapidly and is in evident want of a fitting place of worship, the nearest church being St John’s. The site has been well chosen and the country around is open and beautiful’.
The first mention of St James’ Road I have been able to find is in the 5 March 1863 Courier in the people listed under the heading ‘Fashionable Intelligence Arrivals’ that includes ‘Miss R Elwall, 5 St James Road’. The 28 August 1963 edition listed the Public Officers of Tunbridge Wells that included the ‘Town Clerk – Mr John Elliott. Office, Town Hall; Residence, Sutherland House St James’ Road.’
The 1871 Census only shows houses numbered from 1 to 43, after which has been written ‘2 new houses’, that were not occupied. The 1881 Census lists houses from 2-46 (even numbers) and 1-61 (odd numbers) as St James’ Road, and those from 48-126 (even numbers) and 67-115 (odd numbers) as Lower St James’ Road, the division being at the junction with Albion Road. Between 1881 and 1891 the Lower St James’ Road houses were renumbered and the whole road became St James’ Road (eg the Mitre public house was renumbered from 64 to 90 St James’ Road). A few years later, sometime between the 1891 and 1901 Censuses, the properties were renumbered again by reducing the number by four by which they are known today, ie the Mitre public house changed from 94 to 90 St James’ Road.
Despite 72 St james’ Road being listed in the 1881 Census, I cannot find a reference for 70 St James’ Road. The 1891 Census shows it as 74 St James’ Road with James Brown, a grocer employer, living there. The 1901 Census shows the property as 70 St James’ Road, again with James Brown living there and now described as a draper shopkeeper employer.
70 St James’ Road, Kay Aitch
Kay Aitch started trading in 1933 when local man Frank Hemsley, after being forced to give up his job at Baltic Saw Mills because of ill-health, began looking for a less strenuous occupation. His wife had a relative in Luton who manufactured hats and Frank decided to canvass for millinery orders, but found people wanted many other things besides hats, and so a shop was rented at 70 St James Road for 16s 6d per week. The name Kay Aitch was derived from his wife Kathleen’s initials – KH! The 4 January 1933 Courier published the following classified advertisement, ‘Flat at 70 St James’ Road, 4 rooms and bathroom 15/- PW inclusive.’, and the 8 February 1935 edition, ‘To Let: Hairdressing salon at 70 St James’ Road; rent £1 PW inclusive.’
Frank was born on 23 December 1903 and baptised at St James Church as Albert Frank Hemsley on 11 January 1904, the son of Annie and Albert Hemsley (picture below right), a wheelwright of 25 Kirkdale Road. Albert Hemsley was born 26 November 1865 at Camden Road and died 16 February 1942 at Goods Station Road, aged 76. He married Annie Coppard on 9 July 1891 at Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia, having travelled there from England a few days before. Their first two children were born there in 1892 and 1895 and by 1901 they had returned to England and lived at 13 Chandos Road and Frank was born in 1903. Annie was born on 27 March 1868 at East Chiltington, Sussex and died on 28 October 1930 at 58 St James’ Park.
The 1911 Census shows Frank aged seven living with his parents at 103 St James Park, and the 1921 Census shows him aged 17, still with his parents but now at 58 St James’ Park and working as a wood turner for Turner & Co in Camden Road.
The GRO has a marriage in 1930/2 between Albert F Hemsley and Kathleen A Muir (picture below right|). Kathleen was born on 30 June 1910 at Pell Green, Ticehurst, the daughter of William Alexander Muir and Elizabeth Caroline Walker (picture below right). An Ancestry tree traces Kathleen’s ancestors back to Gilbert Muir, born about 1736 at Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland. It was Kathleen’s grandfather, William Muir, born 17 May 1855 at Maybole, who came south to Sussex between 1871 and 1881. In 1881 he was living at Ticehurst and working as a book-seller. He died on 24 November 1901 at Wadhurst.
The 1939 Register shows Frank and Kathleen living at 1 Albion Road; Frank born 23 December 1903 and working in his own business as a draper, and Kathleen born 30 June 1910 assisting in her husband’s business. Frank was also a full-time ARP (Air Raid Precaution) warden. There are three closed entries which probably relate to their three children because the GRO has the following births at Tonbridge: 1930/4 for Raymond F Hemsley, 1932/4 for Elsie K Hemsley and 1936/1 for Joyce I Hemsley. Frank died on 20 April 1983 aged 79 at St Austell, Cornwall and Kathleen died on 31 March 2004, aged 93 at Gorran Haven, Cornwall. An Ancestry tree shows Frank’s ancestors lived in East Sussex and went back to George Hemsey, born in 1640 at Isfield.
The 1939 Register does not have an entry for 70 St James’ Road (probably because nobody was living there), but the 1950, 1953 and 1957 Kelly’s Directory has the following entry, ‘Kay Aitch (Tunbridge Wells) Ltd, general drapers, ladies’, children’s & gents’ outfitters. Tel Tunbridge Wells 2047.’ and ‘De Collis, Mrs E, ladies’ hairdresser’. In 1954, Kay Aitch opened a new branch on the Ramslye Estate as an advertisement (below centre) from the 10 September 1954 Courier shows, but I don’t know how long it remained open.
In 1958 Kay Aitch started an advertising campaign in the local press for television sets, both to buy and rent, renting being a very popular alternative to buying at that time. The advertisement below right from the 10 September 1958 Courier was typical of their advertising in the local press at that time. Interestingly, the price of a 14 inch TV in 1954 at 57 guineas (£59 17s 0d) is not much less than what a new 14 inch TV can be purchased today, nearly 70 years later! Similarly, the 1967 advertisement (below left) shows a new 19 inch TV priced at 69 guineas (£72 9s 0d), again not much less than what a new one can be purchased today! Later still, probably about 1966, Kay Aitch also opened the previous Co-Op store at 108 and 110 St James’ Road as its electrical shop. This later became an off-licence before becoming Underground Sounds.
