Much Park Street

While looking for anything about the Knaves Post in the newspaper I came across an interesting 1937 article about Judges Court. There seems to have been some discussion over the years on several topics on HC as to whether it was in Little Park Street or Much Park Street. The article is about Judges Court being sold by Dr and Mrs Phillips who had lived there for over half a century but were finding it too big. The article included a lot about its history. It was at 19, 20 and 21 MUCH PARK STREET! It also says it was opposite the knaves post.

Interesting Anne. My great-aunt who was cook to Siegfried Bettman (Mayor and owner of Triumph) worked previously for Dr Philips at Judges Court. I remember this from childhood. Also it was, as you have found, Much Park St.

The Knaves post was in front of Court number 35 north side of the two property building. Judges court was on the opposite side but a bit further south. More or less opposite the possible site of the mystery Mr Wright's house.

Where was that Brewery, NeilsYard?

The Brewery on Much Park Street at Britain From Above The brewery started from a couple of inns/pubs and a malt house. Eventually it spread over 5/6 large properties and their gardens.

My sister went there. Mrs Bruce, the vicar's wife from St Anne's, was her teacher. It was near the Admiral Lord Rodney.

Around 1820. About fifty feet from the old gateway of the Greyfriars Monastery was the Old Rose Inn in Much Park Street, a well-established house of small brick and post in panelled style. Shadows flickered from the fire, the grey haired owner, noted for his surliness, but famed for its home brewed ale. Frequented by many citizens and trades people in the evenings. Each had his own pipe and tankard, the later marked with his name. The daily paper was here read nightly to an attentive audience in good loud tone, by an enterprising person - it was also lent out next day to neighbours requiring it. If they kept it more than twenty minutes they were charged one penny for its use. The word "Much" locally was in early times equivalent to "Great" and was so used in the time of Elizabeth I. The old monastic buildings which were erected by the Whitefriars about the year 1343 had seen many changes, and now with extra buildings, formed an excellent workhouse for the poor. As built by the friars they consisted of a church and ecclesiastical offices with cloister gates and domestic buildings surrounded by walls.

Final days of the old street including part of the old Brewery and the Hammertons building -

My name is Paul Flint and I attended St Michael's in Much Park Street 1953/4 and I lived in the sweet shop directly opposite with my mum and dad. My grandad lived in the house no.83 next but one to the school on the Admiral Lord Rodney side. I have been trying to remember what the sweet shop was called. None of my family who are still alive can remember and I can't find any historical trace. If you or your parents can remember I would be so grateful. The shop was open "all hours" and it was frequented by workers going on night shift mostly from the Humber in Stoke for their cigarettes or to pay in to the "Christmas Club" or by children who would spend ages deciding what to buy off the "one penny sweet trays".

Hi, is it on this list? Much Park Street 1955 Possibly J N Gray at number 74, a newsagent

As ever, very useful Heathite Carpenters at 63 was opposite the School I think. There's a photo - is this it? Middle row, left hand side on this photo from Historic England.

That's quite amazing. I've posted on the "Westwood Parish" thread today regarding 113 Cromwell Lane, in which my parents and I lived (for a short time!) in the early 1950s and which was also home to another forum member. Now comes this posting referring to 83 Much Park Street. In the 19th century it was home to the Howkins family, and John and Harriet Howkins were my 3x great grandparents. Certainly they were there in the 1851 census (probably in 1841 as well, although that census doesn't give house numbers). After their deaths (1867 and 1888), their son, also John, lived there until he passed away in 1904, and their granddaughter was the occupant until her marriage in 1905. It's been a funny sort of day!

Thank you Helen, here's a bit more. It is from the 1937 directory which may be too early but it provides surnames and house/residence numbers to consider. I don't know if members can see clearly the whole page if I post it. Personally if I have difficulty on a laptop then I can use a smartphone with the zoom facility which is a very useful feature. Please let me know if you can see the whole page/s. Thank you.

Number 83 was the right side of the 3 storey top shop building on the left of this photo. Middle row, right hand side on this photo from Historic England. In 1850 there was an additional row of houses between the top shop and the Black Prince, demolished for the school. The numbering suggests that the number allocation was done after the school was built.

The Phillips & Marriott Brewery disappears............