Romford and Hornchurch's shopping scene has changed a lot over the years - we look back at some photos of stores from across the 20th century.
Among them is a Hornchurch tailor in Brentwood Road during the 1900s and a Romford butcher's in the 1950s.
Richard Murphy Tobacconist & Sign Writer in Victoria Road, Romford, circa 1900
This photo was donated to Havering Libraries' Local Studies archive in 1997 by Richard Murphy's granddaughter Eileen, who thought it was taken between 1900 and 1909.
Richard, born in Romford in 1858 and the son of Jeremiah Murphy, was the first landlord of the Laurie Arms, formerly in Waterloo and St Andrews Road, according to Havering Libraries.
Kelly’s Directory of 1886 lists Richard a sign writer of Spring Cottage in Victoria Road, and the 1891 census lists his occupation as a “Sign & Glass Writer”.
His shop continued through the 1930s as Jameson’s Wholesale and Retail Tobacconist at 39 Victoria Road, Havering Libraries added.
RELATED LISTICLE: A look back at Harold Hill and Romford shops from yesteryear
G. Spiegel tailor in Brentwood Road, Hornchurch circa 1902
The Spiegel Shop was at 92 Brentwood Road, named after tailor Gabriel Spiegel who was born in 1837 in Poland.
Gabriel moved into 33 High Street in December 1900 when he advertised his business in the Essex Times, according to Havering Libraries.
Spiegel tailor is listed in Kelly’s Directory from 1899 in the High Street and is shown there until 1910.
By 1906, the tailor John Woolf had replaced Spiegel in Brentwood Road and Gabriel, with his family, left Romford for Australia in 1910, Havering Libraries added.
Charles Robert Constable Baker and Confectioner in Victoria Road, Romford, circa 1906
Charles Robert Constable, baker and confectioner, formerly operated from 41 Victoria Road.
Charles was born in August 1863 in Lechlade, Gloucestershire and by 1881 he was a baker’s assistant, working with his father William, according to Havering Libraries.
By 1895 they had moved to Romford where Charles ran his Victoria Road bakery.
The Constables ran the bakery until at least 1929, Havering Libraries added.
Burton in High Street and North Street in Hornchurch, 1986
Burton opened in 1939 after three foundation stones were laid that year by Arnold James Burton, according to Havering Libraries.
It closed on March 16, 2013.
Like many Burton stores a billiard hall sat on the upper floor, specifically Knights Snooker and Pool Club which shut in 2022.
FL Tayler Butcher and Restaurant & other establishments in North Street, Romford, circa 1953
To the right, a queue of passengers are about to board a 66 bus to Hornchurch outside the Ministry of Labour and National Service employment exchange in North Street, Romford.
FL Tayler butcher and restaurant, to the left, was at 26 and 28 North Street, according to Havering Libraries, which said in July 2024 it had remained open until "relatively recently".
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