A historical record of shops and other businesses in London Street. Shops and other businesses have flourished here for many generations and premises have changed ownership many times. Some have closed down permanently at some time and have subsequently been converted into private houses, especially those furthest from the town centre.
The photographs below were taken in the year 2000 by a group of local residents. Beneath each one is a simple historical list of known occupants up to the present time and the rough dates they were last known to be at the property. The number given for each property corresponds as accurately as possible to the postal address and is shown on the map.
London Street – odd numbers – west to east from the Market Place:
#1. Private house (door – last opening on right)#3. T.Yates & Son (cycles) 1914; John Rogers (cycles) 1919, 1925; Rigden’s Stores (cycles, prams, toys) 1931; Geary (cycles); Huxley’s of Faringdon (toys, cycles, sports) 1934,1949-c1970s; Star Electric Co (F.T. Morton), (toys, cycles, electrical repairs) 1966; Davis (toyshop and bikes); Faringdon Travel 1973-91+;
#3a. Allen & Harris (estate agents) 1978-2000+; Cariad Bridal Wear 2003,2014; Faringdon Pharmacy 2016.#3b. Curtains Plus 1989,<2006; Embers Interiors; County Cleaners 2012; Mrs Jacksons 2014; @Keelys Nails & Beauty 2018; Lizzie Norris Seamstress 2021.#5. The Wheatsheaf (public house).#7. Mc Donalds; Baxters (butchers) c1970; Boffin & Gill (butchers) 1977-93; Rainbow Fish and Chips 1995.#9. Mrs J.B.Worthy (dry cleaning) 1953 (could be #7); Geary’s (bicycles & motor parts) c1970; Shefford’s Bakery c1984-2022+#11. Jamieson (taylors) 1930; Southern Electricity Service 1970-1996 (renamed Southern Electric 1987 then E&S Retail then The Powerhouse); Phoenix Electrical 2000; Bloomfields Art & Crafts Gift Shop 2002; Mandy’s Pet Supplies 2006; Too Many Cooks 2012; Hare in the Woods 2012; Metropolis (2nd-hand shop) 2017; Oxyplumb 2018; The Artz by American Dan 2021.#13-15. Comley’s (house furnishings) 1930-1953+; E.J Moynes (ironmongers) 1930-37 & Percy Thomas (furniture) 1937. #13.David Pitt’s Mini Market 1942-73; Anne’s Fashion Fabrics 1978. #15 Evening Advertiser & Wilts Gazette 1942-72. #13a. S.G. Bowler (Builders) Ltd 1996, 1999. #13-17. Davis DIY 1987-2010; Piano Gallery 2017.#17. S.G. Bowler (Builders) Ltd 1972-78; Faringdon Cycle Centre 1989; Breath of Spring (florist) 1991-92; SCOPE (charity shop) 2000; then joined with #13-15. (There is also a shop window to left of door.)Crossing over Swan Lane. #19. The Swan (public house) 1830; Marlborough Arms 1864; Faringdon Tandoori Restaurant 1980s-1992; The Viceroy Tandoori Restaurant 2000.#21. Gallery Cottage. Jefferies (hairdresser); I.V.Obourn (shoes) 1930; D.H.Milward (shoes & ladies’ hairdresser) 1930-60s; Picture Gallery; Private House 2000#23. Private House#25. Private House#27. Bull Inn until 1990s; Private House 2000#29. Giles (fish & chips) (pre/post 60s?); The Fish Bar (taken over by Keith and Hazel Thomas) 1962-68; Fish & chips 1974-75; Private House.#39. Private House. (#31-37 are through that passage way on the left)#41-43. Fletcher (baker) 1937; Private House#59. Pike (sweet shop); Private HouseCrossing over Coach Lane. #77. Williams (grocers) 1844, 1863; Eastoe (grocers) 1900; Greenwood (grocers) 1926; Bedford (grocers) 1929; Blissett (grocers) 1946,1953; Private House 1971.Hill Side, #79. Faringdon Galleries (Old English Furniture) 1972-79; Private house.Chester House, #87. Female School of Industry 1833; Church of England Girls School; private house 1971.
London Street – even numbers – east to west back towards the Market Place
#56 Sudbury House. An early C18 Grade II listed building; Private home of Samuel Sadbury 1703; Private school 1777; Private house 1839; Hotel & Conference Centre 1989.#54 The Folly Inn – an early C19 Grade II listed building.
