Shopkeepers, General Dealers & Grocers
by SLHS on
Tuesday 26 July 2016
It can be said that the shopkeeper is the backbone of any village, and it was certainly true of those trading in Somercotes. The growth of Somercotes and the surrounding villages can be seen in the increase in the numbers of shopkeepers, general dealers and grocers that are listed the various trade directories over the years. The steady increase was halted only in the 1970s when supermarkets came to the area and the general decline in local business started.
Today, the retail business community in Somercotes is a shadow of what it once was, and many of the shops listed below have been converted into residential dwellings.
Please note that this is a long list!
ADVERTISEMENT: An advert for Hunters the Tea Men, Somercotes Hill. From the prices printed on the advert we believe that it dates from around 1920.
| SHOPKEEPERS, GENERAL DEALERS & GROCERS LISTED IN 1828: | |
| ATKINS, Hannah | Somercotes |
| EVANS, Henry | Somercotes |
| HOLLINGWORTH & GREEN | Somercotes |
| PLATT, Martha Argyle | Somercotes |
| ROBINSON, Thomas | Somercotes |
| TAGG, James | Greenhill Lane |
| TAGG, John | Greenhill Lane |
| TAYLOR, Abraham | Somercotes |
| WASS, Rebecca | Somercotes |
| SHOPKEEPERS, GENERAL DEALERS & GROCERS LISTED IN 1849: | |
| HORSLEY, Thomas | Grocer & Miller - Pye Bridge (Thomas was the miller at the Pye Bridge Steam Mill) |
| LEE, Joseph | Shopkeeper & Butcher - Somercotes with Birchwood |
| PARKES, Edward | Grocer & Beer Reatiler - Somercotes with Birchwood |
| PLATTS, Martha Argyle | Shopkeeper - Somercotes with Birchwood |
| RADFORD, John | Shopkeeper & Beer Retailer - Somercotes with Birchwood |
| RICHARDSON, Timothy | Grocer - Somercotes with Birchwood |
| ROBINSON, Thomas | Shopkeeper & Beer Retailer - Somercotes with Birchwood |
| SLACK, James | Shopkeeper, Boot & Shoe Maker - Somercotes with Birchwood |
| STRAW, Edward | Shopkeeper - Birchwood |
| SHOPKEEPERS, GENERAL DEALERS & GROCERS LISTED IN 1857: | |
| BROUGH, John | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| BURGIN, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| DUPE, John | Grocer - Somercotes |
| LEE, Joseph | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| MORLEY, James | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| PARKES, Edward | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| RICHARDSON, Hannah | Grocer - Somercotes |
| RILEY, John | Grocer - Somercotes |
| ROE, Joseph | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| ROBINSON, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| ROBINSON, Nathaniel | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| ROGERS, Thomas | Grocer - Somercotes |
| SLACK, Rebecca | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| TAYLOR, Elizabeth | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| SHOPKEEPERS, GENERAL DEALERS & GROCERS LISTED IN 1876: | |
| ASKEW, Thomas | Grocer - Leabrooks |
| BAKEWELL, John | Grocer - Leabrooks (John is also described as a Brick Maker) |
| BEET, George | Grocer - Leabrooks |
| BLAND, Thomas | Grocer, provisions dealer, seedman and dealer in foreign and British wines. Agent for Ind Coope & Co Butron Ales - Somercotes |
| BRAMWELL, John | Grocer & Provisions Dealer -Somercotes |
| BRAMWELL, William | Greengrocer - Birchwood |
| BRENTNALL, George | Grocer - Greenhill Lane |
| BRENTNALL, Joseph | Shopkeeper - Seely Terrace, Somercotes |
| CARLIN, Henry Mrs | Shopkeeper, Wine & Beer Retailer - Somercotes |
| CARLIN, Henry | Grocer & Baker - Somercotes |
| CARTLEDGE, Joseph | Shopkeeper - The Post Office, Leabrooks |
| CLARKE, Ellen | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| CLARKE, Martha | Shopkeeper - Greenhill Lane |
| CLEMENTS, Samuel | Shopkeeper - Seely Terrace, Somercotes |
| COOK, John | Shopkeeper - Seely Terrace, Somercotes |
| DAVISON, William & John | Grocers & Provision Merchants - Somercotes |
| EVANS, Luke | Grocer, Provisions Dealer Malster & Sub-postmaster - Greenhill Lane |
| FISHER, Edward Mrs | Grocer, Draper & Druggist - Somercotes |
| FLINT, Mary | Grocer - 41, Coupland Place, Somercotes |
| GELL, Samuel | Shopkeeper - Greenhill Lane |
| GIBSON, Elijah | Shopkeeper - Birchwood |
| HALL, John | Shopkeeper - Market Place, Somercotes |
| HARRIS, Joseph | Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| HILL, Peter | Shopkeeper - Lower Birchwood |
| HUBBALL, Joseph | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| JAQUES, Daniel | Shopkeeper - Market Place, Somercotes |
