85-86 High Street

No85

In 1865 this shop was owned and run by Mrs Ann Margaret Matthews who was a Milliner, by 1900 the shop was John Buck and as you can see in the 1st picture he sold Glass, China and Earthenware from his shop he describes as a Warehouse. The shop suffered heavy bomb damage during World War Two and was demolished in 1956, when the shop was rebuilt it was still separate from No86 and wasn't joined until Allens music moved in during the 1970's. In 1967 Season Sport's Ltd were located in No85 and were Sports outfitters.

No86

In 1865 No86 was Walter Simpsons shop and he ran it as an Upholsterer, in 1900 Benjamin Parker had taken over the shop and was running it as a Linen Draper and in the 1932 Kelly's Directory Parker and Watson ran it as a Draper's till 1940. During the first air raid on Lowestoft on the 3rd July 1940 the Co-operative store in Chapham road was just about completely destroyed. After this the Co-op hired then purchased the shop from Parker and Watson and then they moved their outfitters, drapery and boot departments to their other store. Then it was rebuilt after the war one of the first businesses to move in was Bettatravel travel agents. Shortly after this it become Allens Music Centre and knocked through into No85, but since 2000 its been a secession of different restaurants starting with Los Locos, Mexican Restaurant, The Red Rose Indian restaurant, then The Royal Tawa Tandoori Restaurant.

CREDIT: Lowestoft High Street, The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker by Crispin Hook 2016 Get the book

Parker & Watson drapers?