48 High Street

As early as 1823 there appears to have been two chemists/druggists in the vicinity of  No 48 High Street, namely George Burnham and Jacob Anthony both of whom were operating until the early/mid 1840’s.

By 1847 only Jacob Anthony remains and along with his son John Lilley Anthony the business operates as a pharmaceutical chemists until around 1881.

It then runs as a partnership until 1897 of Anthony and Biss, John William Biss being a dentist. In 1898 Anthony and Son are chemists at No 48 while John William Biss occupies No 48A as a dental surgeon. Both families continue to occupy the building up until 1930.

From 1931 onwards E P Rose and Son Ltd, originally drapers and costumiers but later running a departmental store, take over staying until 1972/3, acquiring No’s 46, 50, 52 and 54 as they expand. In 1973/74 Debenhams become the new owners, being in business up until 2021. The buildings (42 – 54) now currently remain unoccupied.       

Summary of Occupiers

1823/4 – Circa 1847: Jacob Anthony and/or George Burnham, Chemists and Druggists

1847 – 1864: Jacob Anthony, Chemist & Druggist

1864 – 1871: Anthony and Son, Chemists & Druggists

1871 – 1881: John Lilley Anthony, Pharmaceutical Chemist

1881 – 1897: Anthony and Biss, Pharmaceutical Chemists & Dentists

1898 – 1930: Anthony and Son and (48A) John Sydney Biss, Chemists & Dentists

1929 – 1930: F T S Davis (? Dentist) also on site

1931 – 1936: E P Rose and Son Ltd, Drapers, Costumiers and Milliners then Departmental Store Owners       (No’s 48 – 52)                                          

1938 – 1949/50: E P Rose and Son Ltd, Drapers, Costumiers and Milliners then Departmental Store Owners        (No’s 48 – 54)

1952 – 1972/3: E P Rose and Son Ltd, Drapers, Costumiers and Milliners then Departmental Store Owners        (No’s 46 – 54)

1973/4 – 2021: Debenhams, Department Store

2021 – 2025: No’s 42 – 54 Currently Unoccupied