Anemona Sweets
I am extremely grateful to Christine Evans for posting about this business on the Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group. It opened at 1 Station Street in June 2024. According to the shop’s Facebook page, it sells home-made sweets.
PAWS Charity Shop
When I visited in August 2023, it seemed that 1 Station Street was empty. However, it seemed that until relatively recently before that visit, PAWS Charity Support Shop had been based there. They supported a number of animal related-charities. Based on Google images, they appear to have occupied the property since May 2016.
A post on Annesley OC Heritage Extra Facebook page in August 2022 noted, “This was a charity shop and seems not to have been opened since the last ladies left. Paws, helped animals. Anyone know who owns it and if there are plans for it ?“
The Derbyshire and Broadbents
Prior to 2016, in both June 2015 and April 2011, it appears that the property was empty. Before that, in October 2008 and August 2009, the property was occupied by The Derbyshire and Broadbents.
Thomas Booth
In 1941 and 1942, Thomas H Booth, auctioneer and valuer, was based at 1 Station Street.
Rorke and Johnson
In 1912 and 1928, the solicitors Rorke and Jackson were here although, by 1941, they had moved to number 21. Based on an auction advert in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times, Rorke and Jackson were based at 1 Station Street in October 1916.
J-J Spencer, Haigh and Sweet
In the 1980s, the solicitors J-J Spencer, Haigh and Sweet were at 1 Station Street. Based on a 1953 auction advert in the Nottingham Journal, it appears that both T H Booth and J-J Spencer and Son may have occupied 1 Station Street at this time.
Cleaver Thompson
I am grateful to Alwyn Bowskill for the following message, “in the 1990s I purchased a house in Annesley Woodhouse. In those days you could find all you needed to do this on Station Street. Property purchased through estate agents, Walker, Walton & Hanson at No. 34. Mortgage arrangements made at The Halifax Building Society further up the street. Cross the road for the deposit from Lloyds TSB. Down to the solicitors Cleaver & Thompson, then above the shop at No. 1 For the conveyancing.“
Part of what was needed was provided by solicitors Cleaver Thomson based at 1 Station Street. Their letterhead indicates that they had incorporated J-J Spencer, Haigh and Sweet.
Memories of 1 Station Street
In her book(let) “I Also Remember“, Edith Searson noted that a house stood back from the shop at 3 Station Street and that this house was occupied by Ben Miller. He worked at Walker’s factory. He and his wife had seven children and, as they left school, they too worked at the factory. I checked into this a little and it seems that this house was in fact 1 Station Street.
Residents of 1 Station Street
The Booths
According to the 1939 Register, Thomas Booth and his wife Constance lived there. In addition to his work as an auctioneer, he was also a special constable.
The Millers
Benjamin Miller was recorded as living at 1 Station Street in the 1911 and 1921 censuses. His wife Lily Adoisha was there in 1911. Children listed in one or more census included Clarice (b1900/1), Alice (b1901/2), Alfred (b1903/4), Florence Nel(l)y (b1905), Lily (b1906/7), Benjamin (b1908/9) and Charles Ernest (b1911). Sure enough, according to the 1921 census, the five older children were all working at Walker’s factory. In 1901, Benjamin and family were living at 11 Station Street.
The Harrisons
In 1901, two families were living at 1 Station Street. John and Mary Harrison were there with two children, Frederick (b1874) and Annie (b1885), and a niece Mary Ann Esther Borrough (b1864). John was a coal pit banksman and Frederick was a railway signalman. Mary Borrough was an overlooker at a hosiery factory.
The Shaws
The second family living at 1 Station Street in 1901 were Henry William and Alice Juliette Shaw with their son Hugh (b1882). Henry was listed as a railway yard foreman and Hugh as a railway platelayer.
Did William Walker Live at 1 Station Street?
An article, at the time of the demolition of the factory in 1966, noted that William Walker had lived at 1 Station Street. However, Edith Searson, in her booklet “I Also Remember“, notes that he lived in Nottingham and came to work by train every day. Of course, both could be correct if he lived in different places at different times. The 1891 census lists the Walker family as living in Station Street but does not give a number. William is listed there as having been born in 1879. He is living with his parents Sam and Amelia. Sam is listed as a hosiery manufacturer. Perhaps the Walker family lived at 1 Station Street initially and then later moved to Nottingham?