Shops & Shopping

Ham Parade

Ham Parade began in 1937 as part of the Tudor Estate on the condition that “no noisy or offensive trades were allowed”.  The first shops included a fruiterer, butcher, grocer, wine merchant, chemist, greengrocer, newsagent and post office, domestic store, ladies’ outfitter, shoe shop and café.

Malcolm Singleton, owner of M&J Hardware, has worked on Ham Parade since 1970 and see high rents and rates damaging the chances of survival of small shops.  John Whiting who owned the fruiterers and retired in 2016 after 34 years of trading on the Parade.

Ham Street

There was a butchers shop owned by Frank Birch which was next to a green grocers called Smerdons which later became Dunkleys, a general sweetshop and tobacconist.  This was 12 Ham St where the Dunkleys remained until after the Second World War then moved to 31-33 Ham Street which was the site of the original Crooked Billet which moved in 1935 to a site opposite the Brewery Tap.  The house now known as the Old Bakery was known as Winson’s Supply Stores in the early 20th century.  It became Fieldson’s Stores or the Supply Stores in the 1930’s and after the Second World War it became the London Co-operative Society Stores run by Mr Cox.

Ham Common

There was a small builders yard on Ham Common called Eckett and Ellis.

Petersham Road

In the1950’s there were a number of shops just next to the New Inn.  Chinnery’s was a general store with a post office at the back. Next door was Povey’s the butcher, then Morfew’s cobblers, Mrs Spratley’s sweet shop and then the Fox and Goose.  A little further along was Saddler’s the baker and then a newsagent and tobacconist run by Mr Carter and his wife.

1971 Street Directory

Parkleys Parade:

1          Timber Supplies

2/3       Young (JR Ltd), grocers

4          Thompson (S), confectioner and tobacconist

5          Lloyds Bank

6          Dorling (W & Sons Ltd), hardware merchants

West Side:

Ham Parade Cars

1          Warner Bros, decorators merchants

    Dixon Ward and Co, solicitors and commissioners for oaths (Gate ho)

19        Barclays Bank Ltd

23        Barclays Bank Ltd

27        Thresher and Co Ltd, wine and spirit merchants

31/33   First and Last Café

 

Ashburnham Road:

2          Friars Pantry, bakers

3          Playpen, baby linen dealers

6          Miller Bert Ltd, turf commission agent

8          Gill, (OG), butcher

10        Bishops Stores Ltd, grocers

12        Westminster Wine (West) Ltd, wine and spirit merchants

14        Laxton (A & E), fruiterers

16        Reliance Cleaners

171      Graham, newsagent

173      Ham Hardware

175      Town Centre Cleaners, dry cleaners

175      Welco Dry Cleaners Co Ltd

177      Mr Bun the Baker

179      Williams and Sons, fruiterers

181      Lilley’s Foodmarket Ltd, butchers

183      Reeves (G), wine and spirit merchants

185      Bishops Stores Ltd, grocers

Ham Street:

1          Bartley and Geldart, physicians and surgeons (surgery)

7          Brown, (William A), monumental mason

11        London Co-operative Society Ltd (groceries)

15/23   Crooked Billet, Public House

31A      Ham School of Motoring

33        Dunkley, (Mrs D), grocer

     Baggley, (Chas Arthur), MB, ChB, JP, physician and surgeon (Stokes Hall)

63        Andrews and Sons, hardware merchants, ironmongers, paint and pet food

65        Frigidaire Washerteria, laundrette

67        Marcel, ladies hairdresser

69        Blue Peter Restaurant

71        Lee (Southern) Ltd, newsagents

Back Lane:

4          Ham Bargain Centre

6          Squires (D & Son), greengrocers

8          Harrison (Harry), clothier

10        Payne (A E), grocer and post office

12        Elliston (R V), MPS, chemist

14        Bird Shop (The) (Abbley’s)[/lgc_column] <div\></div\>

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