The High Street of the 1930s - TrustNews June 15
Starting with this issue, Trust member and local historian, Phil Yates, who has resided in Winchester for most of his 88 years, will be reminiscing and sharing with us his memories of the city during the 1930s and 1940s. These articles will be illustrated by photographs from the Trust’s own archives.
Introduction by Keith Leaman
Originally the High Street was a straight road (Magno Vico), running from Eastgate to the Westgate. It is one of the oldest streets in Britain that has remained where it has always been for over a thousand years. The character of the street has of course changed many, many times over the years and continues to change but the line of the High Street remains the same The Broadway for example, the lower part of the street was demolished at the turn of the 18th/19th century. All that was left on the east side was the House of Mr Pescod, the Winchester Recorder His house is now Abbey House with the public gardens behind. In 1873, to one side of Abbey House, a new Guildhall was built. This replaced the town authorities’ use of St Johns House opposite, which reverted to St Johns House Trustees. You can still see the fibrous plaster frames that housed paintings in the first floor assembly room, where council business was undertaken. These paintings are now in the Guildhall. The lower rooms of St Johns House were part of the original hospital with two divided wards, one for women and one for men, both constructed to look into the chapel.
There has always been change, although much recently has been at eye level with new shop fronts and constantly changing ownerships plying different goods etc. One of the more dramatic changes was the 1973 pedestrianisation of the main High Street. Many will recall the hard debating for and against removing vehicle movement, not an over popular proposal but nevertheless carried through. l imagine it would not be too popular now to reverse the decision!
ln the 1930s Salters butchers, Whitwams music centre, Kingdons ironmongers and Dowlings drapers: these are the names of businesses familiar only to older Wintonians like me! Many shops in the High Street were family-run, some business owners taking an active part in the city’s affairs. lt is hard to imagine now that 11 butchers, 5 tailors, 4 open-front shops (2 fruit and veg and 2 fishmongers) adorned the Roman High Street along with 5 pubs, a cinema, 3 high-class restaurants and, of course, no High Street was complete without Woolworths, the 3d & 6d store.
What a contrast to today's High Street with its 5 mobile-phone outlets, 4 building societies, 6 estate agents! Yet the old picturesque scene from the Westgate remains, even if market stalls now obstruct the view lower down towards the Guildhall. Perhaps, in 5 or 10 years time the character of the High Street will change yet again. “Watch this space" as the saying goes!
However, let us return to the ‘30s and look at three butchers. First, Salters, a shop of real character which stood on the site of Mottisfont Court, festooned with hanging baskets and boasting a plaque reading ‘By appointment to Queen Victoria’ (the plaque now in the City Museum). Salters was one of the local butchers appointed to supply the royal family at Osborne House at Cowes. Second, Page & Phillips — more fishmonger/poulterer than butcher - which stood on part of what is now the RBS. Fresh chicken and turkeys, already plucked, rabbits and hares, ducks and pheasants, all hanging upside down on rails outside the shop - a sight rarely seen nowadays but common enough then. At Christmas magnificent displays were illuminated with lights intertwined among the produce. Later Albert Smith combined running the shop by day with his evening performances as an amateur magician.
Finally, John Kaines, pork butcher and poulterer (see photograph on front cover) stood on what is now the wooden-framed section of Lloyd's Bank. He sold the best pork sausages in the city - I can taste them now! He advertised that "hams killed and cured on the premises have no preservatives or chemicals". His other shop close by the corner of Upper Brook Street had pig carcases hanging outside on rails.
N B: Phil's tour of the High Street in the 1930s takes place on Thursday 25"‘ June at 6.00pm, starting at the Westgate and, time permitting, ending at the Guildhall. (Advance booking recommended).