Melton Constable History - Shops & Traders

The above photo from c.1908, shows Arthur Colman's grocery store, which with some good foresight, he built in 1894 as the first shop in Melton Constable. His son Cyril, also ran a business from there repairing bicycles and storing others while the owners were on the train. Cyril later moved his business to premises beside the Hastings Arms, where he expanded it into the motor trade along with a filling station.
In the photo are - Mr. Hammond, who went on to be the Co-op manager, Cyril Colman, Sam Clarke, Reggie Colman, Mr. Codling and Arthur Colman.

From plans of 25th October 1892, signed off by William Marriott, it appears that one F. Page was originally due to lease the shop subsequently occupied by Arthur Colman.

Arthur Colman's plan of shop alterations - 23rd August 1903

Arthur Colman's plan of land leased - 23rd August 1903
The cellar is now the Country Club's beer cellar

Raby's Family Butchers on the near corner of Colville Road - c. 1912

Melton Constable Shopkeepers

Kelly's 1896:
Bullard & Sons, brewers, stores at the station
Arthur Colman, boot warehouse, draper, grocer & provision dealer, supply stores
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Station
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers & newsagents, Station
J. O. Vinter coal merchant, Station

Kelly's 1900:
Bullard & Sons, brewers, stores at the station
Arthur Colman, boot warehouse, draper, grocer & provision dealer, supply stores & cycle agent
Melton Constable Coop drapers & provision dealers, H. Whyler, manager
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Station
Mrs. Oates, shopkeeper
Robert Raby & Sons, butchers
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers & newsagents, Station
J. O. Vinter & Son, coal merchant, Station

Kelly's 1904:
Arthur Colman, boot warehouse, draper, grocer & provision dealer, supply stores & cycle agent
Bullard & Sons, brewers, stores at the station
Melton Constable Coop drapers & provision dealers, Ernest Bushell, manager, Briston Road
Alec W. Doig, tailor, Briston Road
Ernest Fuller. hairdresser
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Station
Percy Pearson, newsagent, 7 Burgh Beck Road
Robert Raby & Sons, butchers, Briston Road
Alfred A. Rose, baker, Briston Road
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers & newsagents, Station
J. O. Vinter & Son, coal merchant, Station

Kelly's 1908:
Bullard & Sons, brewers, stores at the station
Edward Hall Chilvers, butcher, Burgh Beck Road & farmer, Culpit’s Fm
Arthur Colman, draper & grocer, Briston Road
Melton Constable Coop drapers & provision dealers, E. Tuck, manager, Briston Road
George William Fisher, chemist
Ernest Fuller. Hairdresser
George William Joice, butcher, Gordon Road
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Station
Pash & Sons, tailors, Briston Road
Mrs. Emma Raby, butcher, Briston Road
Alfred A. Rose, baker, Briston Road
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers & newsagents, Station
J. O. Vinter & Son, coal merchant, Station
Matthew Wright, hairdresser

Kelly's 1912:
Bullard & Sons, brewers, stores at the station
Arthur Colman, grocer, Briston Road
Melton Constable Coop drapers & provision dealers, E. Tuck, manager, Briston Road
Herbert William Cooper, boot repairer
Arthur Wilfred Cooter, draper
George William Fisher M.P.S., chemist & artificial teeth maker & dealer in photographic materials & apparatus
Ernest Fuller. Hairdresser
George William Joice, butcher, Gordon Road
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Station
Pask & Sons, tailors, Briston Road
Mrs. Emma Raby, butcher, Briston Road
Alfred A. Rose, baker, Briston Road
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers & newsagents, Station
J. O. Vinter & Son, coal merchant, Station

Kelly's 1916:
Bullard & Sons, brewers, stores at the station
Arthur Colman, grocer, Briston Road
Melton Constable Coop drapers & provision dealers, J. W. Charleton, manager, Briston Road
Herbert William Cooper, boot repairer
Arthur Wilfred Cooter, draper
George William Fisher M.P.S., chemist & dealer in photographic materials & apparatus
Ernest Fuller, Hairdresser
George William Joice, butcher, Gordon Road
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Station
Pask & Sons, tailors, Briston Road
Alfred A. Rose, baker, Briston Road
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers, Railway Station
Henry Stalham, butcher, Briston Road
J. O. Vinter & Son, coal merchant, Station

