72 High Town Road Luton
72 and 74 High Town Road June 2011
For much of the 20th century 72 High Town Road was a butcher's shop. At the time of writing [2011] it is a leather goods 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 72 High Town Road has not survived. Nevertheless, an assessment of the whole of High Town Road [DV1/T38] shows that the premises was owned by Leslie G. Sinfield, who also owned 74 High Town Road next door, and occupied by Sarah Ellen Hessey. The directory for 1928 gives Thomas Hessey as a greengrocer at this address, Sarah Ellen was probably his mother.
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: Samuel Butler, lath render;
- 1898: Eastmans Limited, butchers;
- 1903: Joseph Streeton, butcher;
- 1906: Joseph Streeton, butcher;
- 1910: Joseph Streeton, butcher;
- 1914: Joseph Streeton, butcher;
- 1920: Thomas Hessey, greengrocer;
- 1924: Thomas Hessey, greengrocer;
- 1928: Thomas Hessey, greengrocer;
- 1931: Thomas Hessey, greengrocer;
- 1936: I. Edwards, wool shop;
- 1939: Mrs. Hilda L.Barfoot;
- 1950: J. H. Dewhurst Limited;
- 1960: J. H. Dewhurst Limited, butchers; 72a – Brian E. Cook;
- 1965: J. H. Dewhurst Limited, butchers; 72a – Francis Johnson;
- 1968: J. H. Dewhurst Limited, butchers; 72a – M. K. Johnson;
- 1972: J. H. Dewhurst Limited, butchers;
- 1974: J. H. Dewhurst Limited, butchers;
- 1975: J. H. Dewhurst Limited, butchers;
- 2011: Saba Leather.