South Town, Cheltenham - 200 Years of Local Trading History
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24 Andover Road (formerly 1, Tivoli Buildings)

This corner property occupies part of the site of a detached house, which was demolished in the mid 19th century and replaced with a row of four shops known as 1-4 Tivoli Buildings in about 1865.  
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​For at least 90 years this property was the home to the same trade. ​1,Tivoli Buildings was occupied by Mr Oliver Bradley, a grocer, in 1870. By the following year this had changed to Mr T Wilkins, also a grocer and wine merchant. By 1880, a new owner, Mr CJ White advertised himself as a ‘Tea Dealer and Grocer.’
PictureGloucestershire Echo, 1909
​The property changed hands again in 1890 when Mr Joseph Farman Sadler acquired the business and at the same time expanded into the recently vacated property next door at 2, Tivoli Buildings (now 26, Andover Road).

​Mr Sadler, who from 1892-99 was a churchwarden at St Stephen's, remained here until his death in 1925 at the age of 72, during which time he further extended the business into number 3, Tivoli Buildings (now 28, Andover Road). He was an active member of the Primrose League, which was founded in 1883 to promote Conservative values.

​The late Jack Crook well remembered the mirror-like brass name plate that adorned the whole of the shop front window ledge, polished every morning so that one could see one’s face in it and used for ‘hair adjustment’ by the young girls of the neighbourhood.

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​The same trade continued in these three properties as Bert Wilding and Co. grocers, until some time into the 1950s, when the shop was transferred to Silk and Son. But by 1965 numbers 1 and 2, Tivoli Buildings were vacant and number 1 then became a toy shop, into the 1970s. More recently DN Goodman converted the shop into the  Interior Design Centre, a furniture and soft furnishings showroom.

The present business, Severn Furnishing Office Furniture and Specialist Seating Supplies, was opened in 2004 by Nigel Eldridge.
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Research by Brian Torode ​and Stuart Manton (February 2024) 

Severn Furnishing Ltd.

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Severn Furnishing
Whilst Severn Furnishing Limited supplies furniture for general offices, boardrooms and receptions we also have a specialist office seating division to help people with back pain in the workplace.

We needed a showroom to display our chairs and were delighted to secure 24 Andover Road which is just the right size and with easy parking near by. Many of our customers come from outside the area so easy access from the motorway is also a bonus. The showroom, called ‘The Office Backcare Centre’, is open 9am -1pm and 2pm – 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 12 noon Saturday but it’s best to phone for an appointment, particularly if travelling from a distance away. All visitors are given free postural advice and help to select the best possible chair for their needs. This sometimes takes up to 2 hours so we’ve become quite good at making tea and coffee too!

Tel: 01242 251779

E: [email protected]

Web: www.severnfurnishing.co.uk

www.theofficebackcarecentre.co.uk



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