94 High Town Road Luton
94 and 96 High Town Road June 2011
94 High Town Road was occupied as a greengrocer's shop by the Jeakings family for over half a century. It was later a hairdresser then a secondhand goods shop and, at the time of writing [2011] is a fast food outlet.
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 94 High Town Road has not survived. Nevertheless, an assessment of the whole of High Town Road [DV1/T38] shows that it was owned, like 96 to 100, by the trustees of William Farmer. The property was occupied by Louisa Jeakings who, directories tell us, was a greengrocer. The property had been occupied by the Jeakings family since at least 1890.
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.
- 1885: Mrs. Ellen Horton, dressmaker;
- 1890: George Jakins, shopkeeper;
- 1894: George Jakins, shopkeeper;
- 1898: George Jakins, shopkeeper;
- 1903: George Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1906: George Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1910: George Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1914: George Jeakings, greengrocer; Mrs. Louisa Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1920: Mrs. Louisa Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1924: Mrs. Louisa Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1928: Albert Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1931: Arthur Albert Jeakins, greengrocer;
- 1936: Arthur Albert Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1939: Albert Jeakins;
- 1940: Arthur Albert Jeakings, greengrocer;
- 1950: A. Jenkins;
- 1960: M. E. Finch, fruiterer;
- 1965: Tony’s Hairdressing; Anthony G. E. Daly;
- 1968: Tony’s Hairdressing;
- 1972: Barry’s Hairdressing;
- 1974: Barry’s secondhand goods dealer; Second Best, ladies’ outfitters;
- 1975: Barry’s, secondhand goods;
- 2011: Viva Pizza, takeaway.