Shops on the Square

Occupant information from Kellys Directory 1928-1970*

St Edyths Road (the first residents moved in during 1924, no shops until 1928)

37 (Collistear hairdressers)
1928 Hallett and Sons, grocers
Still listed in 1970

Sam and Daisy Hallett with their son Peter in 1921.


38 (currently Elexis – builders office)
1928 Rt Houghton, Shopkeeper
1930 Rt Houghton, Ironmonger
1936 Sidney William Draper, Ironmonger
1970 P Draper, Ironmonger
1978 -2001 Sea Mills Hardware (Mr and Mrs Henegan)***
?-2018  A. Nightingale

WWII: in 1939 the following people were listed as resident at this address:
Sidney W Draper – born 22 Mar 1912 – Ironmonger and Hardware (married) AFS no 1771 ** part time
Phyllis M Draper – born 28 Apr 1913 – unpaid domestic duties (married)

Sea Mills Hardware sign briefly visible in Apr 2018 as Nightingales vacated and use was changed to office. (Pic Sea Mills 100)


Shirehampton Road

125 (currently Sea Mills convenience store, recently AJ’s)
1928 James Robinson, dairyman
1930 James Robinson, dairyman
Rd Burges MRVS eng LRCP lond Physcn and surgn
1931 Fras George Ford, dairyman
1933 Herbert D  Putt, dairyman
1936 Lewis Raymond Eddy, dairyman
1970 V G Foodstores
At some point becomes one shop with 125 then AJ’s
2018 Sea Mills Convenience Store

WWII: in 1939 the following people were listed as resident at this address:
Lewis R Eddy – born 23 Feb 1907 Dairyman and Grocer (married)
Marjorie Eddy – born 27 Mar 1911 – Unpaid domestic duties (married)
Brian T Eddy – born 5 Jan 1938 – Under School age
Amelia Rodman – born 8 Sep 1879 – Unpaid Domestic duties (widow)
Arthur J Eddy – born 11 Nov 1879 – Railway Inspector (married)
Cora J Eddy – born 11 Feb 1884 – Unpaid Domestic duties (married)
Bessie P Tonkin (sp?) – born 27 Jan 1863 – Unpaid Domestic duties (single)


127 (currently Sea Mills convenience store, recently AJ’s)
1928 William Henry Morgan, Butcher
1944 Harry Daniel Downham
1956 Harry Daniel Downham, Butcher
1966 T. M Fox, Butcher
1970 A C Brooker, Butcher
At some point becomes one shop with 125 then AJ’s
2018 Sea Mills Convenience Store

WWII: in 1939 the following people were listed as resident at this address:
William H Morgan – born 25 Apr 1889 – Butcher, shop keeper (married)
Selina A Morgan – born 21 June 1891 – unpaid domestic duties (married)



135 (now a house)

1928 William Ernest Haines, Dentist
1934 John Wells LDS Leeds HDD RCS Edin Dental Surgeon
1936 John Saunders (private house?)
1940 Percival Wilfred S Lewis
1958 Mrs M Lewis
1966 Ronald J S Lewis

WWII: in 1939 the following people were listed as resident at this address:
Percy W Lewis – born 19 Jan 1891- Commercial Traveller – wholesale tobacco (married)
Mabel M Lewis – born 10 Nov 1894 – unpaid domestic duties (married)
Kenneth Lewis – born 1 Apr 1918 – Chef (married)
plus two redacted entries



137 (currently Collistear Beauty)

1928 Sea Mills Post Office and Money Order Office – David Thomas Evans, postmaster & David Thomas Evans, Draper
1931 David Thomas Evans, Draper
1937 J & E Welch, Drapers
1966 Mostyn, Drapers

WWII: in 1939 the following people were listed as resident at this address:
John E Welch – born 26 Apr 1905 – Grocers Assistant  (married) AFS no 1784 **
Elsie M Welch – born 6 Nov 1898 – General Shop, draper (married)



139 (currently Nailbar)

1928 William Frederick Gill MPS. Chemist
1966 St Edyths Pharmacy Ltd

WWII: in 1939 the following people were listed as resident at this address:
George Norman Warrinner- born 26 Aug 1889 – Petroleum Board Oil Installation Clerk. Bristol Auxiliary Fire Service (married)
Phyllis G Warriner – born 1 Aug 1912 – Unpaid Domestic Duties (married)