In 1964, the shop next door at 72 was purchased, which in the 1957 Kelly’s Directory is shown as ‘William, Chas Fras, grocer’, and extensive alterations made the two premises into one large departmental store. An advertisement from the 10 November 1967 Courier (below right) shows the address 70-72 and 108-110 St James’ Road. The 2 August 1968 Courier reported, ‘A Tunbridge Wells department store, Kay Aitch Ltd of 70 St James’ Road, has won a major prize – a polaroid camera – in a national window dressing competition. Mrs Kathleen Hemsley, a director, and Mrs Grace Streatfield, a window dresser, were presented with the prize on Tuesday.’
A Google Street View in October 2020 of 39, 41, 43, 45 (white) and 47 (brick) Albion Road.
Sloan’s Liniment.
An advertisement from a 1968 Courier for R C & M Fuller – photo thanks Courier
The marriage of Rodney James Fuller and Gloria Ann Howard in 1966 – photo thanks Courier.
A 1986 advertisement for 43 Albion Road trading as Albion newsagent and Video Club – photo thanks Courier.
A 1986 advertisement for 41 Albion Road trading as The Novelty Shop – photo thanks Courier.
A 1919 advertisement for P L Knee trading as Tolson & Co at 43 Albion Road – photo thanks Courier.
Advertisements from the Courier of 1968 (left) and 1968 for 43 Albion Road – photos thanks Courier.
Advertisement from the 30 October 1970 Courier offering various properties for auction by the executors of A Acock, deceased – photo thanks Courier.
Advertisement from the 8 December 1972 and 26 October 1973 Courier for 45 Albion Road – photos thanks Courier.
47 Albion Road today.
Classified advertisement from the 30 November 1962 Courier for Acotts at 55 Albion Road – photo thanks Courier.
Classified advertisement from the 11 October 1968 Courier for Hilken Stores at 55 Albion Road – photo thanks Courier.
Google Street View of 55 Albion Road today.
St James Church soon after it was built, on 25 August 1863 – photo thanks The Weald website.
A modern view of the shop buildings at 70-84 St James’ Road – photo thanks Bob Smith, Pinterest.
Kay Aitch pictured in 1952 – photo thanks Courier.
Kay Aitch Courier advertisements from 1954 (above left), 1958 (above right) and 1967 (right), the latter showing them at 70-72 and 108-110 St James’ Road – photos thanks Courier. Courier
Above: Frank Hemsley of the Tunbridge Wells YMCA football team pictured in the 1935/36 season – photo thanks Courier. Above right: Frank’s parents, Albert Hemsley and Annie Coppard. Right: Annie Coppard pictured in 1891 in New South Wales, Australia – photos thanks Ancestry, Martin Lock.
Frank Hensley and Kathleen Anne Muir on their wedding day in 1932 – photo thanks Ancestry, Martin Lock.
Frank’s wife Kathleen Annie Muir aged four in 1917 with her brother William, and parents Lilian Shorter and William Alexander Muir – photo thanks Ancestry, Martin Lock.
Kay Aitch pictured in 1967 after being extended on the Albion Road side and purchasing the shop next door at 72 St James’ Road – photo thanks Courier.
Advertisement from the 2 March 1928 Courier of an auction sale of 70 St James’ Road – photos thanks Courier.
Extract from the 17 February 1967 Courier.
In 1967, the Courier published a feature about Kay Aitch. The 17 February edition described how Frank started Kay Aitch and included two pictures: the one taken in 1952 shown above right and the same view taken in 1967 (below right) showing the much larger shop after it extended on the Albion Road side and purchased 72 St James’ Road next door. Referring to the 1952 picture, the article said, ‘Today the picture looks very different. In 1964 Kay Aitch bought the shop next door, and the extensive alterations have made it a departmental store that is as modern as tomorrow.’ In the 1952 photograph, you can just see Frank and his brother Ray standing by the car outside the shop.
Writing about Kay Aitch on Facebook RTWPP, Mel Wickenden said, ‘This shop used to sell many different goods, and at one stage even had an automatic vending machine outside, which sold everything from light bulbs to shampoo. Very advanced for its time!’
I don’t know when Kay Aitch stopped trading but the 25 November 1994 Courier mentions Amity Blinds at 70 St James’ Road, and a classified advertisement in the ‘To Let’ section of the 12 October 1995 Sevenoaks Chronicle read, ‘Large well appointed very secure corner shop, gas ch, 70 St James’ Road, Tunbridge Wells. Formerly Kay Aitch, now Amity Blinds. Available to rent from October 1st, £650 pcm.’
Writing about Kay Aitch on Facebook RTWPP, Mel Wickenden said, ‘This shop used to sell many different goods, and at one stage even had an automatic vending machine outside, which sold everything from light bulbs to shampoo. Very advanced for its time!’
I don’t know when Kay Aitch stopped trading but the 25 November 1994 Courier mentions Amity Blinds at 70 St James’ Road, and a classified advertisement in the ‘To Let’ section of the 12 October 1995 Sevenoaks Chronicle read, ‘Large well appointed very secure corner shop, gas ch, 70 St James’ Road, Tunbridge Wells. Formerly Kay Aitch, now Amity Blinds. Available to rent from October 1st, £650 pcm.’
Brown’s Stores
Before Frank and Kathleen started Kay Aitch in 1933, the premises was Brown’s Stores for over 40 years between about 1885 and 1928, run by James Tompsett Brown. He was born in 1855 at Ashurst, Kent, the fifth of James Brown and Fanny Tompsett’s six children. James was born on 29 September 1820 at Rotherfield and Fanny in 1824 at Mayfield. They married in 1850/4 at Bermondsey and lived at Ashurst and Withyham for most of their lives. Fanny died on 25 January 1888 aged 63 and James on 5 June 1910 aged 89, both at East Grinstead.
James Tompsett Brown was brought up at Ashurst and on 23 November 1881, he married Martha Fisher Nicholas at East Grinstead. She was born in 1853 at East Grinstead. after their marriage, they lived at Tunbridge Wells where their three children were born between 1882 and 1885.
The 1891 Census shows the property as 74 St James’ Road with James T Brown aged 35, a grocer employer, living there with his wife Martha aged 38, son James aged eight, and daughter Harriett aged seven. The GRO has a marriage at East Grinstead in 1881/4 between James Tompsett Brown and Martha Fisher Nicholas, and a death recorded at Tonbridge in 1894/1 for Martha Fisher Brown, aged 41.
