Thursday 5 November 2015

No. 26 Market Place, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

No. 26 Market Place (a grade II listed building) has been the home of Millets, an outdoor clothing and equipment store (previously situated at 35 Bucklesbury) since 2002.

The building from 1893-1901 was a grocers and Italian warehouse, my the name of MELIA & CO.   And from 1909-1933 it was LIPTON LTD - also a grocers.

Below both windows of the shop are the words 'The Book House', and the building was indeed 'The Book House' (a bookshop) between the years 1959-1965.   In 1965 Mr Eric T Moore bought 'The Book House' from Mr Donne-Smith, along with Mr Willman's picture framing business.  The shop was moved to 24 Bridge Street and renamed Eric T Moore's Book Shop. It is still there in 2015 under different ownership.