98 to 100 High Town Road June 2011

At the time of writing [2011] 98 and 100 High Town Road forms one, vacant, shop. The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. Sadly, a detailed inspection of 100 High Town Road has not survived. Nevertheless, an assessment of the whole of High Town Road [DV1/T38] shows that both these premises and 94 to 98 High Town Road were owned by the trustees of William Farmer. 100 High Town Road was in the occupation of Rafaelo Bachini who, directories tell us, was a greengrocer. The shop had been a greengrocer’s business since at least 1898.

By 1959 the premises was regarded as unfit for human habitation and repairs and alterations were needed [BorL/EH/19/2/183]. The property was described as being a two storey brick built terraced building with shop front. It had front and back rooms downstairs, the front room being used as the shop, the rear room as a living room. An addition at the rear was used as a kitchen. There was one front and two back bedrooms. The toilet lay at the rear of the property, fourteen feet from the back door. Three pages of repairs needed were given in detail and costed at £419/18/3, whereas the property was only worth £195/19/2 with rent at 11/2 per week or £29/0/8 per annum. The tenant was rehoused by Luton Borough Council in the following year and the owner undertook to no use the premises as living accommodation. Consideration was given to demolishing the premises but this was rejected on the grounds that it would adversely affect the stability of the neighbouring properties.

Directories for Bedfordshire were published every few years from 1839, for example, the beginning of the 20th century has directories for 1903, 1906, 1910 and 1914. Countywide directories ceased to be published during the Second World War, the last for Bedfordshire being in 1940. Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service has directories just for Luton for 1939, 1950, 1960, 1965, 1968, 1972, 1974 and 1975. The first street numbers in High Town Road begin to appear in directories in 1885.

• 1890: Mrs. Emma Leaver, confectioner;
• 1898: William Wilson, greengrocer;
• 1903: William Wilson, greengrocer;
• 1906: William Wilson, greengrocer;
• 1910: William Wilson, greengrocer;
• 1914: Mrs. Mary Wilson, greengrocer;
• 1920: Rafaelo Bachoni, greengrocer;
• 1924: Rafaelo Bachini, greengrocer;
• 1928: Rafaelo Bachini, greengrocer;
• 1931: Rafaelo Bachini, greengrocer;
• 1936: Mrs. Florence Bachini, greengrocer;
• 1939: Mrs. F. Bachini;
• 1940: Mrs. Florence Bachini, greengrocer;
• 1950: Mrs. F. Bachini;
• 1960: Mrs. F. Vachini;
• 1965: K. A. Taylor, MA, MB, BChir, physician and surgeon (surgery);
• 1968: K. A. Taylor, MA, MB, BChir, physician and surgeon (surgery);
• 1972: K. A. Taylor, MA, MB, BChir, physician and surgeon (surgery); K. Rajeshwar MB., BS., physician {surgery); D. P. Anhal MB., BS., physician (surgery); S. M. Patel, MB., BS., physician (surgery);
• 1974: K. A. Taylor, MA, MB, BChir, physician and surgeon (surgery); K. Rajeshwar MB., BS., physician {surgery); D. P. Anhal MB., BS., physician (surgery); S. M. Patel, MB., BS., physician (surgery);
• 1975: K. Rajeshwar MB., BS., physician {surgery); D. P. Anhal MB., BS., physician (surgery); S. M. Patel, MB., BS., physician (surgery);
• 2011: vacant.