James Tompsett Brown (1855-1928) – photo thanks Courier.
The 1901 Census shows the property as 70 St James’ Road, again with James T Brown, now aged 45, a widow and draper shopkeeper employer, living there with his son James aged 18, a cabinet maker, daughter Harriett aged 17 and son Walter aged 15, a draper’s assistant.
The GRO has a marriage recorded at Tonbridge in 1905/2 between James T Brown and Fanny Emily Finch.
The 1911 Census shows James T Brown, aged 55, a grocer and draper employing two persons, living there with his wife Fanny, aged 47, and their daughter Harriett, aged 26, single, assisting in the business.
The 1921 Census shows James T Brown, aged 65, a grocer and draper living there with his wife Fanny, aged 55 and their daughter Harriett aged 36.
The 13 January 1928 Courier reported the funeral of James Tompsett Brown of 70 St James’ Road who died aged 71, and said, ‘The deceased gentleman was a well-known Tunbridge Wells tradesman, having carried on a business known as Brown’s Stores in St James’ Road for over 40 years...The mourners were Mrs J Brown (widow)...Miss Brown (daughter)...Floral tributes included...Mr and Mrs Williams (St James’ Post office).’
After the death of James Brown, the premises were sold and the 17 February 1928 Courier advertised an auction sale. ‘Re Mr J T Brown, deceased, 70 St James Road, Tunbridge Wells. Messrs C & B Westbrook have received instruction to sell by auction on the premises, as above, at an early date, the stock-in-trade of a grocer, draper and general store, together with trade fixtures, fittings and household furniture...’ The 1 June 1928 Courier advertised an auction sale on 8 June for, ‘70 St James’ Road, Tunbridge Wells, comprising a bold corner shop with ample living accommodation and warehouse suitable for almost any trade. Vacant possession on completion of the purchase.’ The 27 June 1930 Courier published details of properties recently sold that included, ‘70 St James’ Road, Tunbridge Wells.’
The purchaser appeared to be Leonard Hamilton and/or his wife because the 3 March 1933 Courier reported, ‘Leonard Hamilton, late of 70 St James’ Road, Tunbridge Wells, appeared at the Hastings Bankruptcy Court on Monday for his public examination...He removed to 70 St James Road, Tunbridge Wells with his wife in November 1929, his wife purchasing the property for £900. He supervised the alterations to the property and ordered materials in his own name. His wife opened the business and he supervised it from November 1930 to March 1931, when a manager was appointed...The examination was adjourned until April 8.’ It was probably after this that Frank Hemsley purchased the premises.
70 and 72 St James’ Road is now Alexander House, private flats.
72 St James’ Road
72 St James’ Road had always been a shop and before being purchased by Kay Aitch in 1964, it was St James’ Post Office. The 1921 Census shows 55-years-old John William Harmer lived and worked there as a grocer and sub-postmaster with his family, and his 27-years-old daughter Esther worked as a post-office clerk. The Post office had been there since at least 1910 when the 21 October Courier published an advertisement for ‘Dandy Lion’ Liver Pills manufactured by G E Collins, and listed their agents in Tunbridge Wells, that included, ‘Stubbs and Harmer Messrs, Grocer’s and Post Office, 72 St James’ Road.’
The 1911 Census shows John William Harmer, a grocer and provision dealer employer living there with his daughter, Ester Harmer, a clerk to sub-postmaster. John Harmer was also living there in the 1901 Census when he is described as a grocer shopkeeper in nhis own account, no mention of a post office. The 1891 Census show the property (as 76 St James’ Road) occupied by Samual Davis, a grocer manager, and the 1881 Census (as 48 St James’ Road) shows it occupied by George May, a grocer.
The 16 March 1917 Courier reported a court case of a man charged with stealing at 81 St James’ Park. The report said, ‘Hubert Hayward, a soldier aged 19, was charged with feloniously stealing, at 81 St James’ Park, a Post Office Savings Bank Book, value 1s, the property of William J Eves on 8 March; and further with attempting to obtain by means of false pretences from E Harmer, at St James’ Post Office, the sum of £1, the monies of the Postmaster-General...Ester Caroline Harmer, employed at St James’ Post Office, stated that on ther day in question, a soldier entered and said he wished to draw a pound out...she identified the prisoner as the soldier.’ The report desribed how Ester Harmer became suspicious of the soldier and asked him to fill in a form to compare his writing with that in the book. As a result of this the prisoner was arrested, and after sentencing the prisoner to 14 days imprisonment on each charge, saying they were treating him leniently because he had served his country, the report said, ‘The Bench also desired to commend Miss Harmer for the very shrewd way in which she looked after the country’s interest. She was deserving of great credit.’
In 1929 and 1933, Mr and Mrs Williams ran the Post Office and the 1939 Register shows Charles Williams, born 17 January 1894, a grocer and sub-postmaster, his wife Elizabeth Williams, born 4 October 1890 and daughter Hazel Williams, born 15 June 1924 living there. The 1950 and 1953 Kelly’s Directory has the entry ‘Williams, Chas Fras, grocer and post office’ whereas the 1957 directory has just ‘Williams, Chas Fras, grocer’ without the post office, that is shown at 78 St James’ Road. The premises is now part of Alexander House at 70 St James’ Road.
74 and 76 St James’ Road
According to the censuses and street directories, 74 and 76 (originally 52 and 54) St James’ Road have always been private houses.
78 St James’ Road
78 St James’ Road has always been a drapers shop. The 1881 Census shows the property (as 56 St James’ Road) occupied by 73-years-old George Robinson, a fancy draper, his wife Sarah aged 69 and daughter Anne, aged 27, ‘draper, serves in the shop.’ The 1891 Census shows the property (as 82 St james’ Road) occupied by 44-years-old Gaius Baldwin, a draper’s assistant, and his wife Eliza, aged 39 a milliner and draper. The 1901 Census shows it occupied by Charlotte Peckham a 50-years-old widow and draper, shopkeeper, and her son Charles, 27-years-old and a draper’s assistant. By the 1911 Census, Charlotte appears to have retired because Charles is shown as the head of the family, a shopkeeper (draper) employer, and Charlotte as a housekeeper.
