47 Gardner Street

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 25 Sep 2011

The current 47 was created as part of the redevelopment by Komedia in the late 1990s and had been in abeyance since the demolition of the original 47 back in 1965 to build a supermarket for Tesco, see Image Like numbers 44 and 46 the original 47 had a high turnover of businesses that came and went in quick succession though one, HE Bolton, moved across the road to Image where he was to trade until 1984. Once the original shop was combined with neighbouring 46 the turnover slowed down though I'd imagine Silverthorne the greengrocer found the competition from Tesco towards the end pretty stiff. When the number returned the first occupants were Botanica who then moved to Image where it survived for another few years before closing. Avatar was one of three shops of that name that have since been reduced to one in Bond Street, After a brief stint as a games and DVD shop the premises is now occupied by a mobile phone accessories seller. OCCUPANTS 1871-77: MACHINIST: William Clifton 1879-83: DRAPER: A Grinstead 1885-89: WATCHMAKER: AW Wilson 1891-96: TOBACCONIST: John Hammond & Co (1891-94), R Bachelor (1895), Mrs Holmewood (1896) 1897: SURGERY 1899-1901: DAIRYMAN: SW Price 1902-08: IRONMONGER: Edward Loxton (1902-03), SH Frippard (1904-08) 1909: SAUSAGE MAKER: H Savelsberg 1910-17: EGG MERCHANT: HE Bolton 1918-27: CUTLERS: FN Vivian & Co 1928-65: GREENGROCERS: Frederick Carter (1928-31), English & Colonial Fruit Store (1934-40), HA Silverthorne (1947-65) Original building demolished 1998-2001: FLORIST: Botanica 2006-08: JEWELLERS: Avatar 2009-10: GAMES & DVD: Astro 2010-11: MOBILE PHONE ACCESSORIES: Mint

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