181-185, Western Road, Brighton

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 28 Mar 2016

Numbers 181-185 was rebuilt for Woolworths in 1931 and has been a single store since H & M extended into 185 during 2013 removing a former unit that had been introduced in 1989. Numbers 181-183 had originally been private dwellings built in the 1820s well back from the road containing a large front garden shared with 179-80 (See Image). The garden was built over in the early 1890s with the shops extending back into the former houses. The former had initially been an electrical retailer but between 1897 and 1931, Caves Oriental Cafe. 182 was originally an upholsterer but was taken over by furniture dealers, the Johnson Brothers in 1911. Lastly, 183 was briefly expanded into by upholsterer Alfred Ansell but was separated in 1912 when JF Williams, a paper hanger took over. All three would be demolished in 1931. Number 184 was converted to commercial use in the 1860s and was originally a wine merchant up to 1885 thereafter a succession of businesses passed through until Woolworths occupied both it and 185 in 1917, when they rebuilt the store. The latter had previously spent time as a pianoforte retailer, gas fitter and cycle depot. Prior to Woolworths it was the first shop belonging to Alfred Dudkin, see Image Woolworths would rebuild their store a second time in 1931 as part of the road widening scheme and takeover numbers 181-183 in the process. They would remain here until they went out of business in 2008. In 1989, the store downsized and let out 185 as a separate unit which was originally a short lived book shop then a branch of Clinton Cards until 2012. By then H & M had moved into the empty Woolies store and extended back into 185 in 2013. Old Images Numbers 181-185, 1930 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_079.html Girling Cycles, 185, 1905 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_046.html Numbers 175-187, 1933 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_081.html 181 1893 - ELECTRIC STORE (The Electrical Supplies & Fitting Co) 1897-1931 - CAFE (Caves Oriental Cafe) 182 1892-1910 - UPHOLSTERER (T Realf 1892-93, Alfred Ansell 1895-1910) 1911-1931 - FURNITURE DEALERS (Johnson Brothers) 183 1893 - ART IMPORTS (JB Remion & son) 1895-1910 - UPHOLSTERER (Alfred Ansell) 1912-1926 - PAPER HANGER (JF Williams) 184 1862-1885 - WINE MERCHANT (J Adlam & Co 1862-64, Manfield & Stuart 1865-67, William Woodhams 1868-79, Thacker & Hatton 1880-85) 1887-1889 - BAZAAR (R Godden) 1901 - COSTUMIER (Morris & Co) 1905 - FURRIER (Canadian Fur Co) 1908-1909 - GAS (United Wholesale Incandescent Gas Co) 1910-1915 - PHOTOGRAPHER (Lafitte 1910-11, Van Trolga 1912-1915) 185 1864-1871 - PIANOFORTE WAREHOUSE (Robert Darling) 1872-1894 - GASFITTER (C Green) 1895-1909 - CYCLE DEPOT (Girling) 1910-1915 - FURRIER (A Dudkin & Co) REBUILD 1916 184-185 (Extended to 181-183 after rebuild in 1931) 1917-2008 - DEPARTMENT STORE (Woolworths) 181-184 2009-2016 - CLOTHES (H & M) 185 1989 - BOOKSELLER (Volume 1) 1990-2012 - GREETING CARDS (Clintons)

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