Bures Shops in the late 1920's and 193O's

As far as I can recall Bures had 25 shops during this period.
Starting on the Essex side was Mr Webber general stores, later taken over by his son in law Mr Woods, this eventually became the Three Ways Cafe' and later an antique shop. At the back of the shop was a bakery, I think it sold bread only and was run by Mr Aldous who lived down Nayland Road.

Next to this was Mr Barker's bread and cake shop in later years it was taken over by Mr Joe Hume. On Saturdays we used to take a fruit cake to the shop and he used to bake it for a penny (Id), several people used to do this.

Mr Jesse Newman's leather shop was next and then Miss Kate Newman's general shop (until recently Mr Reg Warden's butcher's shop). I used to get my dad half an ounce of tobacco and she would take off one strand at a time to get the correct weight.

Then there was Miss Hume's greengrocery shop although she did sell other things as well (she was our choir mistress and organist for many years), it was later taken over by Miss Hartley and I understand it is the only shop left in the village which is very sad.

Further along was Mrs Clampin's wet fish shop; it was in part of the house where the Warden family later lived, she was known to us as 'Mrs Fishy Clampin.

On Essex Knowle was Mr Meggs butchers With house attached, it was empty by 1938 and I'm sure we went there to first look at gas masks and try them on.

Over on the Suffolk side was Mr Bay's paper and confectionery shop, always a lovely smell when you went in, later it was run by Mr Mansfield for many years.

Just past there was a cobblers shop (incorporated/converted? into a house many years ago), I think his name was Mr Death and he was related to the Death family who kept the Three Horse Shoes.

Mr Mynott's high-class grocery store was on the corner of Bridge Street and High Street, Miss Ruth Mynott had the upstairs where she sold clothes including underwear, gloves, hosiery and all dressmaking requirements. When we were school children Mr Mynott always gave us an orange at Christmas and I think there was also a bran tub.

Turning into the High Street we came to Mrs Burfit's? brawn shop which was in the front room of her house I think she made the brawn herself.

Next came Mr Hume's greengrocers and on the corner of the Croft was Mrs Chinery's, she sold cottons, buttons and aprons of all sorts that all housewives wore in those days. It was very dark and dingy and a bit frightening when we were children.

Mr Butler's bakery was /on the opposite side of the Croft, they sold fancy; cakes as well as bread. They had a daughter Queenie and I think she used to play the piano for the silent films at one of the cinemas in Colchester.

Turning into the Croft was Mr Foreman's hardware shop this was opposite the `Free Church', which is now a house.

Further up the High Street was another hardware shop run by Mr Frost.

Coming back down the other side of the High Street was the chemist shop ( now a house) owned by Wardmans of Sudbury and run by the chemist a Mr Wilderspin and later by Mr Ronnie Perkins, a man greatly liked by all.

We then arrive at Gordon Drake the high class butcher, there will never be any sausages to beat theirs they were super and known all around the area.

The next was Mr Lewty's shoe shop - shoes 5/- (25p) a pair, the shop later became Arthur Beaumont's radio shop.

Next to Chambers bus garage was the saddlers shop, I think it belonged to Chambers. I well remember when the bus depot burnt down and seeing old Mr Chambers there, he always reminded me of Father Christmas with his beard, the fire was a shock to us all.

Then came Mr Welham's bicycle shop and on the corner turning into Church Square was Mr Lunnis's sweet shop. The Post Office and General Store was opposite owned by Mr Christmas and this later became Braybrookes.

The last shop has to be Sammy Seals at the foot of the bridge, previously it had been Mr Games.

There were also two blacksmiths, the one in the grounds of the Three Horse Shoes' run by Mr `Rocker' Cansdale and on the Essex side, almost opposite the 'Eight Bells', Mr Watson was the blacksmith.

The policemen at this time were, Mr Digby on the Suffolk side and he lived at the bottom end of St Edmunds Lane and Mr Lintott on the Essex side who lived in the police house in Water Lane this was the last semi-detached house next to the thatched cottage in the lane.
When we were children the thatched cottage was three dwellings the occupants being: Mr & Mrs Mansfield, Mr & Mrs Salmon and Mr & Mrs Everitt. As you can see it was drastically altered in the 1930's.
I think the shops stayed open until 9 'o' clock on Friday and Saturday nights and this was a very busy time.

From diary notes of Mrs C DeLaine (dec) kindly donated by Jenny DeLaine