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From 209 to 224 High Street, New Brentford

The building line from number 191 to the Half Acre was set back in the 1960s leaving a wide pavement with flower beds (L).

There are plenty of photos of this section of the High Street in local histories of Brentford.

Properties

Notes prepared for numbers 209-210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218,219, 220-221, 223 and 224; also a list of photos, ephemera and maps

Numbers 209/210

In 1851 George F Cooper, ‘MRCS MD LSA practising’ age 23 born Brentford, lived here with his wife Emily E and a servant Sarah Higgins. There is a probable matching marriage in Kensington registration district of George Francis Cooper and Emily Elizabeth Nooth, 1850.

Also in the 1851 household, although listed as a separate schedule (perhaps indicating he was in what became 210) was James Render, dispenser of medicines, born Brentford, unmarried and aged 34. He left a PCC will in 1855.

In 1861 George Francis Cooper, MRCS General Practitioner, aged 33 was still living here with 3 servants. He was ‘married’ and his wife was not at home on the night of the census: she was visiting her father Henry Nooth, an ‘Ancient Military’ and his (possibly second?) wife Emily in Hove, Sussex.

He was succeeded by Edward Septimus Earle, a 37 year old surgeon in 1871 born in London. He married Emily Kershaw in Lambeth registration district in 1862 and by 1871 had five children, the eldest two born in London (ages 9 & 10) and the three youngest in New Brentford (ages 1,3 & 5). ESE remained here in 1881, the property being called ‘Sparshall House’. He had 8 children by this stage and a cook, housemaid, groom and surgery boy (John Matthews from Brentford) completed the household.

John Giles was listed as no. 210 in 1881 but I suspect this is an error, as he is listed at no. 211 in later censuses.

The use of the premises as a solicitors office commenced between 1881 and 1891, Alfred Heath, solicitor’s clerk from Scotland lived here with his family in 1891 and 1901.

209/210 were evaluated together in the 1909/10 Valuation Records and described 9 April 1915 as a large 3 storey house and offices with entrance from middle archway, frontage 34'. It was occupied by S Woodbridge & Sons and S Woodbridge junior. The owners were Stephen Woodbridge, Inverness Lodge, Brentford and Thomas Anthony Woodbridge, St Dunstans Brentford. Mr. Woodbridge was the secretary of the local council and his name appears on a number of local inscriptions (L).

Woodbridge & Sons are listed in trade directories in 1913, 1920, 1928, 1933 & 1940 (and may have operated later).

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Number 211

Number 212

The 1909/10 Valuation records C E Low as the occupier, although there is a note from April 1915 explaining that 'the lessee has just forfeited the lease as the rent was excessive' and no. 212 was vacant at the time of the inspection. The property was decsribed as three storey stock brick built with parapet walls and common wood shops fronts. The premises were in poor repair.

By 1928 212 was a cycle dealer’s (Reginald Dear), in 1933 & 1940 James Baker, boot and shoe dealers.

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Number 213

In 1861 5 shopmen were living in the premises and the household was headed by George Walbran (aged 62) and his two sisters (Mary aged 59, Ann aged 57): they all gave their birthplace as Topcliffe, which is near Thirsk, Yorkshire.

George died in Brentford in 1869 and was succeeded by Charles Pearson Low (from Chester-le-Street, Durham) & George Low in 1871; Charles P Low is listed in 1881, 1891 and 1901. In 1913 the business was run by Charles E Low from numbers 212 and 213; by 1928 212 was a cycle dealer’s (Reginald Dear) and 213 was Hopes Ltd, domestic store, who remained there until 1940 (at least).

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Number 214

Number 215

Number 216

The property had a miscellany of businesses in the 1840 - 1940 period, including George Keyworth, cutter (1861), John Morris, chemist (1871) and John Langley, draper (1881) when the property was called 'The Little Wonder'; John Langley was from Cario, Glamorgan and his sister Elizabeth a 'farmer's daughter' lived with him. It remained a drapers in 1890 / 1891 (William Henry Pearce). By 1913 Arthur Purkis had established a provision store here and it continued under his name in 1933, as Richard Purkis in 1940.

In 1915 it was described as a 'three storey stock brick built shop, flat roof, large projecting first floor window, wood framed, flat roof, extending over pavement'(T).

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Number 217

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Number 218

By 1928 Mrs M Woods ran an eel pie shop here and she is listed here in 1933 & 1940. 'This shop was especially important on Saturday nights, selling steak pies & mash or stewed eels & mash' (O).

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Number 219

The premises were later used as a grocers, run by Albert E Moore in 1901; the 1909/10 Valuation returns describe the property in 1915 as a small shop owned by Alfred Platt, c/o Platts Stores, High Street Hounslow. By 1913 Albert Edward Moore, from Bristol, is listed as running a provision stores spanning number 219 – 221. Demolished ca 1968 (D)

See Photos/Ephemera/Maps for a link to a 1945/6 photo of this property.

Numbers 220/221

By 1915 Alfred Platt (see number 219) also owned number 220. In 1911 Platts Stores used numbers 220 and 221, described as a new brick & slated modern shop with granite pilasters, double front, red brick and stone built floor…. Well built about 1896. There is a small sketch plan of the property in the Valuation Records at The National Archives.(T)

By 1928 David Greig Ltd ran the provision stores from numbers 219 – 221, he remained there until (at least) 1940; demolished ca 1968 (D)

Number 223

Number 224

Photos/Ephemera/Maps

Roads Off