#52-50 looks as if it was once a shop or warehouse.#32. Dunraven House. Spirella, Mrs Ruth White (corsetry service) 1953; Brushwood Antiques; Private House 2000.#30a. Private House. #30. Star Inn; La Chaise Antique 1972-2000; now Private House.#28. Miss Yeates furniture(?) shop; Rendezvous Café 1955; Ming’s Garden 1972; Mayflower (Chinese take-away) 2000-23.#28a. London Central Butcher; second hand shop/part of Rendezvous Café 1955; Ron Young (barber) 1972; London Street Barbers 2000,2006; Faringdon Pharmacy 2014; Serenityty (hair salon) 2018; Faringdon in Stitches 2023.#26. Private House.#24. On the corner with Skinners Lane. H.J.Langham (fruiterer & greengrocer) 1909; A.Allnatt (sweet shop/general stores) 1931; Barker’s (newsagents) 1984-2006+; Private House 2014.#22. Private House.#20. Hignell (sweets, toys, ice cream) 1919, 1937+; Seabourne & Rose (confectionery) 1953; Copperfelde Antiques; Private House 2014.#18-16. Langham (greengrocers); Burtwell & Drew (electrical) 1953; Aston Pine Antiques 2000-2006+. #18. My Carer Services 2014. #16 Private House 2014.#14-12. Hughes (newsagents) 1910; Sam Burge (saddlers) 1910; Quality Cleaners; The Pet Shop & Reptile Ranch 2000-2006+.
#14. A gift shop (no name?) 2018; Faringdon In Stitches 2021-23 + Island Soapery 2022.
#12. J.Godfrey & Son Funeral Services 2018; Lushlooking Cakes 2021; Worsley Creative Services (digital marketing) 2023.#10. Chamberlain & Sons (high-class grocers) 1863, 1910, 1950s (Frontage moved back 1938); Gilletts Co-op 1970’s; Barkers; Fergusons (wine); Peter Dominic (off licence) 1984-91+; Threshers Wine Shop 1999, 2006; The iCafe 2013; Kwiksave 2014; Faringdon Furnishings 2018; Floyds Grill 2021; Cotswolds Fire & Grill 2023.#8. John Anns (gun and pistol maker, ironmonger, and brazier) 1824, 1895; Private House (?) 1950s; The New Valet Service (cleaners) 1970; Booker Clark (financial services) 1990; Folly Flowers 2006; Pure Me 2011; Uptown fashions 2013; Segais Hairdresser 2014; Gluck Gifts & Homeware 2015; Cobwebs Gothic Furniture 2016; J.Priest & Son 2019; Crafter’s Emporium 2021.#6. John Anns (gun and pistol maker, ironmonger, and brazier) 1824, 1863; Private House (?) 1950s
#6a. Candies (stationary & confectionery) 1990-2006+; Segais Hairdresser 2014; Michelle Uzzell (hair stylist) 2018; vacant 2022.#6. T.P.Thomas (ironmongers) 1910; Shenton’s (sweets) 1940-60s; Moynes (ironmongers) 1960-87; The Pet Shop 1996;
#6(b?) Presentations (gifts) 1999-2006+; The Gifted Magpie 2014-19; vacant 2020; Faringdon Nails 2021.#4b. Part of Lukers (newsagents); Faringdon Lifestyle & Mobility; Sandwich Phillers & Diner 2006,2018; Mae’s Cafe 2022.#4a. C. Luker & co (newsagent, printer & Faringdon Advertiser producer) 1863-1931; W H Smith (newsagents) 1953, 1970; F.B.Wood (newsagents) 1972-87; Faringdon Lifestyle and Mobility + County Dry Cleaners 1989-2006+; Davis DIY 2014; London Street Barbers 2017.#2. Private house 1870s; C.H.Bevan (boot maker) 1895; T.A.Pocock (boot maker) 1902; Stevens’ Boot Stores (?) 1904-09+; Belmont House (?) (clothiers and hosiers) 1927; Bailey Bros (general) 1936-60s; Frank Thair (shoes) ? 1950s; I.V.Obourn (shoes) ? 1950s; J & L. Sims (shoes) 1966-73+; Tres Rios (S.American clothing) + John Maxwell (hairdresser) 1987-2006+; Stylers (hairdresser) 2016; Lotus Retreat (massage) 2017.