I don’t know what happened to the shop in 1921 because the census shows 28-years-old Leslie Braybon living there with his wife Daisy and one year old son Harry. Leslie is described as a painter working for builder FW Winchester of 22 Albion Road and Daisy as doing ‘home duties’. The 1939 Register shows the address as a shop with 27-years-old Rosa Williams living there and working as a shop assistant (draper). Also living there was 60-years-old Rosa Lambert, performing ‘unpaid domestic duties.’
The 1950 and 1953 Kelly’s Directory entry for 78 St James’ Road is ‘White A F, general & fancy draper’ and for the 1957 directory is ‘White A F, sub-post office, general & fancy draper. Tel Tunbridge Wells 549,’ suggesting A F White acquired the Post Office between 1953 and 1957 when it went from 72 St James’ Road. An advertisement in the 11 October 1968 Courier (right) shows the premises as St James Post Office with A F White.
Several people in their memories have referred to Paul White, who worked at St James’ Post Office for many years, and was still there in 1997 when the 12 September Courier reported nominations for their ‘Assistant of the Year Contest’, and included the following, ‘Paul White of St James’ Post Office, Tunbridge Wells. Nominated by Patricia Mayes of Tunbridge Wells as, “always very helpful and friendly to everyone, whether you are seven or 70”.’
Writing on Facebook OTWPS in 2013, Nick Clarke said, ‘My mum and stepdad used to live opposite St James’ Post Office and this is a shot (right) from their house and shows the butchers that used to be on the corner opposite The Mitre (Dave Pollard?), and you can see a bit of the Post Office, which used to be run by Paul White and his mother, (I heard he sadly passed away a couple of years ago).’ George Shepherd wrote, ‘I remember Dave Pollard the butcher, I had a friend, Ashley, who worked for him and whose mum had the hairdressers next door. Also remember Paul at the post office.’ Kevin Toothill wrote, ‘Yes I worked for Dave after Ashley in the 90s, moved to Auckland Road, great little village vibe with the post office, the greengrocers, the fish shop, the newsagents the wool shop.’ Sharon Brook wrote, ‘My dad ran the butchers mid to late 60s. My parents then bought a house in Auckland Road which they had all their lives.’ and Lionel Hanmore said, ‘The greengrocer was run by Stella & Bill Crittle. They moved to Wadhurst and had a greengrocers there for many years.’
78 St James’ Road is now a private house.
80 St James’ Road
It appears that 80 St James’ Road was originally a house because the 1881 Census shows it (as 58 St James’ Road) occupied by 41-years-old Mary Apps, a widow and ‘retired publican’, and her six children aged between 6 and 13 years. The 1891 Census shows the property as 84 St James’ Road and occupied by 31-years-old Thomas Osborn, his wife Ellen, their two children and a 14-years-old general domestic female servant. Thomas’s profession was ‘milk dairyman and grocer.’ The 1901 Census shows the property as 80 St James’ Road and 44-years-old Charles Jackson living there with his wife Emma, two children and a 20-years-old male boarder working as a milk carrier. Charles’ profession was ‘milk & greengrocer shopkeeper’ employer.
Living there in 1911 was 40-years-old Thomas Carter, a ‘dairyman on own account’, and his wife Ellen, and in 1921 28-years-old Harry Crussell, a dairyman employer, and his wife Ada. The 1939 Register shows Herbert Kerley, born in 1876, a dairyman shopkeeper, living there with his wife Daisy, born in 1890 and their daughter Doris, born in 1921 and working as a short-hand typist. The 9 November 1945 Courier reported the death of Herbert Kerley of 80 St James’ Road on 8 June 1944. The 1950 Kelly’s Directory shows the premises as ‘Brown’ (Jn) Dairies’, the 1953 directory as ‘Bedwell, R, Tailor’ and the 1957 directory as ‘Kay Aitch (Tunbridge Wells) Ltd, drapers.’
An advertisement in the 2 September 1966 Courier (right) shows building and civil engineering contractors Ellis of High Street, Etchingham [William Ellis (Etchingham) Ltd], announcing the opening of new premises at 80 St James’ Road. The property is now a private house.
82 St James’ Road
82 St James’ Road appears to have been a butcher’s shop since at least 1881 when the census shows (as 60 St James’ Road) 31-years-old Harry Lamb living there with his wife Clare, their two young children and his mother and mother-in-law, both widows. Harry is shown as a butcher. He is also shown there as a butcher in the 1891 Census (as 86 St James’ Road) with four young children and his widowed brother Charles, and in the 1901 Census (as 82 St James’ Road) with three of his children aged 16, 18 and 20) and his widowed mother-in-law. His son Walter worked as a butcher’s assistant. Harry was still there in the 1911 Census, now aged 61, with Clara aged, son Walter, aged 28 and still working as a butcher’s assistant, and daughter May, a 26-years-old dressmaker.
Between 1911 and 1921, the business changed hands because the 1921 Census shows 48-years-old Mark Bridgland living there with his wife Elizabeth, aged 49, and their four children: Alfred aged 21 working as ‘assisting father in butchers’, Mary aged 19 ‘assisting father in drapers’, and Mark, aged 14, and Leslie aged nine, both attending school.
The 1939 Register shows Cecil T Chapman, born 1878 a butcher shopkeeper, living there with his wife Elizabeth, born 1880 and their two children: Margery born in 1914 working as a draper’s ledger clerk and Frank, born in 1917, a solicitor’s clerk. Cecil ran the butchers until at least 1957 because the 1950, 1953 and 1957 Kelly’s Directory show 82 St James’ Road as ‘Chapman, C and Son, butchers’. In October 1968, the premises was still a butchers, but trading under the name of R Clifton & Son. The property is now trading as South East Property Mangement & Lettings.
