It is the natural characteristic of the High Street shops that they come and go. Communities grow and develop and demand different things. The trick is in getting the balance right between old and the new — also, the variety of business types. Situations change, and during times of change, we can sometimes find clues to our High Street heritage.

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You can commission us to research the history of your house. You will receive a beautifully boxed history folio. This folio includes illustrations of your property, maps, and timelines. Get some fun ideas of how a house history can transform your home Right here

We recently took this photograph. It shows the uncovered signage on what used to be Bowens Lighting shop on Gosforth High Street. The refurbishment of the shop front allowed the old signage for Penny Plain to be seen for a short while. This prompted lots of fond memories. Many of us remember shopping in the popular women’s clothing store before it closed.

Corner shops frequently come and go. Businesses change in response to local customers’ market demands. We have previously mentioned the history of Gosforth’s Kelly’s Corner. We took this photograph during the redevelopment of 151 Salters Road. The premises known as Gosforth Traders have a new vocation. Property works uncovered the signage for Hillary’s Bakers and Confectioners.

We all know this site as being one shop. For many years it was known as Gosforth Traders. However, it started life as two separate shops. In 1905/6, the first businesses to trade from these premises were T W Little Grocers at 151. F Hannah Remnant Dealer operated at 153 respectively. By 1906 F Hannah (at 153) had moved on, and Mrs A Moore Confectioner had moved in. The Grocer (at 151) changed hands around 1910 to Clayton and Co.

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153 Salters Road

At this point, the status quo remained until the middle of the war years. In 1916 Mrs Moore’s Confectionery left, and J O’Dowd Confectioner moved in at 153 Salters Road. O’Dowd confectioners appear to have come from Simonside View. They stayed until 1924/5. At that time, another business from Simonside View moved in. This was T S Dewell, who kept the same trade in confectionery. These two families were related more information on this can be found with this link – Just Another Century.

Greggs of Gosforth

After a very respectable 25 years trading, Dewell confectioners moved out, and Hillary’s Bakers and Confectioners moved in. By this time it was 1950, and some of us may remember the shop? Hillary’s must have ceased trading from these premises around 1968. Directories record that the well known Newcastle favourite bakers, Greggs, traded at 153 Salters Road during this year. However the next year 1969 Greggs are registered as trading from 69 Gosforth High Street.

151 Salters Road

During the years between 1910 and 1975, 151 Salters Road experienced three changes in traders. Each trader kept a similar line. 1922 – 1934, J C Reah Grocery, 1934 -1939, W Bohill Fruitier, and 1939 – 1975, A B Round Frutiers. (Our research stopped at 1975 A B Round may have been there for longer).

Milburn’s Leaflet

In 2019, Canny Crafty made alterations to their premises at 147 and 149 Salters road. During these changes, they found an old advertising leaflet in the wall partition. The leaflet had presumably been there since the property was built around 1904. The leaflet provides another tantalising glimpse into the past. Milburn’s Chemist was situated in Northumberland street in the early 1900s and held a host of mind-boggling stock!

“Recognising our heritage can be an important factor in the generation of new business. Heritage value provides added interest for investors as well as an anchor to help maintain existing business.”

What Is Heritage and Why Is It Important?

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