Empty and boarded up, weeds growing in the courtyard - this must be shortly before demolition. Did they go because the Council wanted the space for thir new offices or did the charity decide on the move for their own reasons?
I suspect the new bungalows they built for them in Derby Road offered a lot nicer living conditions - only four bungalows though, replacing six almshouses in this block. Mind you 1960s bungalows are a bit of an eyesore in Derby Road - still, if the Council wanted some new offices aesthetic considerations wouldn't have stood a chance.
No good crying over spilt milk as my old mum used to say. Whatever the reasons, they are gone and it is yet another bit of Newbury's heritage gone for ever, gradually chipped away by greedy development and people on ego trips.
Still, in the words of Axl Rose "Nothing lasts for ever."
I remember my dad used to park in front of the almshouses in the late 1960's when we went to the library on Saturday afternoons. They were pretty derelict by then, and I particularly recall a large notice in the front quadrangle warning against falling slates.
Incidentally, you can still see traces of the whitewash on the adjoining buildings.
Just down the road towards the Post Office was a Cafe called The Welcome.. In the early 60's my mate and I used to collect the papers from Tufnalls for our paper round about 7 ish and then straight to the Welcome for a plate of chips(with a Tomato Sauce covering), play the pinball machine(highest score of the week won 200 fags)..When our sixpences ran out we would deliver the papers.. Apologies for anyone on my round then, for their lateness!! Oh the memories....
The fish and chip shop became The Lemon Plaice, and at that time only took up one unit. Next to that was a ladies hairdressers, own by Gus (I believe he was part Greek or Turk, part italian or similar), who had contacts in Italy and brought in italian glass and sold it in the downstairs unit - the hairdressers were upstairs. The unit was divided 2/3 - 1/3 with the 1/3 being the access to the stairs for the 1st floor.
Next to that was Blue Cross Drycleaners, run by Mr & Mrs Field. The unit had previously been The Gas Board showrooms, which had now moved to Northbrook Street, and later returning to the redeveloped shops north of The Newmarket, in Cheap Street (now gone). Prior to The Gas Board showrooms, this was The Weavers Arms, I believe.
Then the Empire Cafe, run by Mr & Mrs Robinson, and now run by their daughter.
The building on the corner was the Prudential offices.
Opposite the Fish & Chip shop was Povey & Wade (a double shop) on the corner of Kings Road west, an electrical, lighting and musical instrument retailers. Later they moved to Thatcham for a while, before disappearing. Coming back towards the library, next I believe was Seward's - estate agents, then Earthy's jewellers.
Opposite Blue Cross, and to the left of the King Charles was the pet shop, with offices above which housed Bennett's (insurance agent) and a B.R.S. franchise parcel receiving office and delivery, run by Miss Gould, sister of John Gould, the lock keeper. To the left, The Laurel chinese restaurant was there then, as was a Bollom Drycleaners receiving shop, before you get to the Welcome Cafe, and past them an old fashioned Gents Outfitters, whose name I can't recall.
Opposite, and next to The Newmarket Inn was Quartermains, an electrical television retailers. that block also contained a tobacconist, a cobblers, and Fishers greengrocers at the far end, before Plenty's factory, that continued opposite the Post Office, up to the shoe shop, which remains, but under a different name. There was a dentist's above the middle of this parade, called Budd - better known as Budd the butcher!
Down Kings Road West was Newbury Mineral Water depot on the left hand side, and on the right was a courtyard which housed a few small units, including a cabinet maker, and also used by Fishers for storage, and their market stall, which would be wheeled down the street every Thurs and Sat., to the market place.
There are other units between that I have missed out as I do not remember them all.
The fish and chip shop became The Lemon Plaice, and at that time only took up one unit. Next to that was a ladies hairdressers, own by Gus (I believe he was part Greek or Turk, part italian or similar), who had contacts in Italy and brought in italian glass and sold it in the downstairs unit - the hairdressers were upstairs. The unit was divided 2/3 - 1/3 with the 1/3 being the access to the stairs for the 1st floor.
Next to that was Blue Cross Drycleaners, run by Mr & Mrs Field. The unit had previously been The Gas Board showrooms, which had now moved to Northbrook Street, and later returning to the redeveloped shops north of The Newmarket, in Cheap Street (now gone). Prior to The Gas Board showrooms, this was The Weavers Arms, I believe.
Then the Empire Cafe, run by Mr & Mrs Robinson, and now run by their daughter.
The building on the corner was the Prudential offices.
