Number 3 High Street, Wellington, which has been empty since 2014, was a shoe shop for more than 100 years.

According to Wellington Local History and Museum Society’s records from 1912-90 it traded as Frisby’s. It was then briefly Tandem before becoming Shoefayre in 1990 and finally Stead & Simpson. The current shop front dates from 1985.

In the late 19th Century the premises had been a stationer’s – C Chelston – and a bookseller’s – S Brooks.

The first known occupier was Oliver’s, a local clockmaker in business there from 1813-84. A clock made by, or possibly for, Oliver’s is on display in Wellington Museum. It keeps good time even now.

The row of shops which includes Number 3 was once known as Cheapside, cheap being an old word for market, though this is no longer used. Readers may wonder why the old shoe shop is number 3 and not number 1.

This is because in 1913 number 1 was demolished at the request of Wellington Urban District Council (WUDC). At that time most visitors to the town arrived by train and WUDC wanted to make the entrance to the town for these visitors more inviting by widening the North Street junction with High Street. The demolished building had been Sheldrake’s bakery.

Wellington Local History & Museum Society has an on-going project to create a directory of the businesses which have occupied shops and other premises in the town over the last 120 years or more.

Anyone who can add to the information given is asked to let the society know via [email protected], or drop a note in to the museum in The Squirrel, 28 Fore Street.

COLIN SPACKMAN