195-200, Western Road, Brighton

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 28 Mar 2016

Numbers 195-99 were rebuilt in 1931 with 200 following in 1935. Since the rebuild the store has been occupied by Marks & Spencer, who have the longest tenure of a single shop in Western Road stretching back 84 years, having moved from Image The front was refaced in the 1960s when the store was expanded northwards which involved removing a back street, Regent Row, in the process. Prior to rebuilding number 195 had been converted to commercial use by the early 1860s and saw a rapid turnover of businesses up to the end of the 19th century when it became a domestic bazaar which traded into the building’s demolition in 1931. Number 196 also saw many businesses passing through the only exceptions being John Gray, a cabinet maker, for twenty years and from 1899 Benfords, a home furnishers, who add the store to its original one at Image and would expand into neighbouring 197 and 198 towards the end of the First World War. The former had been converted into commercial use by the late 1840s and was a decorator and house agent for twenty years and was acquired by draper J Turton in 1891 who had expand into 198 by the end of the decade. Prior to Turton’s arrival 198 had been an upholsterer for nearly 25 years. Number 199 spent its first 40 years as a manufacturer of window blinds and last forty years as a boot maker. All these stores were demolished in 1931. Number 200 survived another four years and along with Image were the last shops to be demolished for the Western Road road widening scheme. Converted to commercial use by the late 1840s it was a cabinet maker, tea merchant and clothier until 1885 when it became retailer of dairy products until the end of the First World War after which it spent its last sixteen years as Taylor’s chemist who merged with Timothy Whites in 1935 and would occupy 201. The newly built shop was immediately incorporated into Marks & Spencer’s store. Old Images Numbers 195-99, 1932 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_101.html Numbers 195-99, 1936 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_121.html Number 200, 1897 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_093.html Number 200, 1935 - http://regencysociety-jamesgray.com/volume19/source/jg_19_120.html 195 1862 - BELL HANGER, STOVE MANUFACTURER & FANCY CABINET MAKER (B Whittaker) 1864-1865 - DRESS MAKER (J Mundy) 1867-1869 - CABINET MAKER (A Jenkins) 1873 - BUTCHER (GH Tuppen) 1874-1877 - SEEDSMAN & FRUITERERS (Brook & Gallop) 1879-1880 - LADIES & CHILDREN’S OUTFITTERS (Mrs Walker) 1884-1896 - ORGAN BUILDER (H Farrant) 1897-1931 - BAZAAR (F Brandel Ltd 1897-1904, Domestic Bazaar Co 1905-31) 196 1845 - UPHOLSTERER (John Gray) 1850-1854 - WINE MERCHANT (Thomas Cowdray (1850-52, Smith & Co 1854) 1856-1877 - CABINET MAKER (John Gray) 1879-1885 - CHINA & GLASS STORE (AH Wheeler) 1888-1890 - FURNITURE DEALER (J Chapman) 1891-1898 - ESTATE AGENT (Christian & Cowell) 1899-1931 - FURNISHING WAREHOUSE (Benfords) 197 1848-1886 - DECORATORS & HOUSE AGENTS (GH Day 1848-54, Day & W Attree 1856-62, GH Day & Son 1864-86) 1888-1889 - PAPERHANGING WAREHOUSE (Turner & Co) 1891-1917 - DRAPER (J Turton) 1918-1931 - FURNISHING WAREHOUSE (Benfords) 198 1862-1896 - UPHOLSTERER (Thomas Saunders 1862-64, SS Ireland 1865-96) 1897-1917 - DRAPER (J Turton) 1918-1931 - FURNISHING WAREHOUSE (Benfords) 199 1848-1888 - WINDOW BLIND MANUFACTURER (Louisa Smith & Son 1848-1868, Henry Smith 1869-70, JBM McFarlane 1871-88) 1890 - TOY DEALERS (HC Shelly & Co) 1892-1931 - BOOT MAKERS (G & W Morton) 200 1848-1867 - CABINET MAKERS (James Patching 1848-65, Riddlestorfer & Co 1867) 1868 - TEA MERCHANTS (Brighton Mutual Association) 1869-1879 - CLOTHIER (Theodore Medway 1869-71, J Baker 1873-79) 1885-1918 - DAIRY (Dann’s Creamery Store 1885-1910, Express Dairy Co 1911-18) 1919-1935 - CHEMIST (Lion Drug Store 1919-29, Taylors 1930-35) REBUILT 1931-32, except 200 demolished 1935 195-200 1932-2016 - DEPARTMENT STORE (Marks & Spencer)

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