No.74 High Street

Shop History

2011 -	Everything Everywhere
2006 - 2010	Thorntons
- Bef. 1996	Freeman, Hardy & Willis
12th June 1953	Freeman Hardy & Willis - Newmarket UDC re-numbering map
Bef. 1949	Freeman, Hardy & Willis re-built
February 18th 1941	Freeman, Hardy & Willis demolished by bomb No.1
1936	Freeman, Hardy & Willis - Newmarket Directory
1926	Freeman, Hardy & Willis Ltd., High Street - Newmarket Street Directory
1925	Freeman, Hardy & Willis Ltd., boot & shoe manufacturers, High Street - Kelly's Directory
1916	Freeman, Hardy & Willis Ltd., boot & shoe manufacturers, High Street - Kelly's Directory
1904	Freeman, Hardy & Willis - Street Market Map
1901	In Occupation - Census
1891	Walter Enoch, Grocer - Census
1883	Makin Leonard Frank & Co., grocers & provision dealers, High Street - Kelly's Directory
1881	Mark Hilton, Grocer - Census
1871	Mark Hilton, Grocer - Census
1861	Mark Hilton, Grocer - Census

Newmarket Journal

[in the upstairs office, entrance from Market Street]

Abt. 1983

Newmarket Journal moves to Rookery House

Marlborough Club

[in the upstairs rooms, entrance from Market Street]

February 18th 1941	Marlborough Club demolished by bomb
1936	Marlborough Club: Waters, Tom (caretaker), Market Street - Nkt.231 - Newmarket Directory
1926	Marlborough Club: Waters, T., Caretaker, Market Street - Newmarket Street Directory
1925	Marlborough Club (F. Field, sec.), Market Street - Nkt.231 - Kelly's Directory
1916	Marlborough Club (Chas. H. Parish, sec.), Market Street - Kelly's Directory
2nd April 1911	Marlborough Club: Mr. T Waters, Caretaker, Market Street - Census

Notes

• Freeman, Hardy & Willis was set up in Leicester in 1875, when Edward Wood sold his boot and shoe manufacturing business, E. Wood & Co., to three of his associates. Soon after the company changed its name and Freeman, Hardy & Willis embarked on an ambitious expansion plan which saw its number of retail outlets increase dramatically - by 1890 it owned more than 100 outlets and by 1914 the number had increased to nearly 500, which included Newmarket's shop.
  
  In 1927 FH & W and its 551 outlets were acquired by its competitor Sears, which traded under the name True Form. In 1953 after a sensational take-over, Charles Clore took control of Sears, and three years later added Manfield and Dolcis to his portfolio. Clore reorganized his footwear interests into the British Shoe Corporation in 1962 and the same year went on to buy Saxone, and Lilley & Skinners.
  
  In 1996 Sears' shoe shops, except Dolcis, were sold to Stylo plc, which decided to consolidate them into its Barratts and PriceLess Shoes brands - Freeman, Hardy & Willis disappeared from our streets.
  
  
• Originally in 1892 & 1896 (Kelly's) Freeman Hardy & Willis' shop had been in Upper Station Road (now Old Station Road), the actual address is not known, but in the 1891 census there was a 'Boot Shop' listed at No.1 Albert Street (now the Moulton Road), which may have been their shop - this is now Ladbrokes Bookmakers on the corner of Old Station Road and the Moulton Road.
  
  In the 1901 census there's still a Manager of a Boot Shop shown, although once again the name of the shop isn't given.  Freeman Hardy & Willis had moved to No.74 High Street sometime before 1904, as it's listed as being there in the Street Market Map of that year.
  
  
• Freeman Hardy & Willis and the Marlborough Club in the rooms above was the site of the first bomb that struck Newmarket on 18th February 1941, demolishing most of the building. William Harvey Doig, Richard Frederick Jennings and Louisa Waters died in the Marlborough Club.
  
  If you compare the 1912 photo with that from c. 1950 below you'll see that the building has completely disappeared.
  
  For more details about about this dark day click on the large picture underneath
  
  

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• Building Changes

 
• Planning Application - F/98/285
  Freeman Hardy Willis 74 High Street, Newmarket
  Application Registered 02-06-1998
  New shopfront as amended by letter and plans received 25.6.98
  
  

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• Many thanks to Peter Norman for his details about the Newmarket Street Market Map 1904 and the photos 'Freeman, Hardy & Willis c.1977', 'Freeman, Hardy & Willis late 1960s', 'Freeman, Hardy & Willis mid 1960s' and 'Freeman, Hardy & Willis c.1960'.
  
  
• Many thanks to Roger Newman for the postcard  'Freeman, Hardy & Willis June 1906'.