FROM the 1870s until 2007 Number 5 High Street, Wellington, traded under only three names, all of them butchers.

The earliest verified record is from 1876, although the building is older than that, when it was Garnsey’s.

The next trading name was Cecil Webber & Son, who took over the business in 1938 and kept it until 1998 when it became Tim Potter’s second shop in the town.

The Garnsey business was passed from father to son at least once.

However, one of the sons of the eldest Garnsey was Sir Gilbert Garnsey KBE 1883-1932. Gilbert was educated at what is now Wellington School and became a senior partner in Price, Waterhouse the well-known accountancy firm.

He was knighted for sorting out the hopelessly muddled First World War Munitions Account in 1918. He had 46 Wellesley Park built for his mother.

COLIN SPACKMAN

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. If you can add to the information given then please let the society know via [email protected], or drop a note into the Museum in The Squirrel, 28 Fore Street.