3 Silver Street
This property was researched by John Thurston.
Very few early records can be found of No 3 Silver Street with the first definite evidence of occupation not occurring until 1861 when William Draper, a clothier and general outfitter, is recorded in directories. He stayed until 1867/69 when the business is taken over by William John Robinson, a printer, stationer, bookseller and newsagent. In 1928 Herbert William Robinson, William’s son, is shown as the new owner with the building being demolished the same year and at the same time as The Bull Inn at No 1.
The new building and offices at No’s 1 and 3 are then occupied by a number of different traders from 1929 – Late 1990’s, the major businesses being Montague Burton Ltd (tailors), W D Ham (billiards and snooker hall proprietor), S Hilton and Sons Ltd (boot and shoe shop), L A Leon (costumiers and milliners) and several camera/photographers (Vines Cameras Ltd, Westminster Photographers Ltd and Brody and Hicks).
The building was also used by the Ministry of Transport (1939 – 1966) and the County Court (1967 – 1976).
In later years Historic England Information and Google Images show Partyland (Party and Card Shop), HMV Records and (possibly) Evans (Women’s Clothes Shop) as the occupiers with the current residents from c.2013 to the present-day being J D Sports Shop.
Summary of Occupiers
1861 – 1867: William Draper, Clothier and General Outfitter
1871 – 1926: William John Robinson, Printer, Stationer, Bookseller & Newsagent
1928: Herbert William Robinson, Stationer
1928: Bull Inn demolished, site rebuilt as No 1 and No 3 Silver Street
1930 – 1976: Montague Burton Ltd, Tailors
1931 - 1934: James Horace Carter (The Billiardrome), Billard Hall
1936 – 1976: Wilfred Davis Ham (The Billiardrome/Regal Temperance Billiards and Snooker), Billiard Hall
1936: Dance Hall, Wilfred Davis Ham Proprietor
1938: The Bata Shoe Company
1938 – 1939: H H Leons and Co, Costumiers and Milliners
1939 – 1966: HM Ministry of Transport Eastern Division
1939 – 1976: S Hilton and Sons Ltd, Boot and Shoe Shop
1940: H A Leon and Co, Costumiers and Milliners
1947 – 1963: L A Leon Ltd, Costumiers and Milliners
1965 – 1968: Vines Camera Ltd, Photographers
1967 – 1976: County Court Offices, Bankruptcy, District Registry and Divorce
1969 – 1971/2: Westminster Photographers Ltd
1972/3 – 1976: Brody and Hicks Photographic Ltd
Early 2000’s: Partyland, Party and Card Shop
?2009: HMV, Record Shop
?2011: Evans, Ladies Clothes Shop
2013 – 2025: J D Sports, Sports Shop