An Old Normal
What did the old fashioned High Street look like? With its local, independent shops Fore Street in Exeter still has some of that feel, but who were the shopkeepers of 170 years ago? In 1850, William White published his "History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire" It includes a 32 page Exeter directory from which I have extracted the following names. I have also included some extracts from the UK census to add some more detail to this list.
Extracted from William White's "History, Gazetteer and Directory of Devonshire" 1850
http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/218254
FORE STREET IN 1850
Courti Paul, jun., 75 Fore Street WATCH & CLOCK MKRS.
Lloyd Richard, 76 Fore Street TOBACCO & SNUFF MFRS. TOBACCONISTS.
Trehane John, 78 Fore Street PORTER & ALE MERTS. WINE & SPIRIT MERTS. FIRE & LIFE OFFICE AGTS. (Mercantile)
Burge Samuel, 79 Fore Street CHEMISTS & DRUGSTS.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1881%2F0009786420
Mortimer Wm. 80 Fore Street BRUSH MAKER CORK CUTTERS.
Burrington George, 81 Fore Street HAT DEALERS.
Dewdney Rd. Hatswell, 82 Fore Street GROCERS & TEA DEALERS. (Wholesale.) FIRE & LIFE OFFICE AGTS. (Church of Engd.)
West of England and South Wales District Bank, 83 Fore Street; Wm. Tombs, manager; (on Glyn & Co.) BANKER
Hill Richard (cutter,) 84: Fore Street CURRIERS & LTHR.CUTRS.
Tucker Henrietta, 84 1/2 Fore Street MILLINERS, &c.
Luckes Thomas, 85 Fore Street CHEESE & BACON FACTORS.
Davidge John, 86 Fore Street CHEESE & BACON FACTORS.
Hamlyn Wm. Mann, 86 1/2 Fore Street HABERDASHERS. HOSIERS AND GLOVERS. LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Isaac George Christian, 87 Fore Street HAT DEALERS. (Manufacturers.)
Emery Frances, 90 Fore Street CHINA, GLASS, &c. DLRS.
James Webber, 91 Fore Street NEWS AGENTS. (& medicine vender,)
Havill James Webber, 91 Fore Street TOY DEALERS. PERFUMERS & HAIR DSRS.
Mack Margaret, (sub post,) 92 Fore Street STATIONERS. BOOKSELLER
Pearse Brothers, 93 Fore Street IRONMONGERS.
Angel Owen, 94 Fore Street LITHOGRAPHERS. ENGRAVERS
Commin Samuel, 94, Fore Street PORTER & ALE MERTS.
Lang Isaac, 95 Fore Street DRUGGISTS. (Wholesale.)
Lang Isaac (and oilman,) 96 Fore Street CHEMISTS & DRUGSTS.
Jones Thomas, 97 Fore Street CONFECTIONERS. BAKER
Evans Alfred & Co. 98 Fore Street; house 6 Bystock terrace DRUGGISTS. (Wholesale.) STATIONERS. (wholsl.)
Bedford Thomas, 99 Fore Street TALLOW CHANDLERS.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1881%2F0009769717
Cole Jane, 100 Fore street HOSIERS AND GLOVERS.
Cooper George, 101 Fore street DRUGGISTS. (Wholesale.) STATIONERS. (paper ruler, &c.)
Kerslake Thomas, 102 Fore street IRON &BRASS FOUNDERS. IRONMONGERS. WIRE WORKERS.
East Samuel, 103 Fore street BOOT & SHOE MAKER
Wilcocks & Dinham, 104 Fore st GROCERS & TEA DEALERS. (Wholesale.) TEA & COFFEE DLRS. (wholesale,)
Bale Archelaus, (hook mfr.) 105 Fore st FISHING TACKLE MKRS.
Gay George, 106 Fore street HOSIERS AND GLOVERS.
Silverston Israel, 107 Fore street SILVERSMITHS AND JEWELLERS. CLOTHES DEALERS.
Cox Robert, 108 Fore street BUTCHER
Star Hotel, My. Taylor, 109 Fore st HOTELS, INNS, & TAVERNS
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a146e37f4040b9d6e652d0a/
Somerwill George, 111 Fore street BASKET MAKER
Hunt Henry Francis, 111 Fore st CHINA, GLASS, &c. DLRS. BOOKSELLER
Buckland George, Cricklepit, and 112 Fore street CORN MILLERS & DLRS. BAKER
Marks Joseph, 113 Fore street CLOTHES DEALERS.
Lendon Samuel, 114 Fore street CHEESE & BACON FACTORS.
Stephens James & Son, 116 Fore st STONE AND MARBLE MASONS.
Branch Thomas, 117 Fore street CURRIERS & LTHR.CUTRS.
Strong George, 118 Fore street TAILORS. CLOTHES DEALERS.
Avent Wm. 119 Fore street CLOTHES DEALERS.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1881%2F0009777054
Devonport lnn, Grace Ware, 121 Fore st HOTELS, INNS, & TAVERNS
Vicary John, 123 Fore street GAS METER MANUFACTURER
Avent Samuel, 123 Fore street BOOT & SHOE MAKER
Canes Mary, 123 Fore street MILLINERS, &c.
Collins Joseph, 124 Fore street CHEMISTS & DRUGSTS.
Woodbridge Wm. 124 Fore street CORN MILLERS & DLRS.
Board Maria, 125 Fore street BOOT & SHOE MAKER
Gitsham Samuel, 126 Fore street GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
Avent Thomas, 126 Fore street SILVERSMITHS AND JEWELLERS.
Hill John, 127 Fore street BOOT & SHOE MAKER
Langsford Wm. 128 Fore street CABINET MAKERS AND UPHOLSTERERS. FURNITURE BROKERS.
