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 Wedding Shop 2014; Faringdon Pharmacy 2016#3b. Curtains Plus 1989-2000+; Embers Interiors; Cariad Bride; 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-c95+; Rainbow Fish and Chips 2000#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 Board Showroom 1970-c95+; South Bar (insurance) 1985; Phoenix Electrical 2000; Bloomfields Gift Shop 2002; Mandy’s pet supplies; 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 & #15 Evening Advertiser & Wilts Gazette 1942-72; S.G. Bowler (Builders) Ltd 1972-78; Anne’s Fashion Fabrics 1978; Davis DIY 1987-2010; Piano Gallery 2017#17. 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; Viceroy Tandoori Restaurant.#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 2020. An early C19 Grade II listed building.#54 Folly Inn in 2000. #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)#28a. London Central Butcher; second hand shop/part of Rendezvous Café 1955; Ron Young (barber) 1972; London Street Barbers 2000; Faringdon Pharmacy 2014; Serenity (hair salon) 2018#26. Private House#24. On the corner with Skinners Lane. H.J.Langham (fruiterer & greengrocer) 1909; A.Allnatt (sweet shop/general stores)1931; Barkers (newsagents) 1984; 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. #18. My Carer Services 2014. #16 Private House 2014#14-12. Hughes (newsagents) 1910; Sam Burge (saddlers) 1910; Quality Cleaners; The Pet Shop 2000. #14. A gift shop (no name?) 2018. #12. J.Godfrey & Son Funeral Services 2018; specialist cake shop 2021.#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; The iCafe 2013; Kwiksave 2014; Faringdon Furnishings 2018; Floyds Grill 2021#8. John Anns (gun and pistol maker, ironmonger, and brazier) 1824, 1863; Private House (?) 1950s; The New Valet Service (cleaners) 1970; Booker Clark (financial services) 1990; 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; Moynes (ironmongers) 1960-87; #6a. Candies (stationary & confectionery) 1990,96; Segais Hairdresser 2014; Michelle Uzzell (hair stylist) 2018.#6. T.P.Thomas (ironmongers) 1910; Shenton’s (sweets) 1940-60s; Moynes (ironmongers) 1970-87; #6(b?) The Pet Shop 1996; Presentations (gifts) 1999; The Gifted Magpie 2014-19; vacant 2020; Faringdon Nails 2021.#4b. Part of Lukers (newsagents); Faringdon Lifestyle & Mobility; Sandwich Phillers & Diner 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 1989-93+; 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+; Bailey Bros (general) 1936-60s; Frank Thair (shoes) ? 1950s; I.V.Obourn (shoes) ? 1950s; J & L. Sims (shoes) 1966-73+; John Maxwell Hairdresser 1987-94; Stylers (hairdresser) 2016; Lotus Retreat (massage) 2017.
