Rue de Fontenelles

No. 1 Mill St has seen many changes of use. Owned by Mr.J Hindle, Chemist in 1919-1930, it was an antiques shop, pre 2nd World War and a gas showroom in 1940 from which the Home Guard was run. (J. Somers Cocks). From 1947 a series of owners ran cafés – Max’s Café (Max Schlaepfer) and Miranda’s Cavern and Delicatessen continued by Thomas 1952, Finch 1966, and Glasgow 1967.

In 1969 Peter and Mary Morton ran it as a shop for Artists material and Picture Framing until the late 1980s. The Listed Building description for both No. 1 and No. 3, Moorcroft Cottage, (formerly Southmead House), dates the properties to the early 19th century with parts at the rear thought to be older. It has been said that a long, well-lit loft at the rear of both properties might have been a weaving shed. The 1851 Census lists woolcomber William Gibbons living here and employing seven men.

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