84 St James’ Road
84 St James’ Road, on the east corner of Western Road, had been a bakers since at least 1881 when the census shows it (as 62 St James’ Road occupied by 41-years-old Edward Reader, his wife Emma aged 39 and their six children aged between 3 and 18. Harry is shown as a master baker and his eldest child William, a baker. The 1891 Census shows Edward and Emma living there (as 88 St James’ Road) with their four youngest children aged between 16 and 22. Edward is shown as a baker employer and none of the children were working in the business. Edward, then aged 62, was still there (as 84 St James’ Road) in the 1901 Census, working as a baker shopkeeper employer, but with a new wife, Emily aged 40, Edward’s youngest child, Walter then aged 25, working as ‘baker bread’ and Edward and Emily’s two children aged six and under one. The GRO has a death recorded at Tunbridge in 1892/3 for Emma Reader aged 50, and a marriage at South Stoneham, Hampshire between Edward Reader and Emily Littlecott (Emily was born at Brockenhurst, Hampshire).
The 1911 Census shows 58-years-old Arthur Holder living at 84 St James’ Road with his wife Mary, also aged 58, daughter Gertrude aged 35 and brother Charles aged 60. Arthur is shown as a baker employer and Charles as a gardener at a nursery. Between Edward Reader and Arthur Holder, Baillie Mills occupied the premises in 1907. An advertisement in the 22 November Courier (right)showed the business had been awarded a silver medal at the Food and Cookery Exhibition in London on 9 November 1907, saying it was, ‘the only medal ever won in open competition in this town for bread.’ The advertisement showed Baillie Mills also had premises at 126 Camden Road and a new factory was being erected in Upper Grosvenor Road.
The 1921 Census shows just Arthur and Mary at the property, their children having left home, and Arthur, then aged 69, still a baker employer. The 22 July 1926 Courier reported the inquest into the death of Mary at 84 St James’ Road, under the heading ‘Baker’s tragic discovery.’ The report said Mary had been unwell for a considerable time, and the previous Sunday evening, had been found by her husband laying on her back on the floor with her head by the gas oven. Although she was still slightly breathing, she died in the early hours the following morning. The gas tap was turned on and a paper was found on which had been written, ‘I cannot bear the pain any longer.’ The Coroner returned a verdict of suicide whilst of unsound mind.
The 1939 Register for 84 St James’ Road shows William Baker, born 1871, a baker confectioner shopkeeper, his wife Ellen, born 1874, and their daughter Florence, born 1914, a baker’s shop assistant. The property was still a bakers in 1950 when the Kelly’s Directory lists ‘Cooks (Tunbridge Wells) Ltd, bakers’, but by 1957 it had changed when the 1957 directory lists it as, ‘Curtis, Ivy, ladies’ hairdresser’. There is no entry for the address in the 1953 directory. A classified advertisement in the 9 September 1960 Courier for a ‘full or part-time hairdresser required, Saturday half-day’, was inserted by Ivy Curtis, and by 1968 the property was still a ladies’ hairdresser, but under the name of Bryan Kace. The property is now a private house.
116 St James’ Road
The other Dredge newsagent referred to by Alan Dane was at 116 St James’ Road, on the junction with Rochdale Road and Stanhope Road, but I don’t remember it all. I remember the large Co-Op grocery shop opposite at 110 St James’ Road on the bend, that later became a music shop.
The 1939 Register has recorded the following for 116 St James’ Road: Cyril G Dredge, born 13 February 1892, newsagent and tobacconist; Jessie M Dredge, born 31 August 1896, UDD and Kathleen J M Dredge, born 3 August 1924, clerk drapers and furnishers. UDD means ‘unpaid domestic duties’ and was the term used in the Register for woman looking after the home
Alan Dane said he thought this Dredge was a brother of the Albion Road Dredge, and he is right. An Ancestry family tree about the Dredge family shows Reginald and Cyril were two of the ten children of James Dredge (1852-1936) and Fanny Clara Greenwood (1856-1943) born between 1883 and 1898 at Reading, Berkshire. Although James and Clara appeared to have stayed in Reading, because that is where they both died, all their children moved to Kent, all but Reginald and Cyril, to the Canterbury area.
Reginald was in Tunbridge Wells at least by 1911 when the census shows him aged 20 living as lodger at 3 Stanhope Road, and working as a jeweller. He married Minnie Thair of 116 St James’ Road (just round the corner from 3 Stanhope Road) in September 1919 at St James Church and the 1921 Census shows them living at 116 St James’ Road. Reginald was working as jeweller for gold and silversmith WJ Payne, 37 High Street. Minnie’s younger sister, Evelyn E Thair, is living with them and working as an assistant at the newsagent at 116 St James’ Road.
Reginald and Minnie’s daughter Beryl was married in 1954 and the 12 November Courier reported, ‘Miss Beryl Constance Dredge, daughter of Mr RT Dredge of 39 Albion Road, Tunbridge Wells, and the late Mrs Dredge, was married on Wednesday at St James Church, Tunbridge Wells to Mr Robert William Greatrex, son of Mr and Mrs W E Greatex of Altnabrec Cottage, Pembury...’
It therefore appears that Minnie’s family originally owned the newsagent at 116 St James’ Road, and sometime between 1921 and 1939, Reginald gave up being a jeweller to become a newsagent at 39 Albion Road, and his younger brother Cyril (who was living in Essex in 1924) took over the newsagent at 116 St James’ Road. Minnie died in October 1952 and Reginald in 1962. The Ancestry tree shows Reginald and Cyril are descended from Richard Dredge, born 1787 at Newbury, Berkshire.
Alan Dane, 70 Ravenswood Avenue, said, “A variety of trades-people made deliveries to Ravenswood: milk was delivered from Farmers Supply, Calverly Road and they used a hand- operated electric milk float; John Browns Dairy, St John’s Road used a cabbed milk float and Nightingale Farm, Southborough used a motorcyle and sidecar combination, and then there was a dairy in Quarry Road but I cannot remember the name. Coal merchants were G H Smith, Mount Pleasant and Sturgeon, Pembury. Ice Cream: DeMashio, whose factory premises were in Tunnel Road, dispensed ice cream from a magnificent (probably early 1930s) mobile ice-cream parlour. Mr DeMashio made his presence known by blasting a two-tone horn and usually stopped opposite the low 40s (Ravenswood). Butchers were Ashby’s and Moon’s, Camden Road who delivered meat by trade bicycles (heavy cycles with large baskets situated in front of the handlebars). Also a butcher in St James’ Road but I cannot remember the name. There were in fact, several butchers in Camden Road but I am not aware of any other than those mentioned who delivered to the estate. The bakers were Baillie Mills of Bayhall Road.”
