47-48, North Street, Brighton

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 20 Sep 2015

Currently home to the optician Eyesite who were responsible for combining the units back in the early 1990s. Number forty seven on the left saw a steady flow of traders through the premises the longest residency being the shoe shop chain Freeman Hardy Willis. Number forty eight on the right had a greater flow of businesses through its doors before W Davies added the shop to his others in the street, see Image, Image, Image and Image, with this one concentrating on fancy goods as opposed to antique furniture and jewellery elsewhere. Davies vacated the premises in 1926 after which it spent time as a clothes shop, sports shop then briefly a gift shop and television store. OCCUPANTS 47 1845-1854 - IRONMONGER (Edward Hobbs) 1856-1886 - FRUITERER (Isaac Joel 1856-77; Joseph Szapira 1879-86) 1887-1931 - SHOE SHOP (Freeman Hardy Willis) 1932-1933 - TAILORS (AD Robertson LTD) 1934-1936 - COSTUMIERS (Muriella) 1937-1939 - MILLINERS (Louise) 1947-1954 - AUCTION ROOMS (Griffiths Randall) 1956-1966 - DIY (The Wallpaper Stores Ltd) 1968-1990 - NEWSAGENTS (Garretts) 1991-2015 - EYESITE (Optician) 48 1833 - DRAPERS (FRANCIS & CO) 1845-1850 - UPHOLSTERER (George Hall) 1852-1861 - FRENCH & GERMAN BASKETS (JN Burluraux) 1862 - BEER SHOP (Thomas Young - Depot for Pale Ales) 1864-1876 - WATCHMAKER & JEWELLER (RT Barfoot) 1876-1877 - HOSIER (William Underwood) 1879-1926 - FANCY GOODS (W Davies) 1927-1940 - COSTUMIER (Madame Lenze (1927-30, Muriella 1932-40) 1947-1951 - WARDROBE DEALER (SM Keane) 1954-1978 - SPORTS GOODS (The Universal Shop 1954-60, Sports & Leisure 1962-78) 1980 - HI FI (Lasky’s) 1981-1983 - GIFT SHOP (Sincerely Yours) 1984-1985 - TELEVISIONS (VCS Video Ltd) 1991-2015 - EYESITE (Optician)

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