| MALLINSON, Ann | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| MARRIOTT, George | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| MORLEY, James | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| NAYLOR, Joseph | Grocer - Greenhill Lane |
| PARKIN, Ann | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| PEACH, Henry | Shopkeeper - Greenhill Lane |
| RICHARDSON, Hannah | Grocer & Sub-postmistress - The Post Office, Somercotes |
| ROWE, William | Grocer & Provisions Merchant. Dealer in beer, wholesale and retail - Somercotes |
| ROGERS, Thomas | Grocer & provisions Dealer - Somercotes |
| SHAW, Herbert | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| SHORE, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Sleetmoor Lane |
| SLATER, Sarah | Shopkeeper - Greenhill Lane |
| SLATER, William | Shopkeeper - Greenhill Lane |
| SPENCER, Mary | Shopkeeper - Seely Terrace, Somercotes |
| SWINCOE, George | Shopkeeper - Market Place, Somercotes |
| TAYLOR, William | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| TEATHER, William | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| THOMPSON, Daniel | Greengrocer - Market Place, Somercotes |
| VARDY, Soloman | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| WHEELDON, John | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| WILBRAHAM, Ann | Shopkeeper - Market Place, Somercotes |
| WILBRAHAM, Matthew | Grocer - Greenhill Lane |
| SHOPKEEPERS, GENERAL DEALERS & GROCERS LISTED IN 1895: | |
| ABBOTT, John & Co. | Grocers & Povisions Merchants - Somercotes |
| ASHTON, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Sleetmoor House, Somercotes |
| BARLOW, William | Grocer - Somercotes (William was also listed as an Insurance Agent) |
| BATES, Joseph | Shopkeeper & Yeast dealer - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| BONSALL, William | Grocer & Beer Retailer - Somercotes |
| BURNHAM, Jonathan | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| COOPER, Frank | General Dealer - Somercotes |
| DAWES, Joseph | Grocer - Somercotes |
| DOOLEY, William | Fruiterer - 20, Seely Terrace, Somercotes |
| FOX, Joseph | General Dealer - Somercotes |
| GREGORY, James | Shopkeeper & Beer Retailer - Somercotes |
| HALL, John | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| HALL, William | General Dealer - Somercotes |
| HAMBLETON, James | Provisions Dealer - Somercotes |
| HILL, Peter | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| HOWARD, Charles | General Dealer - High Street, Somercotes |
| JAQUES, Daniel | Grocer, Baker & Beer Retailer - Market Place, Somercotes |
| JOHNSON, Joseph | Fruiterer & Fishmonger - Somercotes |
| LOWE, Henry | Provisions Dealer - Somercotes |
| NICHOLS, William | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| NOBLE, James | Shopkeeper - Chapel Street, Leabrooks |
| PARE, Joseph | Shopkeeper - Market Place, Somercotes |
| PARKIN, Alfred | General Dealer - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, William | Grocer - Leabrooks |
| ROGERS, James | Grocer - Somercotes (James was also listed as an Ale & Porter Merchant) |
| SANDHAM, Richard | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| SEVERN, George | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| SHAW, Herbert | General Dealer - Somercotes |
| SHIPLEY, Isaac | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| SLACK, John | General Dealer & Newsagent - Somercotes |
| SPENCER, Mira | Provisions Dealer - Somercotes |
| TAYLOR, Sarah | Grocer & General Dealer - Leabrooks (Sarah was also listed as an ale and porter merchant) |
| VARDY, Samuel & Co. | Grocer & Yeast Merchant - Victoria House, Somercotes (Samuels company was also laisted as boot dealers, tobacconists and brake proprieters, as will as Samuel being a farmer) |
| WHHELDON, John | Grocer - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| WILLGOOSE, Thomas | Grocer & Beer Retailer - Somercotes |
| SHOPKEEPERS, GENERAL DEALERS & GROCERS LISTED IN 1908: | |
| ABBOTT, J & Co. | Grocer & Tea Dealer, Market Place & Nottingham Road, Somercotes |
| BAKEWELL, John | Fruiterer & Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| BATES, Joseph | Shopkeeper - Birchwood lane, Somercvotes |
