56 High Street
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56 High Street is believed to have been originally constructed in the 16th Century. By the 1750s a butcher John Martin had it as a house and slaughterhouse. It was briefly a tailors, then in 1786 a miller, Joseph Carswell bought it and ran it as a bakers. His widow Jane took it over, then their son Rowe Carswell. In 1827 or 1828 Rowe sold half-price rolls, and the crowds caused chaos in the shop and street. When Rowe died, his son William entered into a partnership with Alfred Smith, and it became a baker’s and confectioner’s[1].
In 1848 it was purchased by Thomas Newman Ward for £600, and sold on to Andrew Amoore, his nephew for £400 plus obligation to repay a mortgage of £600. By 1858 a confectioner, John Fisher had it. In 1872, after he had died, his son John opened “Fisher’s Refreshment Room”[1].
By 1881 it had become the Mitre Hotel under Frederick Spencer Tritton with a confectioners and restaurant on the ground floor. The Mitre had a chequered life, but finally closed in 1930. It tottered on as a café or restaurant throughout the war and into the 1950s. A spell as a second-hand furniture shop followed, “Ye Old Mitre”, then “Mitre Fermor Galleries”, an antique shop[1].
It reopened as the “Mitre restaurant in 1975, then transformed into Briefs Wine Bar. In 1986 it became the business it is today, Porters Wine Bar[1].
Images
- Images
High-Street.-1902
Mitre-High-Street-1920
High-Street-c1928.
Mitre, High Street c1950
