144, Western Road, Brighton

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 28 Mar 2016

The most westerly store on the ground floor of Image A residential dwelling until 1862 it then became an estate agent for a dozen years before a succession of businesses passed through. By 1899 it was an ironmonger and during the 1920s a dyer. The old building was demolished in 1933 and the number given over to the newly built ground floor shop in 1935. From the 1930s to the end of the 1960s it was a couple of gown shops and in 1970 was taken over by Kendall & Son who retailed and manufactured umbrellas, rainwear and later ladies fashions. Kendalls expanded into neighbouring Image the following year remaining here until 1984 when Hepworths, who had purchased the business from Combined English Stores in 1981, rebranded it as Next. One of a number of Next stores on the road it focussed on ladies wear until consolidating their holdings under one roof at Image A decade of quick turnovers ended when CEX, a specialist retailer in buying and selling electrical goods, DVDs and games, moved in during 2005. 1865-1877 - ESTATE AGENT (Adnam & Skipper 1865-67, Thomas Richard 1868-77) 1879-1880 - HAIRDRESSERS (Alexandre & Co) 1883-1885 - FURNITURE DEALER (James Watkins) 1887-1898 - TOBACCONIST & COAL MERCHANT (Everest & Co) 1899-1921 - IRONMONGERS (Packham & Son) 1922-1928 - DYERS (Achille Serre Ltd) 1930-1931 - RADIO (Carter Radio) 1932 - CONFECTIONERS (Popnuts Ltd) REBUILD 1937-1969 - GOWNS (Byron 1937-58, Roma 1960-69) 1970-1984 - RAINWEAR MANUFACTURERS (Kendall & Sons) 1985-1996 - LADIESWEAR (Next 1985-91, Collection 1991, Dunn & Co 1993-96) 1999-2001 - BEDROOMS (Sharps) 2004 - PARTY GOODS (Non-Stop Party Shop) 2005-2016 - SECOND HAND ELECTRICAL GOODS (CEX)

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