For most its life this premises has been two separate shops. At the time of writing [2011] it is a launderette.

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. The valuer visiting 54 and 56 High Town Road [DV1/R59/38] found it owned by Lloyds bank Limited. 54 was leased by Charles Burgess who paid rent of £45 per annum. He was a musical instrument dealer. The valuer noted: “Shop with living accommodation over, also over the Bank next door” i. e. 54 High Town Road.

The ground floor contained the shop, measuring 12 feet 6 inches by 10 feet, a kitchen and a scullery measuring 7 feet by 8 feet. Four bedrooms lay on the first floor.

54 High Town Road was the bank itself. The banking hall measured 13 feet by 12 feet 6 inches and an office 7 feet by 4 feet 9 inches. There was “no Strong Room”. The first floor accommodation comprised two of the four bedrooms inhabited by Charles Burgess. The valuer commented: “Better class. High pitched upper floor than Number 58”.

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.

• 1906: 54 – Capital & Counties Bank Limited (Charles Perry Wood, manager); 56 - Charles Burgess, musical instrument dealer;
• 1910: 54 – Capital & Counties Bank Limited (Charles Perry Wood, manager); 56 – Charles Burgess, musical instrument dealer;
• 1914: 54 – Capital & Counties Bank Limited (Charles Percy Wood, manager); 56 - Charles Burgess, musical instrument dealer;
• 1920: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited (Charles Percy Wood, manager); 56 - Charles Burgess, musical instrument dealer;
• 1924: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited Charles Percy Wood, manager); 56 – Charles Burgess, musical instrument dealer;
• 1928: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited Charles Percy Wood, J. P., manager); 56 – Charles Burgess, musical instrument dealer;
• 1931: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited Charles Percy Wood, J. P., manager); 56 – Mrs. Mary McCandlish, pastrycook;
• 1936: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited; 56 – Frank Slippere, tobacconist;
• 1939: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited; 56 – Fred Slippere;
• 1940: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited; 56 – Frank Slippere, tobacconist;
• 1950: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited; 56 – Fred Slippere;
• 1960: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited; 56 – L. G. Groves, confectioner;
• 1965: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited; 56 - Mrs. E. E. Dredge, confectioner;
• 1968: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited; 56 - Mrs. E. E. Dredge, confectioner;
• 1972: 54 – Lloyds Bank Limited; 56 – Colin Bridges (Flooring Specialists) Limited;
• 1974: 54 – Lloyds Bank; 56 – Colin Bridges (Flooring Specialists) Limited;
• 1975: 54 – Lloyds Bank; 56 – Colin Bridges (Flooring Specialists) Limited;
• 2011: Starwash Launderette.