116 St James’ Road, along with other houses on the north side of St James’ Road going towards Grosvenor Bridge, has since been demolished and blocks of flats (Rochdale House) built in their place each side of Rochdale Road. The Co-Op grocery store, and later music shop, at 110 St James’ Road still exists but is now Albert House.
The Mitre public house, 90 St James’ Road
<The Mitre 1960s Fred Scales.jpg> – photo thanks Fred Scales.
The nearest public house to the Ferndale Park Estate was The Mitre at 90 (originally 64) St James’ Road at its junction with Western Road, now called The Allotment (and Fontaine Bar and Bistro). It was built in the 1870s (it does not appear in the 1874 Tunbridge Wells Directory), and was where I had my first pub drink, a half pint of bitter, when I was 16 years old! Luckily, I always looked older than my real age! In 2009, under new ownership, the premises and grounds of the pub was greatly renovated and renamed the ‘Allotment’, a name derived from its close proximity to the Charity Farm and Hilbert Recreation allotments.
The Dover Kent Archives website describes the pub and includes, “The Mitre public house was constructed in the late 1870s on the north-east corner of St James’ Road and Western Road. Initially it had the address of 64 St James’ Road but by 1891, due to renumbering of the buildings, it became 90 St James’ Road. The name of the pub comes from ‘Mitre - a liturgical headdress of a bishop or abbot, a tall pointed cleft cap with two bands hanging down the back’ and there are many pubs by that name in Britain.
“The pub was one of about 100 owned in 1895 by Kelsey's Culverden Brewery, and in 1948 was taken over by T W Green & Co which subsequently was renamed as Flowers Breweries Ltd, which in turn was taken over by Whitbread, and by 1975 its ownership was registered as Whitbread Fremlins Ltd Pale Ale Brewers of Earl Street, Maidstone. Under the ownership of these breweries, the pub was managed by a succession of licensed victuallers and throughout that time the pub was little altered and became a favourite watering hole of local residents.”
My thanks to Richard Mason for the extracts from the 1950, 1953 and 1957 Kelly’s Directory. Richard lives in Bigglewade, but was born in Tunbridge Wells and after marrying his wife Janet, lived in Dorking Road and Garden Road before his work took them away from Tunbridge Wells.
Writing on Facebook OTWPS in 2020, Tim Hunt said, ‘Other places I remember is Paul’s the Post Office, Pollards butchers and a hairdresser and The Mitre, and sure there was a fruit veg shop on corner of Auckland/St James Rd opposite The Mitre.
Auckland Road
In addition to the shops in Albion Road and St James’ Road, there were also shops in Auckland Road. The properties in Auckland Road appear to have been built in the early 1870s. There is no mention of Auckland Road in the 1871 Census and the earliest reference I can find to the road is in 1872 when the 13 June Tunbridge Wells Journal published an advertisement (below right) by Messrs Hemsley and Stevenson of a property auction on 21 June at the Camden Hotel, Tunbridge Wells. Lot 1 of the nine lots was, ‘Ten recently-erected brick-built slated roofed cottages situate in Auckland Road, Calverley Estate, near Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, each containing four rooms and offices, are let to good tenants, and producing an annual rental of £117 per annum.’ Lot 2 was, ‘Seven well built cottages, containing four rooms and usual offices, one having a corner shop with good yard at side, situate in Auckland Road aforesaid, producing a rental of £94 18s per annum.’ The advertisement is interesting because the properties in Auckland Road had already been built and let to tenants. I have reproduced the whole advertisement because it also includes other properties in this area.
It appears other properties in Auckland Road were not built until later in the decade because the 3 December 1979 Courier published an advertisement (below right) by Messrs W C Cripps for an auction on 12 December 1879 at the Camden Hotel for, ‘All those 8 newly-erected dwelling house (one of which can be used as a shop) situate in the Auckland Road, and opposite to the Western Road, St James’, together with a plot of land in the rear thereof, well adapted for the erection of stabling or stores. The premises are brick-built, with compo facings and slate roof, and have been erected in a most substantial and convenient manner. Each house containing on the basement a kitchen, wc, and covered area; on the ground floor, sitting and bedroom, and on the first floor a bedroom, together with a small garden at the back, the estimated rental of the whole being £162 per annum...’ Could the property that could be used as a shop have been what is now 8 Auckland Road11 or 13 Auckland Road?
Tunbridge Wells trade directories for 1876 and 1877, under the heading ‘Bakers and Confectioners’ include ‘Saunders, J, Auckland Road.’ The 6 August 1875 Courier published a notice (below right) by John Saunders of 6 Auckland Terrace, Auckland Road, giving notice he intended to apply at the General Annual Licensing Meeting for a certificate to sell beer at his shop at Auckland Terrace. The 15 August 1873 Courier had published a similar notice by William Sands of Auckland Road for a certificate to sell beer and cider ‘at a house (or shop) situate at Auckland Road.’
11 and 13 Auckland Road
I will only write about the two shops at 11 and 13 Auckland Road, each side of the junction with Western Road, because these were the two most likely used by residents of the Ferndale Park Estate. A 1905 photograph (below right) shows the shop at 13 Auckland Road, which appears to be a grocer and/or a general shop The shop at 11 Auckland road was on the opposite corner of the junction.
The various censuses have conflicting reports about 11 and 13 Auckland Road being a shop, assuming the street numbers have not changed (like St James’ Road did between 1881 and 1891). Whereas the 1871 Census does not list any properties in Auckland Road, the 1881 Census shows 26-years-old George Andrews living at 11 Auckland Road and working as a draper’s porter. Living at 13 Auckland Road was 49-years-old widower George Budgen working as a bricklayer. There is no mention of either of these properties, or the neighbouring ones, being used as a shop. Were they originally built as houses and converted to a shop later? The 1891 Census shows 63-years-old widow Priscilla Taylor living at 11 Auckland Road and working as ‘keeper of general shop’. Living at 13 Auckland Road was 25-years-old Herbert Reader working as a baker but no mention of a shop.
