5 to 21 Havelock Road Luton

5 to 21 Havelock Road June 2011

The north side of Havelock Road between High Town Road and Wenlock Street was demolished during the redevelopment of HighTown in the mid 20th century. The buildings on the south side remain and give a good idea of the way the area must have looked during the late 19th and early 20th centuties, particularly  numbers 11 to 21 with their distinctive arched windows.

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. Most of Havelock Road was residential. The valuer visiting the road [DV1/T37] noted that, in this stretch of properties, there were two shops. 5 Havelock Road was owned by Emma Wooding and leased by Orford Stewart who, directories tell us, was a stationer and sub-postmaster. 21 Havelock Road was owned by Luton brewers J. W. Green Limited and leased as an off-licence by Sophia White. The other premises were owned and occupied as follows:

• 7 Havelock Road: owned by Arthur R. Bird, occupied by John William Sendall;
• 9 Havelock Road: owned by Arthur R. Bird, occupied by Henry Palmer;
• 11 Havelock Road: owned by Joseph John Coleman, occupied by Eleanor Worboys;
• 13 Havelock Road: owned by Joseph John Coleman, occupied by Charles Arthur Paxton;
• 15 Havelock Road: owned by Joseph John Coleman, occupied by William George Pakes;
• 17 Havelock Road: owned by Joseph John Coleman, occupied by Elizabeth Fenn;
• 19 Havelock Road: owned by Joseph John Coleman, occupied by Josiah Fowler.

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 Havelock Road begin to appear in directories in 1885. Directories show that, in addition to 5 and 21, Numbers 7, 9 and 15 were each, at times, also commercial premises.

• 1885: 7 – Thomas Palmer, straw hat manufacturer; 9 – Joseph Boys, straw hat manufacturer; Miss Annie Maria Pedder, dress maker; 21 – John James Pedder, grocer;
• 1890: 7 – Thomas palmer, straw hat manufacturer; 9 – Mrs. Emma Palmer, straw hat machinist; 15 – William George Corder; 17 – George Newton Barton; 21 - James Wooding, grocer;
• 1894: 15 – Sidney Wright, straw hat manufacturer; 21 – James Wooding, grocer;
• 1898: 7-9 – Thomas Palmer, straw hat manufacturer; 21 – James Joseph Wooding, grocer;
• 1903: 7 – Frederick Allen, straw hat manufacturer; 9 – Henry Palmer, straw hat manufacturer; 21 – Frank Phillips Barnell, grocer and beer retailer;
• 1906: 21 – Ernest Willson, grocer and beer retailer;
• 1910: 21 - William John Banks, grocer;
• 1914: 21 - Frederick Stephen Marshall, grocer;
• 1920: 21 - William White, beer retailer;
• 1924: 21 - William White, beer retailer;
• 1928: 21 - Mrs. Sophia White, beer retailer;
• 1931: 5 – Orford Stewart, stationer and post office; 21 - Mrs. Sophia White, beer retailer;
• 1936: 21 – William Hill, beer retailer;
• 1940: 21 – Robert Stanton, beer retailer.

11 to 21 Havelock Road, June 2011

Directories for Luton only give all the occupiers, including those of private houses:

• 5: 1939 - High Town Road Post Office (Mrs. Gladys L. Maple); 1950 – High Town Road Post Office (F. Bailey); 1960 – not listed; 1965 – J. Smith, greengrocer; 1968 – vacant; 1972 – not listed; 1974 – Gilbert’s, butchers; 1975 – Gilbert’s butchers.
• 7: 1939 - Mrs. Alice Statham; 1950 – Mrs. Alice Statham; Frederick Butcher; 1960 – Frank Bosworth; 1965 – Vivian Bastiani; 1968 – Frank V. Bosworth; Mrs. A. Statham; 1972 – not listed; 1974 – not listed; 1975 – John J. Tipper.
• 9: 1939 – Wilfred E. Bradbury; 1950 – William Bird; 1960 – William Bird; 1965 – Mrs. R. Bird; 1968 – Mrs. R. Bird; 1972 – vacant; - 1974 - Pratapsingh Aminadra; 1975 – Dhani Singh.
• 11: 1939 – Miss E. Worboys; 1950 – Robert W. Bleaney; 1960 – Arthur E. Martin; 1965 – Arthur E. Martin; 1968 – Arthur E. Martin; 1972 – Arthur Martin; 1974 – Arthur Martin; 1975 – Arthur Martin.
• 13: 1939 – Charles A. Paxton; 1950 – Charles A. Paxton; 1960 – Charles A. Paxton; 1965 – Charles A. Paxton; 1968 – Kate Paxton; 1972 – Michael J. Shadlow; 1974 – Thomas C. Osborn; 1975 – Thomas C. Osborn.
• 15: 1939 - Herbert Bonfield; 1950 – Ernest Mutton; 1960 – Ernest Mutton; 1965 – Ernest Mutton; 1968 – Ernest Mutton; 1972 – Ernest Mutton; 1974 – Ernest Mutton; 1975 – Ernest Mutton.
• 17: 1939 - Miss Elizabeth Fenn; 1950 – Miss Elizabeth Fenn; 1960 – Mrs. M. Lucas; 1965 – Mrs. M. Lucas; 1968 – Mrs. M. Lucas; 1972 – M. Mallen; 1974 – M. Mallen; 1975 – vacant.
• 19: 1939 - H J. Jenkins; 1950 – Mrs. Lily Jenkins; 1960 – Mrs. L. Jenkins; 1965 – vacant; 1968 – vacant; 19 – Leslie F. S. Marshall; 1974 – Leslie F. S. Marshall; 1975 – Leslie F. S. Marshall.
• 21: 1939 - R. W. Stanton; 1950 – R. W. Stanton; 1960 – G. S. Robinson, beer retailer; 1965 – L. F. S. Marshall, wine and spirit merchant; 1968 – Leslie Marshall; 1972 – not listed; 1974 – not listed; 1975 – not listed; 2011 - Peking House, Chinese restaurant

21 Havelock Road June 2011