Bradley John, 129 Fore street PAINTERS & GLAZIERS. (Paper Hangers.)
Burne Henry & Co. 130 Fore street WOOLLEN DRAPERS. LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Marks John, 131 Fore street PATTEN MAKER
Webber Wm. 133 Fore street FRUITERERS AND GREEN GROCERS.
Maddever Mary, 133 Fore street MILLINERS, &c.
Burdon John, 134 Fore street BOOT & SHOE MAKER
Twiggs Edward, 134 Fore street CABINET MAKERS AND UPHOLSTERERS.
Newcombe Ann, 134 Fore Street STRAW HAT MAKERS.
Munk Wm. (whols.) 135 Fore street IRONMONGERS.
Limpenny Robt. 136 Fore street UMBRELLA MAKERS.
Whitehead Arthur, 136 Fore street ARCHITECT. ENGINEERS. (CIVIL) SURVEYORS, (Land, etc.)
Cornish and Whitehead, 136 Fore st BUILDER
Crang John and Son, 137 Fore st CARPENTERS & JOINERS.
Cornish Rt. S. 139 Fore st SURVEYORS, (bldng.) TIMBER MERCHANTS.
Nicholls John, 141 Fore street CABINET MAKERS AND UPHOLSTERERS.
Western Times, (Saturday,) Thomas Latimer, 143 Fore street NEWSPAPERS.
Latimer Thomas, 143 Fore street PRINTERS.
Davey Wm. 144 Fore street hill ARTISTS' COLOURMAN. OIL & COLOURMEN.
Marwood Margaret, 145 Fore street FRUITERERS AND GREEN GROCERS.
Pyne Sarah, 146 Fore street PATTEN & CLOG MKRS.
Marwood James, 147 Fore street FURNITURE BROKERS.
Lake Elizabeth, 148 Fore street STRAW HAT MAKERS. MILLINERS, &c.
Broom John, 149 Fore street WATCH & CLOCK MKRS.
Taverner Robt. 150 Fore street BAKER
Quick Wm. G. 151 Fore street PAINTERS & GLAZIERS.
Labdon Jacob, 151 Fore street hill COOPER
King Alfred, Jcb. Labdon, 151 Fore st HOTELS, INNS, & TAVERNS
Ford James, 152 Fore street CONFECTIONERS. BAKER
Turner John, 152 Fore street LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Kingdon Wm. Page & Son, ( Chas.) 153, Fore street SURGEONS
Hanssen John, 154 Fore street BOOT & SHOE MAKER
Fryer and Way, 155 Fore street LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Escott Wm. 156 Fore street SADDLERS, And Harness Makers.
Helmore & Carter, 157 Fore street LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Hughes & Carter, 158 Fore street IRONMONGERS.
Cockerom Sarah, 159 Fore street CHINA, GLASS, &c. DLRS.
Bradley Wm. 159 Fore street PAINTERS & GLAZIERS.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1881%2F0009794814
Folland Wm. John, 160 Fore street WATCH & CLOCK MKRS.
Tuckett Nicholas, (manure, &c.) 161 Fore street MERCHANTS.
Thomas Jas. Langdon, & Robt. Ford, (and soap mfrs., oil refiners, &c.) 163 Fore street TALLOW CHANDLERS. OIL & COLOURMEN. STARCH MANFRS. (and hair powder,)
Oat Sheaf, Sar. Locke, 164 Fore st HOTELS, INNS, & TAVERNS
Burrington Frederick, 164 Fore st CURRIERS & LTHR.CUTRS.
Dingle Wm. 164 Fore street LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Dunsford Matw. Lichegnry, 165 Fore st CUTLERS, AND TRUSS AND SURGICAL INST. MAKERS.
Scott Wm. 166 Fore street SADDLERS, And Harness Makers.
Harris Israel, 166 Fore street WATCH & CLOCK MKRS.
Thomas G. P. P. & Co. 168 Fore st ARTISTS' COLOURMAN. GLASS & LEAD MERTS. OIL & COLOURMEN. PAINTERS & GLAZIERS.
Brown John & Anthony, 168 Fore st WATCH & CLOCK MKRS.
Treffry Geo. & Thos. 168 Fore street TEA & COFFEE DLRS.
Scottish Equitable, G. Treffry, 169 Fore street FIRE & LIFE OFFICE AGTS.
Treffry Geo. & Thos. T. 169 Fore st GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
Pearse Edward, 169 Fore street CHEMISTS & DRUGSTS.
Anning Richard, 170 Fore street GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
Roberts Edw. Hunt, (dep. sup.regr.) 171 Fore street; h Exe Villa ATTORNEY
Pearse Jas. & Sons, 171 Fore street WOOLLEN DRAPERS. LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Davis, Morris, & Hyman, 173 Fore st HARDWAREMEN.
Wilcocks and Brock, 177 Fore st CABINET MAKERS AND UPHOLSTERERS.
Wilcocks & Brock, 178 Fore street LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Levi Joseph, 179 Fore street HARDWAREMEN. FANCY REPOSITORIES.
Kingdon Jane and Son (and paper stainers,) 180 Fore street CABINET MAKERS AND UPHOLSTERERS.
Norcombe Jas. 180 Fore street; WOOLLEN DRAPERS.
Wreford Saml. 181 Fore street LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Gardner Henry G. & Co. 183 Fore st GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
Rowe Cphr. & Son, 184 Fore street LINEN DRAPERS, &c.
Wheaton My. and Anne, 186 Fore st BOOKSELLER
Scanes Thomas, Fore street hill BUILDER
Pates George, Fore street hill GROCERS & TEA DEALERS.
Wheat Sheaf, John Ashe, Fore st HOTELS, INNS, & TAVERNS
Lewis Wm., Fore street PERFUMERS & HAIR DSRS.