Kelly’s 1922 - all listed under Burgh Parva
Arthur Colman, grocer, Briston Road
Melton Constable Coop grocers & general dealers, G. A. Bloomfield, sec & mgr, Briston Road
Isaac Eke, hairdresser
James Weaver Fairburn, boot repairer
George William Fisher M.P.S., chemist
George William Joice, butcher, Gordon Road
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Railway Station
Mrs Edith A. Newman, draper
Pask & Sons, tailors, Briston Road
Arthur Rose, baker, Briston Road
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers , Railway Station
J. O. Vinter & Son, coal merchant, Railway Station

Kelly’s 1925 - all listed under Burgh Parva
Arthur Colman, grocer, Briston Road
Cyril A. Colman, cycle agent
Melton Constable Coop grocers & general dealers, G. A. Bloomfield, sec & mgr, Briston Road
George Eke, hairdresser
James Weaver Fairburn, boot repairer
George William Fisher M.P.S., chemist
George William Joice, butcher, Gordon Road
Jonathan H. Jones, pork butcher
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Railway Station
Pask & Sons, tailors, Briston Road
Arthur Rose, baker, Briston Road
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers , Railway Station
Henry Stalham, butcher, Briston Road
J. O. Vinter & Son, coal merchant, Railway Station

Kelly’s 1929 - all listed under Burgh Parva
Attoe & Twiddy, coal merchants, Station yard
William Cletheroe, hairdresser
Arthur Colman, grocer,Briston Road
Cyril A. Colman, cycle agent
George Eke, hairdresser
George William Fisher M.P.S., chemist, Groves Rd, insurance agent, 5 Briston Road
Hector H. Lambert, butcher
Melton Constable Coop grocers, Albert Holness, secretary & manager, Briston Road
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Railway Station
Edward Arthur Rose, baker, Briston Road
John Simmonds, fried fish dealer
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers , Railway Station
Henry Stalham, butcher, Briston Road
Henry Ward, paper hanger

Kelly's 1933:
Attoe & Twiddy, coal merchants, Station yard
William Cletheroe, hairdresser
Arthur Colman, grocer, Briston Road
Cyril A. Colman, cycle agent
Norwich Coop Society, (Melton Constable branch) Briston Road
George Eke, hairdresser
George William Fisher M.P.S., chemist
Raymond Green, painter, 1 Burgh Beck Road
Hector H. Lambert, butcher
Hector J. Holbrook, carpenter, 6 Colville Road & Briston Road
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Railway Station
Edward Arthur Rose, baker, pastrycook & confectioner; wedding, Christmas, birthday & iced cakes to order, Hygienic Bakery
John Simmonds, fried fish dealer
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers , Railway Station
Henry Stalham, butcher, Briston Road
Henry Ward, paper hanger
Alfred H. Warnes, butcher, Gordon Road

Kelly's 1937:
Attoe & Twiddy, coal merchants, Station yard
William Clitheroe, hairdresser
Cyril A. Colman, cycle agent
Reginald Colman, grocer, Briston Road
Norwich Coop Society, (Melton Constable branch) Briston Road
George Eke, hairdresser
Harold T. Fisher P.C.T., A.C.T.S. teacher of shorthand, 6 Ferndale Terrace
Arthur Howard, wireless dealer
New Garage (The) Richard Eke, proprietor, motor engineers, garage; agents for Austins; any make of car supplied; official Tecalemit service station & filling station T N 63
Hector H. Lambert, butcher
Thomas Moy Ltd., coal merchant, Railway Station
Edward Arthur Rose, baker, Hygienic Bakery
W. H. Smith & Son, booksellers , Railway Station
Henry Stalham, butcher, Briston Road
Victor Vardigans, boot & shoe repairer, Burgh Beck Road
Alfred R. Warnes, butcher, Gordon Road