149 (now flats)
1928 Albert Henry Windows, greengrocer
1933 Mrs Mary Windows, greengrocer
1940 Leonard George Searchfield, greengrocer
1958 Searchfield and Daughters, greengrocer

WWII: in 1939 the following people were listed as resident at this address:
Leonard G.W Searchfield – born 29 Nov 1894 – Florist, Fruiterer, Greengrocer (married)
Irene Searchfield – born 17 Dec 1889 – unpaid domestic duties – Red Cross Voluntary Canteen (married)
Suzanne J Searchfield – born 16 July 1926 – at school
plus 4 redacted entries.


151 (now flats)
1928 Mrs Alice Mitchell , shopkeeper
1930 George Stenlake Mundy MB CH.B physcn and surgeon
1931 Mrs Alice G Mitchell , greengrocer
1933 George Webb, pork butcher
1936 G H Webb and Co, provision merchants
1966 No listing
1970 G C Brittan, grocer

WWII: in 1939 the following people were listed as resident at this address:
Oswald J Long – born 31 Jul 1890 – Electric Tram Driver (incapacitated) (married)
Muriel E Long – born 4 Sept – shop assistant, provisions (married)


158 (now McColls / postoffice)
1928 Peter Daudistel, hairdresser
1931 Mrs G M Jewell, hairdresser
1934 Harold Fas Destouni, hairdresser
1936/7 Wilfred C Bolwell, ladies and gents hairdresser (listed as 156 no listing for 158)
1938 as above but now listed as no 158

Old shopfront of 158 briefly revealed in March 2018 when renovations were in progress (Pic Sea Mills 100)


160 (now McColls / postoffice)
1928 Mrs Margaret Destouni, tobacconist
1931 Basil Destouni, tobacconist
1934 Stanley Wood, newsagent
1937 Stanley Wood, newsagent & Sea Mills Town Sub-post and Money Order and Telephone Call office.
1966 N.H and B.M Price, newsagent and Sea Mills Town Sub-Post and Money Order Office

136 (now a house)
1934 Rd Burges MRCS eng LRCP lond Physcn and surgn attends daily 10.30-11am and 6-7pm except Saturday
1944 James William Coles

132 (now a house)
1928 No one listed
1930 Frederick E Sprackling
1931 Frederick E Sprackling, bootmaker
1950 Sprackling F E and Son, boot and shoe makers
1956 William L England, boot and shoe repair
1966 Parsons R.T do-it-yourself supplies

130 (now Yelling Yin’s takeaway)
1928 Thomas Herbert Deacon, house furnisher
1931  Thomas Herbert Deacon, house furnisher &
Sea Mills Post MO & T Office. Mrs N L Deakin Sub Postmistress
1934 Thomas Herbert Deacon, house furnisher
1936 Percival Wilfred Berry, Fishmonger
1966 L Linsley, Fishmonger
At some point after 1970 this began a Fish and Chip shop

* Directory information was available from the years 1928, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1944, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1966, 1968/9, 1970 so exact change over dates for businesses may not be accurate. Additions and corrections welcome!

*** Info from shop owner

Find out more about the shops in the Square and Westbury Lane during WW2

One Reply to “Shops on the Square”

  1. My parents, John and Edna Dulborough lived at no 131 (?) house in corner before WWII. He worked on the Avonmouth Branch Line, then London, Midland and Scottish Railway. They were moved by the Railway to Henstridge in Somerset during the early years of the War. They eventually came back to Bristol to live in 1948 from Leicestershire. They have both passed away of course. I have not been able to find any photographs taken at that address. One of my mother’s cousins lived on the other side of Shirehampton Road at around that time, but I cannot be more specific.
    With regard to No. 135 – you state one of the residents before and during WWII as John Saunders. It is a huge coincidence that I worked for Mr Saunders whilst he was Station Master at Bristol Temple Meads in the 1960s. I believe he was the last Station Master on British Rail to be provided with a Top Hat which was worn on special occasions, ie Royal Visits etc. Of course all Station Masters were provided with bowler hats at that time, which they always wore in public whilst on duty.
    Strangely enough my husband and I have been residents of Stoke Bishop for more than 30 years – so almost full circle.

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