Normandy Street, Alton c1905.

Although it is described as Normandy Street, this Varney* image, was taken outside of number 4 High Street looking towards Normandy Street. The image does make this part of Normandy Street appear to be very short indeed.

The building on the far right is the Mechanics Institute & Curtis Museum, next door is 1 High Street, known as Hill House, at the time of the image this would have been the home and office of the Solicitor Richard Bolton, who appears to have moved from London to Alton between 1901-1905.

The light three storey house in the middle of the image is Rodney House, once a family home, it was converted and has been home to several different businesses over the years including, Simmons Stores, Rediffusion and Holybourne flooring, it is currently home to Freedom of Expression art gallery.

The building with the awning was Mugridge butchers and next door was the home and shop of Maurice Francis a grocer and tea dealer who appears to have moved from London to Alton with his family in 1902. You can see some of his wares advertised on the side of the building:

Francis High Class Grocery Provision and Fruit Stores, Choice Teas from 1/ to 2/6. Patent Medicines at store prices. Wholesale and Retail.

The shop on the far left that is drawing all the attention was the business of Harry Boswell, a second-hand furniture and curiosity dealer. He appears to have arrived in Alton sometime between 1901 & 1905, having previously lived in Brighton. However, his time in Alton was short lived as it was reported in February 1910 that he had sold the shop to an antiques dealer called Albert Pfrangley at a knockdown price.

The sale caused a bit of a stir when a local auctioneer commissioned to sell the business was not paid for the services rendered in relation to the sale of the business to Mr Pfrangley, subsequently suing Mr Boswell. Mr Boswell claimed the sale was made by him privately, to a person who knew a person who had seen adverts produced by the auctioneer. The Court found in favour of the auctioneer with Judge Gye indicating it was clear the sale was brought about due to the adverts placed by the auctioneer.

This building was 2 Normandy Street, and it was demolished in the 1960s to widen Church Street, meaning that 4 Normandy Street, which some of you may remember as a Butchers (Now Murat’s Kebab house) is now on the corner.

* William Parker Varney was based in Market Street from late 1903 until mid-1909, he took some wonderful images of Alton and visited the majority if not all of the villages around Alton, producing some of the best local images I have seen from the Edwardian Era.