| BETTISON, Anthony | Grocer & Tea Dealer - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| BLATHERWICK'S | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| BRADSHAW, Alfred | Fruiterer & Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| BURNHAM, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| CARLIN, Susannah | Shopkeeper - Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes |
| CLARKE, John | Shopkeeper - High Street, Somercotes |
| CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY | General Dealers - Somercotes |
| DAVIDSON, George & Son | Grocer - Somercotes |
| DAVIS, George | Fruiterer & Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| DAWES, Joseph | Grocer - Quarry Road, Somercotes |
| DAYKIN, James | Shopkeeper - Somercotes (James was also listed as an insurance agent) |
| DEXBOROUGH, Robert | Fruiterer & Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| DOOLEY, William | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| GLENN, Isaac | Greengrocer - Somercotes Hill |
| GRAHAM, John William | Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| HAGUE, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| HOWARD, George & Son | Tobacconist - Somercotes |
| HUNTERS THE TEA MEN LTD | Tea Merchants Somercotes (Although not listed as such, Hunters was also a general provisions store) |
| JAQUES, Daniel | Grocer & Tea Dealers - Somercotes |
| JEPSON, Richard | Grocer & Tea Dealers - Somercotes |
| JOHNSON, Isaac | Grocer - Pye Bridge |
| KEEN, Thomas | Fruiterer & Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| LINACRE, George Edward | Grocer - Pye Bridge |
| LOWE, Frances | Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| NEWBOLD, William | Grocer & Tea Dealers - Somercotes |
| OAKLEY BROTHERS | Shopkeeper - Pye Bridge |
| PARE, Joseph | Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| PARKIN, Alfred | Greengrocer - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, John | Grocer & Tea Dealers - Somercotes |
| PARKIN, Joseph | Tobacconist - Leabrooks (John was also listed as a hairdresser) |
| PARKIN, William | Greengrocer - Leabrooks |
| PARSON, Luke | Tobacconist - Somercotes |
| PEACH, John | Shopkeeper - Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes |
| PURDY, Elizabeth | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| ROGERS, James | Grocer & Tea Dealers - Somercotes & Pye Bridge |
| SEVERN, George | Shopkeeper - Lower Somercotes |
| SMITH, Mary | Shopkeeper - Pye Bridge |
| STEEPLES, George | Grocer & Tea Dealers - Somercotes |
| STOPPARD, Henry | Grocer & Tea Dealers - Somercotes |
| THOMPSON, George | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| TURNER, George | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| WALLER, Joel | Fruiterer & Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| WHEELDON, John | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| WHETTON, Samuel | Greengrocer - Leabrooks |
| WILLIAMS, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
PHOTO: Hunters Tea Stores, Somercotes Hill. The date is not known.
| SHOPKEEPERS, GENERAL DEALERS & GROCERS LISTED IN 1916: | |
| ABBOTT, J & Co. | Grocers - Coupland Place & Nottingham Road, Somercotes |
| BAKEWELL, James | Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| BATES, Joseph | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| BATTY, Henry Thomas | Greengrocer - Somercotes Hill |
| BRADLEY, George | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| BRADSHAW, Agnes | Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| CARLIN, Susannah | Shopkeeper - Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes |
| DARRINGTON, James | Shopkeeper - Somercotes Hill |
| DAVIDSON, George & Son | Grocer - Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes |
| DAWES, Joseph | Grocer - Quarry Road, Somercotes |
| DAYKIN, James | Shopkeeper - Somercotes (James was also listed as an insurance agent) |
| DAYKIN, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| FODDY, Thomas John | Shopkeeper - Quarry Road, Somercotes |
| GREGORY, Mary E. | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| GRUNDY, Louisa Mary | Shopkeeper - Pye Bridge |
| HARDWICK, Stephen | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| HARRIS, Herbert | Grocer - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| HUNTERS THE TEA MEN LTD | Grocer - Somercotes Hill |
| JEFFRIES, Charles | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| JEPSON, Lucy Mary | Grocer - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| LEESON, Ernest | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| LOWE, Fancis Mrs | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| MILES, Bertha | Shopkeeper - Quarry Road, Somercotes |