Stangely, there is no mention of either property, or neighbouring properties, being used as a shop in the 1901 Census, despite knowing 13 Auckland Road was a shop about 1905. Living at 11 Auckland Road was 28-years-old James Harris working as a butcher journeyman, and living at 13 Auckland Road was 46-years-old Henry Wingham working as a cabinet worker. Both men are listed as ‘worker’, as opposed to ‘employer’ or ‘own account’ if they were running a shop.
The 1911 Census shows 45-years-old Charles Alfred King, his wife Kathleen, aged 42 years, and their two children, living at 11 Auckland Road. Charles is shown working as a musician. Living at 13 Auc kland road was 53-years-old John Heath, working as a general labourer, but his wife, 54-years-old Mary, working as ‘general stores’ in her ‘own account’. 11 Auckland Road is not listed in the 1921 Census but John Heath was still living at 13 Auckland Road in the 1921 Census, then aged 64 and still working as a general labourer (for W B Jury, 119 Camden Road). His wife Mary, then aged 65, was still running the shop, being shown working as ‘small shop’ and ‘own account’.
The 1939 Register lists 11 Auckland Road as a ‘general shop’ with Ernest Brooks, born in 1877 and ‘incapacitated’ living there with his wife Florence, born in 1878 and their son Thomas, born in 1914 and a theological student. Florence is shown as a ‘shopkeeper & domestic duties.’ There is no entry in the register for 13 Auckland Road.
Following the posting of the 1905 photograph of the shop at 13 Auckland Road on Facebook OTWPS, Lori Hazelden wrote, ‘Wow! That’s where I used to live with my brothers David Vogel and Aaron Vogel! Now known as 63 Western Road, but at the time of the picture the shop address was 13 Auckland Road!’ Patricia Rose D’arcy wrote, ‘Remember the shop on opposite corner. Used to go in and play with the boy, can’t remember his name.’ Eric Christian wrote, ‘Shops in Auckland Road, number 11 was known as “Whites” and number 87 “Coles” in 1950.’
Disappearing Local Shops by Mel Wickenden
Although not a Ferndale Park resident, Mel Wickenden wrote the following under the heading ‘Disappearing Local Shops’, on Facebook OTWPP in January 2018, that will likely relive memories of many children who lived on the estate in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, “Having lived in this area for the majority of my life, I have fond memories of visiting the local shops, many of which have now disappeared. At the end of St James’ Park there was a shop at the junction with Albion Road. The shop was a general grocery store, and has now been converted into a detached house (Barnes then Flemmings).
“I can remember two shops in Auckland Road, Bradshaw’s on the corner with Western Road, and another shop on the junction with Rochdale Road (Lucy’s). The top of Avon Street had three shops, two off-licences and an ice cream shop. Underground Sounds in St. James’ Road used to be a Co-Op store, with a butcher on one side and a general grocer on the other. This shop then became Kay Aitch’s electrical shop and then a wine merchant before Underground Sounds moved in. Directly opposite, there was another off- licence – The Cypress.
“Continuing towards Grosvenor Bridge there was a newsagents and tobacconist (Dredges), where the new flats are on the right. A few yards further on was Mr Jenks the butchers. The shop on the left just before Avon Street (was Lukers) which still remains. On the junction of Stratford Street and St James Road was Castle’s the bakers. There was also a shop at the other end of Stratford Street (Cornford’s).
“I can always remember the St James’ Post Office, together with the hairdressers on the corner of Western Road, (this later became a greengrocers). Also, in this parade of shops was, Chapman’s the butcher. On the corner of Albion Road and St James’ Road was Kay Aitch’s. (milliners). This shop used to sell many different goods, and at one stage even had an automatic vending machine outside, which sold everything from light bulbs to shampoo. Very advanced for its time!
“Going along Albion Road from St James’ Road I can remember the greengrocers on the corner. There were a few houses, and then the parade of shops that remain today. The shops included the bakers and Fullers the newsagents. Mr Fuller was famous for his penny box of sweets.
“These are just a few of the shops that I can remember, yet I am informed that over the past 60 years there were probably more than 30 retail outlets within our local area. The majority of these shops have now disappeared; we can only live with the memories of how they once provided for our needs.”
The Town Crier – St James’ Road
On 9 January 2013, the Town Crier published the following article about St James’ Road:
“JB’s music store at 108/110 St James’ Road has been closed for a while now, with their new shop well established on St John’s Road. Work recently started at St James’ Road to turn the building into flats, with off-road parking. Living just round the corner, it has been interesting to watch the work take place. I went to take some photos and the workmen told me the store was originally a Co-op. This lead to a discussion with a neighbour about both local shops and off road parking. Because as we lose all the old, local shops to residential buildings, we need cars and car parking spaces to drive to the new food shops… While our one remaining local convenience store does sell enough things to survive on, possibly with a supermarket delivery top-up, most people have a car for work, shopping or leisure. Living in Victorian streets, we are very short of space to then park these cars, especially as new homes are being built.
“Even when we moved to the St James’ area eighteen years ago we had many more shops here. Along St James’ Road there was a butcher, hairdresser, post office and a curtain shop. Underground Sounds was at 108/110 St James’ Road while in Albion Road we had a newsagents, JB’s Music Store, the launderette, which is still there, and the very useful Levett & Martin, still there. Opposite Rochdale Road, on St James’ Road was, and still is, our local convenience store. This is a very well established shop, in 1886 it was ‘Rochdale House’ owned by Edwin W Scragg, a grocer & beer retailer.
“A look through Kelly’s Directory in Tunbridge Wells reference library reveals a large quantity of shops as this area was being developed. Kelly’s Directory is similar to a phone book, before phones! Arranged both by street names, and commercial businesses, a list of everyone in the town, with a few adverts thrown in, and very useful for both town and family history research. I would need a whole magazine to list the shops we had in 1886, but some of the more interesting are these. In Albion Road one of the shops in the row was ‘St James Bazaar’ run by Mrs E Whiting, as a ‘stationer and fancy repository’.
