Past Times hits the road this week
HDPP’s latest column Times2
Welcome to HDPP’s pages here in the heart of The Hinckley Times.
This week we have another fine selection of pictures that have been sent to us or indeed have been picked out of our vast archive.
Alan Briggs sent three fascinating pictures to us concerning the shop premises over time of his great grandfather Andrew Cooper
Photograph 1 shows Andrew Cooper’s grocery shop at no. 101 Castle Street, on the corner of Hill Street. He is accompanied by his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, which dates the scene to 1871/2.
This property was leased by the local Co-operative Society in 1889 and bought by them in 1891. The Co-op rebuilt the premises into the building which still stands on that site today.
Photograph 2 is of the shop at no. 56 Castle Street.
These premises had been “The Ram Inn” which was purchased by Andrew Cooper circa 1876 and converted it into a retail shop, to trade as a clothier, jeweller and pawnbroker.
Again, he is accompanied by his daughter, Elizabeth, who is standing at the entrance to Chapel Yard. The date of this photograph is 1878/9. There was access to the rear of the premises from Chapel Yard, to which point it could accommodate horse drawn vehicles.
This would have been necessary in the days of “The Ram Inn”. The Stockwell Head end of the yard was alongside a non-conformist chapel. The alignment of Chapel Yard was changed with the redevelopment of Castle Street.
Photograph 3 was taken circa 1950 and is a scene in Castle Street before redevelopment. The three-storeyed building nearest the camera is no. 60, which still exists and occupied by Johnson’s ladies clothiers.
The three storeyed building to the left, with bay windows on the first floor, is no. 58 Castle Street. The entry to Eales Yard is between the pram, outside no.60, and the mangle, outside no. 58. By 1841, no. 58 was occupied by the Eales family who were tailors, drapers and pawnbrokers.
As the Eales’ business expanded, they acquired no. 65 Stockwell Head, circa 1846, which was conveniently at the opposite end of the yard which started between 58 and 60 Castle Street, today known as Eales Yard.
At the Stockwell Head end, this yard emerges between no. 65 and the other side of the afore mentioned chapel.
This is still on its original alignment, but narrower than Chapel Yard.
The final member of the Eales family retired in 1896 and Andrew Cooper acquired no. 58 Castle Street, to expand his own business, aided by his wife and family.
A couple of pictures supplied from Hinckley and District Museum show the cottages in what is now Church Walk leading to the approach to St Mary’s Church.
The second picture from the museum shows Clarendon Road before the houses were built. The view is looking up the road with Rugby Road behind the camera.
Look carefully and you can see the rear of what is today Priesthills Day Nursery (on right) and the dentist surgery on left. Station Road is of course running left to right across middle of picture.
There is also a picture of the Sunday School Treats marches through Regent Street in the 1950s, We can see the old buildings that stood before the present day Edwards Centre was built.
Maybe you remember using ‘Ross Motors’ the garage you can clearly see.
Finally a picture of one of our long lost pubs. The Blue Boar in Regent Street completes this weeks selection.
Send your pictures to contact@hdpp. co.uk.
Church Walk in Hinckley