Garmston House, 262 High Street, Lincoln

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 16 Jul 2000

Grade II Listed house. 262 started out as a high-quality medieval house, probably late 12th century, as evidenced by the ground-floor north wall of the present building. The property belonged to Jewish owners Elias Martin in the early 13th century. The land to the west was occupied by a Jewish scola or synagogue. From 1312 owned by the Dean and Chapter it was leased out until rebuilding in the late 17th century. It was re-fronted in the 18th century probably by John Garmston, attorney, lessee and occupier in 1758 and 1772 who expanded the property on the north side (later to become 262a). It was a private house/shop occupied by J Hall, tailor in 1853. Seemingly empty as it isn’t listed in 1857 the next occupant was Albert Wingfield Hall (Mayor of Lincoln 1893-5) and his family to at least 1897 although the property was sold in 1899. Lincoln Finance Company with architects W Mortimer and Son converted it from a house to two shops in 1900 with a single door with a window on each side, to match those on the first floor. The first occupants were W W Kendall, umbrella manufacturer in 262 and M E Ricardson, boot factor in 262a. 1911 to 1960 it was used as the entrance foyer of a cinema with a shop either side (1913 listed as the cinema and Mrs N Nicholls, military stores in 262a and London Central Meat Co. in 262). The Grand Theatre, the second full-time cinema to open in Lincoln, was by Arthur Vidler (previously having screened films at the Central Cinema). An auditorium was built at the back extending to Hungate that could accommodate 930 customers on a flat floor. In 1913 its name was changed to Grand Electric and became the first in Lincoln to screen a film with combined sound ‘Living Pictures and Living Voices’ (The first ‘talkie’ in Lincoln was ‘Showboat’ in 1929). Central Picture Theatres gained control in 1937 and it finally closed on 21st February 1960 when it was intended that a road would cut across the site; the road was never built. Passing into city council hands and used for a while by a local firm for storage it fell into disrepair and was demolished in July 1986. The shops appear to have both reverted to and remained butchers until around 1975 when it was Square One and Plus One, men’s fashion wear. It was renovated in 1990/1991 with new shop front and rear extension, Garmston Court, as a business training centre with a corridor covered entrance from St Martins Lane. In 2000/1 262 was Café Society and 262a Agatha clothes shop who had taken both shops by the end of 2003. (Agatha’s was established in 1996, but I don’t know where. There is a picture on their website showing ‘Todd’s Mensware’ in the left window and ‘Agatha Boutique’ on the right).

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