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162-164 Bath Road (formerly 3 & 4 Clare Terrace)
In the 19th century the buildings on this site appear to have been in residential use. In 1891 number 3 Clare Terrace was auctioned at The Exmouth Arms by the executors of the late Mr C. Caudle, when it was said to be worth £22 per year in rental value. By 1896 Mr S.B. Dix, a builder's merchant, occupied these premises and wished to extend his business in this thriving suburb. Amongst other products he sold benzoline and petroleum spirits, suggesting that he was quick to realise the potential of the motor car age.
The 1900 street directory is unclear whether this property was occupied by Mr E Baldwin, or if he rented part of the adjoining premises at 2 Clare Terrace. But it is clear that by that year the Dix family owned this and many other properties in this part of town. In 1907 Albert Dix moved his greengrocery business from No 2 to No 3 Clare Terrace. However by 1913 these premises became one shop with two entrances. Albert Dix ceased trading here during the First World War and the shop was acquired by the Court family. Charles Court and his brother, William John, known as Jack, were born in Prestbury. Jack and his wife lived over the shop and they had two children, Ronald and Barbara. Most of the flowers, fruit and vegetables sold in the shop came from their family nurseries at Ashley Gardens in Arle Road. During the 1920’s, Jack and his young family moved away; Jack concentrated on floristry, whilst Charles took over running the Bath Road shop. In 1951, Mr Samuel Scott Herbert bought the shop which he kept under the name of Charles Court. His wife helped in the shop and the business expanded to include groceries and frozen foods. Mr Scott Herbert retired in 1992 and the premises remained empty for a while until taken over by the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society for their Bath Road branch. In 2013 the "C&G", which had been acquired by Lloyds Banking Group many years previously, was re-branded here in Bath Road to TSB. The Trustee Savings Bank, which was founded in 1810, had been absent from British shopping streets for a while before this development. It closed here on 13th December 2019 and the premises are awaiting a new occupant. Researcher: Marilyn West
Update: Stuart Manton (February 2020) |
Cheltenham & Gloucester
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