Centre of the Village

Last updated: 18/11/2023

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Scroll through photographs of The Square, High Street, Newman’s Lane, Rectory Lane and Chapel Walk.

The Square, in the early part of the 20th century, showing the Post Office and the Jubilee Clock. Ida Cox would have run the Post office at this time. The gas lamp post was painted white after complaints that villagers walked into it on dark nights.

A colour version of the previous slide of The Square in the early part of the 20th century.

A view across The Square showing the Corner Shop. It is possible to make out Holbrook above the shop window.

The Square in 1904

A view across The Square in 1970

A view towards April Cottage. This building was part of the Corner Shop in the early 20th century. Shortly before WW2, it was opened as a barber shop run by Sidney Sims.

The actual sign from the shop. The shop closed in the 1970’s. Irene Shakespear owned the house and at that time renamed it as April Cottage.

Timsbury Post Office at the beginning of the 20th Century. In 1866 this building was occupied by Edmund Maggs. It was described as a grocers, drapers and Post Office. Presumably his surname is the origin of Maggs Hill. Edmund Maggs remained the Post Master until about 1880. By 1889 Ernest Weaver Stamp has taken over. He was also a grocer and draper. Ernest George Simmonds then was in the role between 1906 and 1914. Shortly after, the Post Office moved across the Square.

Decorations in the Square to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra in 1902.

National Westminster Bank which used to be on the site of what is now the Miner's Memorial Garden. — National Westminster Bank which used to be on the site of the Miner’s Memorial Garden.

The Square and High Street — In the 1920s, the Corner Shop is occupied by Frank Canvin. He is seen standing in the shop door.

Wayland Cox ran a shoe repair business which you entered through the door to the left of the shop window. Later on he took over the shop from Irene Shakespear and ran a second hand business.

The Corner Shop is Aladdins in this photograph. The shop was owned by Marion Holbrook, nee Dando. It was a drapery shop. Afterwards it was taken over by Irene Shakespear. She lived next door in April Cottage.

The Square

The shop nearest to the entrance to The Rectory was at one time a cycle repair shop — The shop nearest to the entrance to The Rectory was at one time a cycle repair shop run by Frank Canvin.

The Square

The Square

The Square

The Square. The first shop on the right is Harry and Mabel Pope’s shop.

The Square

Mr Clavey’s van is parked outside the shop. He bought the van after WW2.

Fire at fish and chip shop 1964

This picture appears to have been taken immediately after the fire in the fish and chip shop on Sunday 17th May 1964. The fire started just before 11am as people were making their way to church and chapel. Within minutes a pall of smoke about 100ft high drifted over the village. Fred Sperring, of Cheam House, said ‘the whole house shook, just as if a bomb had fallen.’ It is thought that it is Fred Sperring who is walking towards the camera.

The damage after the fire.

The Square

Charabanc outing dating from the 1920s, starting at The Square

The Square at the time of the coronation of George V in 1911

The Square, looking towards Newmans Lane, in 1905

The Square

The Square in about 1910.

Bridges’ the Butcher who sold in the adjacent shop tobacco, sweets, fireworks and was licensed to sell ammunition for sporting guns.

Newmans Lane

Newmans Lane

Newmans Lane

Bert Nash delivering milk in Newmans Lane

Bridges' the Shoemaker in Rectory Lane — Mr Bridges sold a variety of shoes from elegant ladies’ shoes to pit boots, and made the pit boots himself. The boots were made of thick ‘split’ leather guaranteed to last a year. To have them repaired would cost 3/9d. Mr Bridges Snr used tools supplied by Mr Moxham, the blacksmith. Poorer people would come in just for a cut-out sole and heel so that they could do home repairs. David Bridges, his son, started at 14 and didn’t know all the tricks of the trade, so George Dando would come and help the ‘youn un’ if he had any problems. Later David Bridges took over the business.

Rectory Cottage, now known as Elder.

Sarah Chivers in the High Street

Street party in Rectory Lane on VE Day 1945

An early picture showing part of the frontage of Keelings and to the right Tom Keeling’s work area for his carpentry business.

