38 Gardner Street

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 25 Sep 2011

Home to the newest occupant on the street, Alice's Dreams, which opened during the first week of September adding to their other shop at Image Be interesting to see whether they are able to sustain both shops in the current economic climate. The building moved from residential use in the late 1870s and was briefly a tailor and ironmonger before becoming a fishmonger for over 70 years run by the Silverthornes which I'm guessing would be father and son. From the mid 1960s the shop was expanded into from Image initially by Pearks then its successor company Maypole Dairy before both were swallowed up by larger fish in the 1970s to combat the growing power of the supermarkets, and continued by Cleaner Homes that dealt in domestic appliances. The shop was split again in 1987 going through a succession of businesses though one, Jump the Gun would move to Image where it still trades today. They were followed by a series of gift shops, the first two themed on alternative religion and witchcraft, the last, bell, Book & Candle originally traded in Image and closed at the end of August. See Image for how the shop front has changed. OCCUPANTS 1879-81: DRAPER/TAILOR: William MacDowell 1883-87: IRONMONGER: B Beal 1889-1962: FISHMONGER: Charles Silverthorne (1889-1911), Alfred Silverthorne (1912-62) 1964-73: GROCER: Pearks Dairies Ltd (1964), Maypole Dairy Company Ltd 1975-86: ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES: Cleaner Homes 1987-90: FURNITURE RETAILERS: Sussex Pine Centre 1991: RECRUITMENT AGENCY: Gold Recruitment Company 1992-96: MENSWEAR; Meadowbeach Ltd (1992), Jump the Gun (1993-96) 1999-2011: GIFT SHOP: Hocus Pocus (1999-2008), Bell, Book & Candle (2008-11), Alice's Dreams (2011)

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0