Whitefriars Street (inc. Whitefriars Lane)

It opened on that site in 1965 by Viscount Althrop.

Thank you Anne, it was a wooden building when I went there. It also dates the photo.

We took over the lease of the small showroom as an extension of our Gas Showroom next door. I think the dealership was the Motor Mart and not Brandish. We later opened both units as Corks Wine Bar.

The Motor Mart rented the small showroom which was owned by Rank. I believe there was a side foyer entrance to the Gaumont which was converted into three or four shops, a large office above the shops was also built. We took a lease on one of the shops in the late sixties.

Cork's Wine Bar is advertised as about to open in the CET 13th February 1976. There is a good article about it and a very poor picture, not worth posting.

Annewiggy Thanks for alerting me to the advert. I have managed to find it on the internet. I had not realised it was 45 years ago when we opened it, or how cheap the wine was then. See what you mean about the picture.

The car place was Kendalls, next door was 48, Flo Courtier, next was her sister-in-law Annie Riley, standing back was Higgets the sweet people, next not sure about that one, then it was Mancini family (Victors). Brandish`s, which was across the road, used as a temp building for M&S. Flo Courtier's front door was found there after the street was hit.

It really is an excellent image as it shows us the routes into the city before the ring road severed everything.

As it’s been mentioned on here, 1950's capture of Brandish's.

Looking at the building behind the bus I think this was owned by Lee Beesley the electrical contractors.

Similar shots have been seen before, including the one on Fred/Rob's pub site, however this one from Dean Nelson on FB includes a good view of the buildings at the sides of the White Friar pub.

Great pic, Neil. Do you think that is a toilet pan outside the front door?

I was thinking how tempted I was to wander over and find out what the shop was selling, Mick. Though I thought it looked more like a bucket with flowers in it.

Yes, definitely daffodils, Helen.

Another new one surfaces! Whitefriars Lane looking north towards its exit on Gosford Street. I think that's the Mermaid Inn centre right. Late 50s/early 60s?