64 High Street
This property was researched by John Thurston
64 High Street (Dolcis Ltd, boot makers), 24 May 1968 [ref: BorB/PH3/114]
The early history of No 64 High Street Bedford is covered in a number of Beds Archives records dating from between 1785 - 1845.
The site appears to have originally been an Inn, “The Green Man”, prior to 1785. The property then comes into the ownership of Richard Sawell, a surgeon, and his wife Mary (nee Franklyn) with an attached messuage, yard, gardens, stable & granary. [ref: BorBE3/32].
In 1790 an unexecuted lease shows the Sawells attempting to let the premises to John Mayby, a distiller from London with the general site being described as Wine Vaults with a yard [ref: BorBE3/33a&b].
In 1811 Mary Sawell now appears to be the sole owner with the Vaults occupants being Thomas Haynes, then John Maybey and William Mallows and the Yard occupants Thomas Warr and then Elizabeth Waples. [ref: X199/116]
That year Mary conveys the property to Charles Short, a surgeon. Short then converts the whole site into three separate messuages, occupied as stated above by Mallows, Waples & Cuttriss. [ref: X199/118].
From 1811 up until the early 1830’s Short is operating on the site as a Surgeon and Dentist. At some stage he takes a partner, the 1839 Pigots Directory showing the business as being “Short and Hurst”, Surgeons.
From around 1841, William Cuttriss, a Chemist , Dentist and Soda Water Manufacturer is in residence. His son, Thomas, is described in several books by historian Richard Wildman as also operating on site as both a chemist and Bedford’s first Photographer in the 1850’s.
By 1853 the site has been taken over by several generations of the Sheppard Family, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists. They remain the owners until around 1898.
In 1900, William Walden, also a Nurseryman, Seedsman and Florist has taken over and will stay until around 1908. The site then becomes a Butchers, the Empire Meat Company taking charge from 1910 – 1936.
In 1938 a change of name occurs, the butchers now being J H Dewhurst Ltd. Part of site is also sublet, No 64a, to Edward James Grice, a confectioner.
Dewhursts remain until 1967 with 64a becoming a confectioners, under Ernest George Sykes until 1959.
In 1961 the main tenants are Dolcis Ltd, bootmakers, with Shelstone Fashions Ltd, costumiers occupying 64a/66. From 1966 Dolcis are the sole occupants and remain until at least 1976.
Currently the site has been occupied by Rymans, stationers from at least 2008 until the present day.
Rymans Stationery Shop, 2024
Summary of Occupiers
Pre 1785: “The Green Man”, Inn
1790 – 1811: Owners Richard Sawell, a surgeon, and his wife Mary (nee Franklyn) - Wine Vaults with Yard
1811: Owner Mary Sawell , Occupants Thomas Haynes, John Maybey, William Mallows,Thomas Warr and Elizabeth Waples.
1811: Owner Charles Short, a surgeon acquires site
1811 – 1830’s: Charles Short, surgeon
1839: Short and Hurst, surgeons
1841 – 1853: William Cuttriss, chemist and dentist, son Thomas Cuttriss, Photographer
1853: Sheppard and Son, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists
1854: Solomon and James Sheppard, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists
1861 – 1887: James Castleman Sheppard, Nurseryman, Seedsman and Florist
1890 – 1897: James C Sheppard and Henry J Sheppard, Nurserymen, Seedsmen and Florists
1898: Henry James Sheppard, Nurseryman, Seedsman and Florist
1900 – 1908: William Walden, Nurseryman, Seedsman and Florist
1910 – 1936: Empire Meat Co Ltd, Butchers
1938 – 1957: J H Dewhurst Ltd, Butchers
1938 – 1939: 64a Edward James Grice, Confectioner
1940 – 1959: 64a Ernest George Sykes, Confectioner
1963 – 1976: Dolcis Ltd, Boot Makers
1963 – 1965: 64a Shelstone Fashions, Costumiers
2008 – 2024: Ryman, Stationers
See here for a more detailed list of occupiers and occupiers.