53-54, North Street, Brighton

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 27 Sep 2015

Two separate units which have only recently been merged to operate as a single shop though number fifty three spent a decade joined to Image during its days as a bookshop first Sherratt & Hughes and then Waterstones, in effect surrounding the business at number fifty four. Both shops have seen a high turnover of traders number fifty three’s longest serving business was William Pritchard who ran a bakers for twenty year. During the 20th century it was Wootten & Co’ tobacconist which was open for twenty four. The 21st seems little different with Mucho Burrito already the fourth business to operate at this number. Neighbouring fifty four follows a similar pattern though during the 19th century it WR Cunditt operated a silversmith & jewellers for just under forty five years. During the 20th century, however, businesses rarely lasted beyond fifteen years, though Past Times spent almost twenty before going bust in 2012. Since 2013 it has been a takeaway offering Mexican style food. OCCUPANTS 53 1845-1846 - WINE MERCHANT (James Cordy) 1848-1868 - BAKER/CONFECTIONER (William Pritchard) 1869-1877 - CHEMIST (William Goyne Stevens) 1879-1880 - DRESSMAKER (Miss Adams) 1883-1906 - CHEMIST (W.Stevens [Co-op Drug Store] 1883-80, Headlands Ltd 1894-1906) 1908-1910 - CONFECTIONERS (The Nougat Box) 1911-1914 - GENERAL STORE (The Modern Mart) 1915-1939 - TOBACCONISTS (Wootten & Co) 1947-1951 - COSTUMIER/OUTFITTERS (Muriella 1947-51, Henry Kaye Ltd 1954-60) 1962-1985 - TV RENTALS/RETAIL (Telefusion Ltd) 1988-1999 - BOOKSHOP (Sherratt & Hughes 1988-89, Waterstones 1990-99) 2001-2013 - LIGHTING - (Sussex Lighting Centre 2001-06, Light Settings 2006-10, Brighton Lighting 2011-13) 2013-2015 - TAKE AWAY (Mucho Burrito) 54 1833 - SURGICAL INSTRUMENT MAKER (John Farmer) 1845-1888 - SILVERSMITH/JEWELLER (WR Cunditt) 1889-1905 - WATCHMAKER (Martin & Edwards) 1906-1907 - STATIONERS (Trill & Sons) 1909-1910 - JEWELLERS (John Purser & Sons) 1911-1922 - PHOTOGRAPHER (S Grossi 1911-12, Dudkin Marcher 1913-22) 1923 - BOOT FACTOR (Harold Lewisohn) 1924-1931 - SHOE DEALERS (Millward & Sons) 1932-1935 - MILLINERS (Louise) 1937-1940 - WATERPROOFERS (John Rain Ltd) 1947-1969 - SHOE SHOP (I Warde 1947, Sidney Lennard 1949-51, Jordans of Oxford Street 1954-69) 1971-1985 - FLORIST (Rene of London) 1985-1991 - MENSWEAR (Taste) 1993-2012 - GIFT SHOP (Past Times) 2013-2015 - RESTAURANT (Mucho Burrito)

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