Opposite the Fish & Chip shop was Povey & Wade (a double shop) on the corner of Kings Road west, an electrical, lighting and musical instrument retailers. Later they moved to Thatcham for a while, before disappearing. Coming back towards the library, next I believe was Seward's - estate agents, then Earthy's jewellers.
Opposite Blue Cross, and to the left of the King Charles was the pet shop, with offices above which housed Bennett's (insurance agent) and a B.R.S. franchise parcel receiving office and delivery, run by Miss Gould, sister of John Gould, the lock keeper. To the left, The Laurel chinese restaurant was there then, as was a Bollom Drycleaners receiving shop, before you get to the Welcome Cafe, and past them an old fashioned Gents Outfitters, whose name I can't recall.
Opposite, and next to The Newmarket Inn was Quartermains, an electrical television retailers. that block also contained a tobacconist, a cobblers, and Fishers greengrocers at the far end, before Plenty's factory, that continued opposite the Post Office, up to the shoe shop, which remains, but under a different name. There was a dentist's above the middle of this parade, called Budd - better known as Budd the butcher!
Down Kings Road West was Newbury Mineral Water depot on the left hand side, and on the right was a courtyard which housed a few small units, including a cabinet maker, and also used by Fishers for storage, and their market stall, which would be wheeled down the street every Thurs and Sat., to the market place.
There are other units between that I have missed out as I do not remember them all.
The fish and chip shop became The Lemon Plaice, and at that time only took up one unit. Next to that was a ladies hairdressers, own by Gus (I believe he was part Greek or Turk, part italian or similar), who had contacts in Italy and brought in italian glass and sold it in the downstairs unit - the hairdressers were upstairs. The unit was divided 2/3 - 1/3 with the 1/3 being the access to the stairs for the 1st floor.
Next to that was Blue Cross Drycleaners, run by Mr & Mrs Field. The unit had previously been The Gas Board showrooms, which had now moved to Northbrook Street, and later returning to the redeveloped shops north of The Newmarket, in Cheap Street (now gone). Prior to The Gas Board showrooms, this was The Weavers Arms, I believe.
Then the Empire Cafe, run by Mr & Mrs Robinson, and now run by their daughter.
The building on the corner was the Prudential offices.
Opposite the Fish & Chip shop was Povey & Wade (a double shop) on the corner of Kings Road west, an electrical, lighting and musical instrument retailers. Later they moved to Thatcham for a while, before disappearing. Coming back towards the library, next I believe was Seward's - estate agents, then Earthy's jewellers.
Opposite Blue Cross, and to the left of the King Charles was the pet shop, with offices above which housed Bennett's (insurance agent) and a B.R.S. franchise parcel receiving office and delivery, run by Miss Gould, sister of John Gould, the lock keeper. To the left, The Laurel chinese restaurant was there then, as was a Bollom Drycleaners receiving shop, before you get to the Welcome Cafe, and past them an old fashioned Gents Outfitters, whose name I can't recall.
Opposite, and next to The Newmarket Inn was Quartermains, an electrical television retailers. that block also contained a tobacconist, a cobblers, and Fishers greengrocers at the far end, before Plenty's factory, that continued opposite the Post Office, up to the shoe shop, which remains, but under a different name. There was a dentist's above the middle of this parade, called Budd - better known as Budd the butcher!
Down Kings Road West was Newbury Mineral Water depot on the left hand side, and on the right was a courtyard which housed a few small units, including a cabinet maker, and also used by Fishers for storage, and their market stall, which would be wheeled down the street every Thurs and Sat., to the market place.
There are other units between that I have missed out as I do not remember them all.
That's absolutely brilliant-what a memory-obviously the 'Old Timers Disease' hasn't kicked in yet-well done!
The model shop was between the pet shop and the Laurel, it later moved upstairs to one of the shops (now the hairdressers?) between Cheap shreet and the (now) bus station. I used to spend a lot of time in there and Povey and Wades record department in the early 70's when I was at school in Newbury.
A builder I know has been working in the roof space of the now closed chinese restaurant opposite the cinema and found an old box of the accounts and ledgers for the shop when it was a gents outfitters and covers the period 1890 to about 1910 There are meticulous notes in his ledger which is unfortunately not in very good condition, covered in soot and dirt. There are also a few "Tally" books. These list people who have bought on credit and then paid either weekly or at the end of the month. Masses of local names, including one of my ancestors. Seems like from the paperwork, the shop owner in 1890 was a Mr Rolfe and a Mr Wise after about 1905. This old picture shows the shop on the extreme right was taken about 1900
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