Stamford Shop History - 36 High Street

1900 to c1936 Evans - Fruiterer/Florist/Greengrocer
c1937 to c1956 Goddard - Fruiterer & Florist
c1956 to c1970 Co-op Chemists

For more than half of the 20th century, no. 36 High Street housed a Fruiterer/Florist/Greengrocer business owned by one family.

Charles Evans was a "Fruiterer (green)" - a good example of how the distinction between fruiterers and greengrocers can be blurred. He was probably born in Shropshire and it's not known how and why he came to Stamford but he lived at 36 High St from at least 1891 and probably from his marriage to Eliza Hibbins in 1882.

Eliza's family were greengrocers and fruiterers; her father at 2 Horseshoe Lane and her brother later at 44 St Mary's Street.

She was 35 years old when she married Charles, 11 years her junior, shortly after her father's death - perhaps a beneficial marriage on both sides? At that time she was of an age to be considered a spinster but she undoubtedly had experience in the greengrocery and fruiterer's trade.
This suggestion is substantiated by the fact that Eliza's sister, Agnes Hibbins, lived with them from then on. The Evans were ‘Fruiterers and Florists' at No 36 until Charle's death in 1922.

Eliza carried on living there until her death in 1931 and the name "Evans, Fruiterer and Florist" continued longer, until the end of the 1930s when the proprietor was Morley John Goddard.

Charles and Eliza Evans had one daughter, Emma, born in 1883 and she married Morley Goddard at St Michael's Church in 1907.
Morley was a Market Gardener. They started married life at the Clock House, Casterton Road but from at least 1912 they had a Nursery on Tinwell Road and were living at Wyville House. Emma probably continued to assist in her parent's business at 36 High St. In Kelly's Directory of 1926 Morley Goddard is listed as a Nurseyman & Seedsman and also a Fruit Grower.

When the 1939 Register was compiled Emma was managing the Fruit and Florist's shop now owned by her husband, he was working there part-time while their son, Charles Goddard, was assisting his father in the Market Garden.

Wedding of Emma Evans & Morley John Goddard - Charles and Eliza Evans
are probably the couple on the left — Wedding of Emma Evans & Morley John Goddard - Charles and Eliza Evans are probably the couple on the left

The original shop is pictured above and the advert right gives an idea about the products and services offered. Through the 1930s and then again in the 1950s and 60s, houses were added along Tinwell Road and the area of the Nursery decreased.
Roughly speaking the original Nursery covered the plots now occupied by 5 houses to the east of Elmslae House and Wyville was probably behind 82 and 83 Tinwell Road.
Possibly, the Nursery was extended northwards as the houses were built and Charles, who by this time was married and lived at 76 Tinwell Road, may have continued as a Market Gardener. Morley and Emma moved to 63 Queen's Walk and retired from the shop shortly before Morley's death in 1953.

36 High Street

Businesses trading at 36 High Street

C Evans

C Evans

C Evans

Mrs C Evans

Mrs C Evans

Mrs C Evans

C Evans

C Evans

Goddard

Goddard

Peterborough Coop

Peterborough Coop

Joe Coral

Joe Coral

R Bates

Bargain Books