| MILWARD, Alice | Shopkeeper - Lower Somercotes |
| NEWBOLD, William | Grocer - High Street, Somercotes |
| NORWOOD, William Henry | Shopkeeper - Somercotes Hill |
| PARKIN, Alfred | Greengrocer - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, Ernest | Grocer - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, John & Co. | Grocer - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, Joseph | Tobacconist - Leabrooks (Joseph was also listed as a hairdresser) |
| PARSONS, Luke | Grocer - Lower Somercotes |
| ROGERS, James | Grocer - Lower Somercotes |
| SEVERN, George | Shopkeeper - Lower Somercotes |
| STEEPLES, George | Grocer - Somercotes |
| THOMPSON, Mary | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks Road, Somercotes |
| TOWNSEND, Daniel | Shopkeeper - Birchwood lane, Somercotes |
| WALKER, Bertha | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| WALLER, Joel | Greengrocer - Somercotes Hill |
| WHEELDON, John | Shopkeeper - Lower Birchwood |
| WHITE, Albert | Shopkkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| WILLGOOSE, John | Shopkeeper - Somercotes Hill |
| WILLIAMS, Ann | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| WHETTON, Samuel | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| WILBRAHAM, Matthew Edm. | Greengrocer - Leabrooks |
| WOOD, Albert E. | Shopkeeper - Lower Somercotes |
| SHOPKEEPERS, GENERAL DEALERS & GROCERS LISTED IN 1925: | |
| ABBOTT, J & Co. | Grocers - Coupland Place & Nottingham Road, Somercotes |
| BAKEWELL, James | Greengrocer - Somercotes |
| BARNETT, Edwin | Shopkeeper - Birchwood lane, Somercotes |
| BATES, Mary Ann | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| BATTY, Henry Thomas | Greengrocer - Somercotes Hill |
| BRADSHAW, Rebecca | Shopkeeper - Lower Birchwood |
| CARLIN, Susannah | Shopkeeper - Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes |
| CATER, James | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| COOK, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| DARRINGTON, James | Shopkeeper - Somercotes Hill |
| DAVIDSON, George & Son | Grocer - Sleetmoor Lane, Somercotes |
| DAWES, Joseph & Son | Grocer - Quarry Road, Somercotes |
| DAYKIN, James | Shopkeeper - Somercotes (James was also listed as an insurance agent) |
| DAYKIN, Mary | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| DESSBOROUGH, Frederick | Shopkeeper - Lower Somercotes |
| GREGORY, Mary E. | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| GRUNDY, Louisa Mary | Shopkeeper - Pye Bridge (Louisa was also listed as the sub-postmistress) |
| HILL, Charles Walter | Shopkeeper - Old Market Place, Somercotes |
| JEFFRIES, Charles | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| JOHNSON, Frank | Shopkeeper - Lower Somercotes |
| LEESON, Ernest | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| LINACRE, James | Grocer - Pye Bridge |
| NORWOOD, William Henry | Shopkeeper - Somercotes Hill |
| PARKIN, Ernest | Grocer - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, Leonard | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, Samuel | Greengrocer - Leabrooks |
| PARKIN, William | Greengrocer - Nottingham Road, Somercotes |
| RADFORD, Joseph | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks Road, Somercotes |
| RAINBOW, Bessie | Shopkeeper - Pye Bridge |
| ROGERS, James | Grocer - Lower Somercotes |
| ROUGHTON, M. Miss | Shopkeeper - Pye Bridge |
| SCATTERGOOD, Alexander | Grocer - High Street, Somercotes |
| SEVERN, George Mrs | Shopkeeper - Lower Somercotes |
| SEVERN, Thomas | Shopkeeper - Somercotes Hill |
| SPENCER, Martha | Grocer - Leabrooks Road, Somercotes |
| STEEPLES, George | Grocer - Somercotes |
| TOWERS, John Robert | Shopkeeper - Nottingham Road, Somercotes |
| TOWNSEND, Joseph | Fruiterer - Nottingham Road, Somercotes |
| WALKER, Bertha | Shopkeeper - Somercotes |
| WALLER, Susan | Greengrocer - Somercotes Hill |
| WHETTON, Samuel | Shopkeeper - Leabrooks |
| WHITE, Albert | Shopkeeper - Birchwood Lane, Somercotes |
| WOOD, Albert E. | Shopkeeper - Lower Somercotes |
PHOTO: This photograph of Nottingham Road was taken in the 1930s, after the alteration to the frontage of the Premier Electric Theatre. On the left is J. Abbot & Co. grocery store, followed by Henry Ward, drapers (on the corner of Victoria Street). On the right is the newsagents which belonged to Albert Morris at the time.