This building was Mrs Ted Smith’s wallpaper and paint shop between the 1930s and 1950s. Then it was used by Alec Beard as fruit and vegetable shop. It has also been used as a freezer shop run by Tony Blaker until it became a residential building.

A view along the High Street with not so many cars.

High Street

Tizards in The High Street

Tizards in The High Street

Tizards in The High Street

Spar in The High Street

Spar in The High Street

This site used to be the gardens of The Old Post Office next door. Marion Holbrook initially built a hardware store here. Then Tom Evans moved from across the road to run it as a chemist shop. Rob Bick took over the chemist shop which then also housed the Post Office. This photo shows the Chemist/Post Office as a single shop before the extension of the building. After the building was extended Rob and Janet Bick could run the Chemist and Post Office separately.

Timsbury Post Office — Old Post Office

Sunbeam Cottage

Sunbeam Cottage in the High Street

Originally, three cottages existed at this location. The cottages were demolished around 1954 and this picture shows the building that replaced them. Tom Evans ran a chemist shop on the left hand side and there was a hairdressers on the right hand side run by Betty and Vernon Ford. Subsequently Terry Keeping (Upholstery) occupied the right hand side. Then the whole building became Champion’s in the 1980s. It was a grocers shop on the left hand side and a florist on the right hand side. The building was demolished in 2008 and four flats built in its place.

Church Farm in the High Street (Humphrey's the Butchers) — Church Farm in the High Street (Humphrey’s the Butchers) A view of the butcher’s shop. The meat seen hanging outside in this photo was a usual occurrence.

Church Farm High Street

The House was formed by the amalgamation of three smaller cottages with a number of later extensions. The age of the original cottages is is mid-17th century, but it is thought that they were extended, altered and refaced about 1800.

Pitfour House was the family home of the Crang family in the 19th century.

Pitfour House

Pitfour House

Pitfour Terrace, High Street

The tall building on the left in the background was three cottages where Vic Ashley ran his business. It was the site of Champions, the grocer shop.

High Street looking towards St Mary's Church — High Street looking towards St Mary’s Church

Picture taken outside 3 Pitfour Terrace showing the petrol pump of Charlie Heal’s garage behind the car.

Charlie Heal's Garage, High Street — Charlie Heal’s Garage, High Street

Charlie Heal’s Garage, High Street

View of High Street before the building of Pitfour Terrace

Crock Barton was originally a terrace of four cottages built around 1700. They were cottages for flax weavers. The buildings were derelict in 1985 but converted into two dwellings.

Chapel Walk

Maggs Hill

Oakhill House — Dolly Holbrook standing in the doorway to Oakhill House. She also sold milk, bananas and eggs.

Tucker's the butchers on Maggs Hill. The picture shows Wilfred Tucker (centre right) next to George Baker (centre left) — Tucker’s the butchers on Maggs Hill. The picture shows Wilfred Tucker (centre right) next to George Baker (centre left)

Janton's in Maggs Hill — Janton’s in Maggs Hill

George and Arthur Holbrook's Drapers and Grocery Store on Maggs Hill. The small shop further up Maggs Hill on the left was a bread and cake shop. This picture was taken in the early 1900s. — George and Arthur Holbrook’s Drapers and Grocery Store on Maggs Hill. The small shop further up Maggs Hill on the left was a bread and cake shop. This picture was taken in the early 1900s.

Holbrook's in Maggs Hill — Holbrook’s on Maggs Hill

The Christadelphians in Maggs Hill — The Christadelphians Chapel on Maggs Hill

Abbott's Baker Shop at the bottom of Maggs Hill with the delivery van. Shown from left to right are Mrs Abbott, S Fry, Colin Abbott, Shilling Moon (front) and A Abbott. — Abbott’s Baker Shop at the bottom of Maggs Hill with the delivery van. Shown from left to right are Mrs Abbott, S Fry, Colin Abbott, Shilling Moon (front) and A Abbott.

Maggs Hill

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