“In Auckland Road two general shops, a baker, and a greengrocer, who was also a bailiff. I would love a photo of the buildings where the flats now stand on St James’ Road between Rochdale Road and Vernon Road, seven shops including a ‘toy and fancy warehouse’, but at this time 108/110 St James’ Road wasn’t built and seems to be just bare land. A further nine shops were in the row from opposite ‘The Mitre’ pub towards Albion Road. On the road bend stood the ‘Cyprus Stores’ beer retailer and general shop, now recently restored as a house – with the Cyprus tree logos in the window.
“I thought possibly, by 1916 and WW1, there could be less local shops, but most of them are still there. At the end of Quarry Road we have ‘Walter Tookey, Borough Fire Brigade, hose cart station no 5.’ I enquired of local fire expert, Roger Lewis, about hose carts, which sound quite interesting. Based all around the town, as sub-stations, these were manually propelled carts that one man would have pushed, while running, to the fire. No doubt when the motor driven fire engines were introduced in 1933 there were some grateful firemen!
“The first mention of the Co-Op is in 1926 when 108/110 is taken by ‘Tunbridge Wells Co-operative Soc Ltd’. The first co-operative group was founded in Rochdale, Lancs, in 1844. Their first self-service shop was in 1942, so the St James’ branch would still have been staffed by assistants serving customers, but a much larger shop than those surrounding it. As the Co-op shares its profits according to purchases, this was probably a good reason to visit the shop, but all the existing shops in St James’ Road continued to trade. The real impact on the small shops seems to have occurred during the 1950s.
“The next big change to the road is the opening in 1934 of ‘Kay Aitch’ millinery and hosiery shop, on the corner of Lower Albion Road and St James’ Road (now Alexander House). Owned by Mrs R Hemsley, the shop continued to expand during the years, selling a wide range of clothing, including school uniforms. The block of shops alongside were still fully occupied in 1974, the last directory in the library. The shops by Rochdale Road did not fare so well, the first block of flats are built in the mid-fifties, and the second block in the sixties.
“As for The Co-op, in 1948 it is ‘Brighton Equitable Co-operative Society Ltd’, then in 1965 it becomes a house furnishing and electrical domestic appliance shop for Kay Aitch. It was then Underground Sounds before being bought by JB’s Music Store who moved from their smaller shop in Albion Road. Our local post-office was converted into flats about the same time as JB’s moved to St John’s Road; blocks of lock-up garages are demolished and houses built; in December the old corrugated iron Scout Headquarters in Quarry Road went up for sale. So the area is still developing, with housing squeezed into every tiny space, and most people needing a car.”
DeMashio ice-cream
Before ending this page on the local shops, I am including one last item that I sure will bring back memories to all the children who lived on the Ferndale Park Estate in the 1950s - DeMashio’s ice cream van that used to regularly visit the estate. Although not a shop, he was a tradesman, and as Alan Dane (70 Ravenswood Avenue) said earlier, “Ice Cream: DeMashio, whose factory premises were in Tunnel Road, dispensed ice cream from a magnificent (probably early 1930s) mobile ice-cream parlour. Mr DeMashio made his presence known by blasting a two-tone horn and usually stopped opposite the low 40s (Ravenswood)”, is one of his childhood memories.
A restored DeMashio ice cream van was displayed at the South of England Show, Ardingly about 1986 (above right) and more recently took part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and was pictured on the seafront at Brighton in Madeira Drive (above right). The pictures were posted on the Facebook RTWPS webpage where Phil Wheeler added a picture of Giorgio DeMashio, and Victor Bethell commented, “Giorgio DeMashio came to England after the war. My late brother-in-law Bill Turner used to order the kids’ ice creams in Italian. Great character and a part of Tunbridge Wells history.” Several people suggested the van was an Austin and was converted from an old hearse. Connor Dorset said, “The grandfather used to sell at the lower entrance of Calverly Park and Silverdale Lane”, and Jane Hood said, “The son’s name was Gino. He went to school with my 92-years-old mother. DeMashio used to go out to all the villages including Horsmonden, Brenchley, Matfield and Pembury. Remember the oyster wafers and milk lollies, delicious!”
70 and 72 St James’ Road today as Alexander House, private flats.
74 (right) and 76 St James’ Road today.
Advertisement from the 11 October 1968 Courier – photo thanks Courier.
St James’ Road in the mid-1980s showing (left with the blind) number 82, number 80 and part of the Post Office at number 78 – photo thanks Nick Clarke, Facebook OTWPS.
Courier advertisements for 80 St James’ Road in 2 September 1966 (left) and 11 October 1968 – photos thanks Courier.
78 (right) and 80 St James’ Road today.
Advertisement from the 11 October 1968 Courier for 82 St James’ Road – photo thanks Courier.
82 St James’ Road today.
110 St James’ Road today.
110 St James’ Road, pictured in 2008 when it was JB’s Music Stores – photo thanks Facebook RTWPP.
82 St James’ Road today.
Advertisement from the 22 November 1907 Courier for 84 St James’ Road – photo thanks Courier.
Advertisement from the 11 October 1968 Courier for 82 St James’ Road – photo thanks Courier.
The Mitre public house, 90 St James’ Road, in the 1960s – photo thanks Fred Scales.
The Mitre public house, now known as The Allotment, 90 St James Road, today.
The shop at 13 Auckland Road on the corner of Western Road, pictured about 1905 – photo thanks Mick White, Facebook OTWPS.
The same view on Google Street View today.
Advertisement published in the 13 June 1872 Tunbridge Wells Journal. – photo thanks Tunbridge Wells Journal.
Advertisement published in the 3 December 1879 Courier – photo thanks Courier.
Notice published in the 6 August 1875 Courier – photo thanks Courier.
Giorgio DeMashio, as we remember him when we were children – photo thanks Phil Wheeler, Facebook OTWPS.
A restored DeMashio ice-cream van pictured about 1986 at the South of England show at Ardingly (above) – photo thanks Carole Noakes, Facebook OTWPS, and more recently at Madeira Drive, Brighton after competing in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run – photo thanks Chris Dann, Facebook OTWPS.