Left Photo
Arthur Wilfred Cooter's shop at the bottom of the hill is advertising an 'After Season' Sale.
Right Photo
The photographer was standing on or virtually on, the boundary between Briston and Melton Constable, which is marked by the beck that runs into the River Glaven at Hunworth. The road just off to the right is Burgh_Beck_Road and Arthur W. Cooter's general drapery store stood on the corner, which later became the Co-op's drapery department and is now occupied by Melton Spice. G. W. Fisher's shop, next door is now part of today's Co-op.
G. W. Fisher's shop was run by W. O. and George William Fisher and was akin to being the forerunner of a modern supermarket. George was educated at Greshams in Holt and was a chemist by trade and his knowledge of chemicals and cures was unique and it was said that one of his potions would cure a 'flu cold'. He also made artificial teeth and sold photographic equipment,
The wooden building in the left hand foreground that looks very much like an ex railway wagon, was then occupied by Pasks, the tailors who made the livery for Lord Hastings' staff at Melton Constable Hall.

WD & GW Fisher's shops

Left Photo
Mr. Clitheroe the Hairdresser standing outside his shop at the bottom of Briston_Road hill. When Pasks the tailors ceased trading Mr. Clitheroe took over their wooden shed opposite Fisher's store that is today's Co-op.
Mr. Clitheroe was advertising tobacco producets and probably sold them as well. He heated water for shaving and shampooing on a meths stove. His price for a shave, shampoo and haircut was 6d., which was in line with Mr. Eke's prices at his shop at the top of the hill, this allowed customers to stay loyal to each shop. Mr. Clitheroe's shop closed in 1964..
Right Photo
It appears that when A. W. Cooter ceased trading, his shop was taken over by W. O. Fisher and run as a general store, while George Fisher continued to run his chemist and pharmacy business next door.

Jimmy Strutt - c.1937

Left Photo
Melton Constable's first Post Office opened in January 1882 and was in Melton_Street but by 1915, it had moved to Briston_Road, on its corner with Gordon_Road, where it was run by the sharp tongued Miss Nellie Linder. The Post Office was semi-detached with the Police House next door. The next house down was the Dr. Welch's surgery, which was built in 1896.
Right Photo
Jimmy Strutt lived in Briston but frequently came to Melton Constable pushing his hand cart, led by his little dog, because Jimmy was blind. Jimmy was trained as a basket maker and he sold these from his cart along with such things as shoe laces. The photo shows him outside Alfred Rose's 'Hygienic Bakery' and although a mile and a half from his home, he always got back safely.

Geoffrey Vardigan's fish & chip Shop c.1951

Right Photo
Geoffrey Vardigan's fish & chip Shop stood at the end of Burgh_Beck_Road. In the photo, Geoffrey's brother Stanley, is leaning against the front of his car outside the shop.

A. R. Warnes Butchers, Gordon Road - P. Horne postman -1947

Briston Road Co-op - c.1934

Above Photos
The Co-op's grocery and general store stood on the North side of Briston_Road on its corner with Kitchener_Road, with the Co-op drapery store at the bottom of the hill. The upper floor of the grocery store was used for meetings. On the right hand side of the photo, Rose's bakery handcart can be seen being pushed back up the hill at the end of its delivery round.

Arthur Colman's grocery store next door to the Railway Institute - c.1930

Left Photo
E. T. Riches and his wife standing proudly at the entrance of their shop.
The shop was later taken over by Mr. Warnes and for a short time Bertie Graves worked for him. After Mr. Warnes, the business was taken over by Michael Rutland, who eventually moved his current business to the now empty Post Office building on the corner of Briston Road and Gordon Road.

Cyril Colman's garage - c.1932

Cyril Colman's garage - c.1965

Above Photos
Cyril Colman was the son of Arthur Colman, who ran the grocery shop next to the Railway_Institute. Cyril started his bicycle repair and bicycle sitting business (minding bicycles whilst the owners took the train) at his father's shop, before moving to his own premises beside the Hastings_Arms. Cyril then expanded into the motor trade and also opened a filling station with hand operated pumps that are now in the Caister Hall Museum. Another service provided was the recharging of accumulator batteries and wirelesses. The 1932 photo shows Cyril Colman standing next to the right hand pump.

If you have any memories, anecdotes or photos please let us know and we may be able to use them to update the site. By all means email or telephone 07836 675369.

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