Shops in Above Bar, East Street, Hanover Buildings and more

The array of stores that adorned the busy street are mostly consigned to history, with a few enduring names that have stood the test of time.

Exploring the eastern side of Above Bar, adjacent to Hanover Buildings, would have revealed a vibrant array of establishments.

There was Corralls coal merchants, the Singer Sewing Machine company, Willerby tailors, Marks and Spencer, Mac Fisheries, one of Sainsbury’s first self-service supermarkets, Milward’s shoes, British Home Stores, fresh food specialists Vernon and Tear, Saxones, Timothy Whites the chemist, FW Woolworth, women’s hairdresser Douglas of Mayfair, and fashion house, Richard Shops.

Cross Pound Tree Road to Jackson’s the tailors, Broadmead Wireless Company, Etam, Easiphit shoes, The Sussex Bars, Freeman Hardy and Willis, Halford Cycles, WH Smith, Parkhouse and Wyatt, the Classic cinema, Alexandre tailors, Russell and Bromley, hairdressers, Marcia and Anton, Paige Gowns, Dorothy Perkins and Hampshire Furnishings.

Shoemakers, Manfield and Son, were on the corner of New Road, and then there was Montana costumiers, wine merchants Eldridge Pope and Company, Woodhouse furnishers, Hudson Verity the opticians, mens’ outfitters, Basticks, the departmental store, Tyrrell and Green, Dolcis, Southern Gas showrooms, Durries, Swears and Wells, Austin Reed, radio and television distributors Murdoch and Eric’s furriers.

The Tudor Restaurant came next and then Wrights jewellers, the Park Inn, Flinn’s dyers and dry cleaners, Lavells and National Provincial Banks, Chambers coffee and tea dealers, Importers salesrooms, Tentaset TV hire, WE Bryants the tobacconists, and Bates the chemist.

Cross Above Bar and walk back towards the Bargate to pass the departmental store of Plummer Roddis, Van Allan’s, Maryon Fashion Group, C&A Modes, Salisbury’s leather goods, outfitters Price and Lewis, and boot makers Barratt’s, Irene Adair’s gown shop came next, umbrella-makers Kendall and Sons, Forum cinema, Lorraine’s sweet shop, Picket and Pursers and tailors, John Colliers.

Across Civic Centre Road to Lloyds Bank, past Wolf and Hollander’s furniture, Oswald Bailey, Husbands opticians, Barrett-Hutton costumiers, Sand’s hat shop, Faiman’s dresses and Truform.

After the Prudential Buildings came Meakers outfitters, Character Shoes, Chanelle gowns, B&W Linen, Van Allen’s, Jax, Westons and then Dunn’s.

Over Manchester Street to Good Listening, the wallpaper and paint shop of Keeping and Wyffe, House of Bewley tobacconists, Renmore’s, Cyril Lord carpets and across Ogle Road to the Odeon cinema and the Portland Arms public house.

Further on were the Post Office, Scullards restaurant, Stone Max wireless dealers, Stead and Simpsons, Phillips furnishings, Gilbey wine merchants and the Southern Daily Echo.

Crossing Spa Road and heading towards the Bargate, pedestrians came to Taramilli the hairdressers, George Lavey, outfitters, Cadena Cafe, Kay Morley gowns, Boots the Chemist, Direct Rainwear, J. Lyons caterers, Murdock, radio dealers, John Line, wallpaper, Tailorfit, outfitters, True-Form Boot Company, Bourne and Hollingsworth, department store.