Shops and shopping in the middle years of the nineteenth century

By the 1850s, Wolverhampton had a large number and wide variety of shops around the town centre. The shops supplied local inhabitants with all of their daily needs. Most of the local population lived within walking distance of the shops, only the wealthier members of society had their own transport, or could afford to use public transport, such as it was at the time. In 1851 Wolverhampton’s population was 50,000.

There was a wide variety of products on sale in the shops, thanks to improvements in the roads, made by the turnpike trusts, relatively cheap transportation on the canals and the coming of the railways. The first local railway station opened at Wednesfield Heath in July 1837, followed by a temporary station built by the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Company in 1849, the High Level Station, originally Queen Street Station, in 1852 and Wolverhampton Low Level in 1854.

The town centre had changed little in many years, large scale demolition of slum properties, and the building of new streets was still a few years away. Gas lighting had been installed in the streets, but the local water supply was still inadequate and a large number of people lived in unsanitary conditions in the many slums. There was a second cholera epidemic in 1849. Recent buildings included the Theatre Royal in Cleveland Road, which opened in 1845. In 1846 a new Police Station and Law Offices opened in Garrick Street and the South Staffordshire General Hospital opened in Cleveland Road in 1849. In the same year, the new Stafford Road Gas Works were completed and the Subscription Baths opened. In 1850, the Orphan Asylum opened in Queen Street and the Exchange building at the end of Exchange Street was built between 1850 and 1853.


Part of the 1842 Tithe Map showing the town centre.

Wolverhampton received its Charter of Incorporation in March 1848, which led to the first council elections in May of that year. The new council’s thoughts soon turned to the building of a Market Hall, on land opposite the Town Hall, alongside North Street. It opened in March 1853.

For many years the outdoor market had been held at High Green. There had been constant conflict between the market traders and the Lord of the Deanery Manor who had the right to charge market tolls. On market days the whole area around High Green was cluttered with goods on display and roads were jammed with hundreds of horses and cattle, until the opening of the cattle market in 1848. The new council purchased the market tolls in readiness for the building of the new market hall and the outdoor traders moved to the adjacent market patch.


The view across High Green in the mid 1850s, which must be one of the earliest photos taken in the town centre.

High Green     Based on information from William White's 1851 History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire.
Chemists

Jones, & Campion, Fleeming and Seyde, William Wootton

Hat Shops

Samuel Morris, William Oldacre, Sidney and Dickenson

Grocer and Tea dealers

Francis Baker, Charles Solomon Clarke, Dakin and Company, Henry Plant
Charles Smith,

Butcher Thomas and Samuel Jones
Boot and Shoe Maker Sidney & Dickenson
Book Shop and Stationer George Price
Ginger Beer maker Fleeming & Seyde
Public Houses

The Hop Pole, John Steward. The Swan Hotel, Thomas Smith,

Linen & Woollen Drapers

George Cox, Charles Dunckley, Lovatt and Brook, Sidney and Dickenson

Tailors

Charles Dunckley, Sidney and Dickenson

Tobacconist Clara Freeth
Spectacle Frame Maker A. Self and Company
Wine & Spirit Merchants

John Cholditch, Charles Solomon Clarke, George Cope, John Jones, William Jones

John Cholditch's shop was on the corner of Lich Gates and Lichfield Street, where Barclays Bank now stands.

It can be seen on the right hand side of the photograph above and on the photograph below.

From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


John Cholditch's shop.

One of John Cholditch's neighbours in Lich Gates was Francis Baker.

From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.

 


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


Looking up Cheapside, with the Market building on the left and the Exchange in front of the church.

Lichfield Street  Based on information from William White's 1851 History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire.
Café Francis Pyatt
Chemist John Hamp
Hairdresser James Horton
Grocer and Tea dealers

William Maddock, Samuel Underhill

Butchers

Joseph Banks, Elizabeth Brawn, Joseph Cotton, John Russell

Boot and Shoe Makers

James Cullett, Thomas Finlow, Thomas Hadkinson, Thomas Henshaw, Edward Murry James Pack, Martin Pack

Baker and Flour dealer

William Taylor, Thomas Henry Weeks

Fishmonger George Bailey
Fruiterer Mary Green
Furniture Dealers Joseph Taylor, Henry Yates
Glass and China dealer John Cunningham
Public Houses

The Noahs Ark, Charles Russell. The White Rose, Joseph Hampton

Beerhouses

Esther Maria Hill, Charles Mason, Francis Pyatt

Milliners

Mary Ann Finlow, Jane Kinsey

Maltster Samuel Underhill
Tobacconist Oliver McGregor
Shopkeeper William Palmer
Tailors

William G. Gabb, Sarah Kinsey

Watch & Clock Makers

William Taylor

Wine & Spirit Merchants

James Lloyd, Samuel Underhil


A familiar photograph of William Wilcox's shop at 16 Lichfield Street. William Wilcox was a watch and clock maker who moved into the shop in 1860. Previously the shop was occupied by William Taylor, also a watch and clock maker. From an old postcard. See the advert below.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.

Cock Street, later Victoria Street  Based on information from William White's 1851 History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire.
Cutlery Dealer John E. Fereday
Confectioner Henry Hill
Cheese shop Joseph Harwick
Chemists Mander, Weaver and Company, Thomas Banks
Haberdasher Ann Marsh
Grocer and Tea dealers

William Alderton, Harwick and Faulkner, William Nendick and Company, Richard Sale
James Taylor, William Ward, Thomas York

Butcher Joseph Butler
Boot and Shoe Makers

William Clifford, John Hill, Edward Kenderdine, James Walker

Baker and Flour dealer James Taylor
Fishmonger J. W. Jones
Glass and China dealer James Tunnicliff
Public Houses

The Giffard Arms, Mary Ann D'Arcy. The Golden Cup, Henry Plant
The Hand and Bottle, William Norris. The New Hotel, John Shaw Walker
The Spread Eagle, John Miller. The Star & Garter, Julia Law

Milliners

Mrs. Henry Smith, William Swales

Linen & Woollen Drapers

Thomas Cope, John Critchley, Michael Henry Robinson

Maltsters

Thomas Banks, William Walker, Thomas York

Physician Peter Bell
Tailor Michael Henry Robinson
Straw Hat Maker William Swales
Watch and Clock Maker Leonard Frederick
Wine & Spirit Merchants

James Harper, Henry Plant


The view from the bottom of Victoria Street, looking into Worcester Street in 1876. The half-timbered building, the Old Barrel Inn, was demolished a few years later when Worcester Street was redeveloped. The pub moved to the bottom of Bell Street at the junction of Victoria Street. From an old postcard.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.

Darlington Street  Based on information from William White's 1851 History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire.
Confectioner Benjamin Bayliss
Cheese shop Joseph Harwick
Chemists

Richard Fowke, William Sanders

Haberdashers

William Adams, Miss Cliff, Haberdasher, Mary Harrington

Hat Shops

William Adams, William Henry Laxton, Joseph Lloyd, Frederick William Neale

Grocer and Tea dealers

William Baker, Harwick and Faulkner

Butcher Thomas Walker
Boot and Shoe Maker Josiah Betts
Book Shop, Printer and Stationer Joseph Bridgen
Ginger Beer maker William Sanders
Public House The Darlington Arms, Joseph Lowe
Beerhouse Evans Kirk
Milliners

Hannah Evans, Mary Harrington, Elizabeth Jeavons

Linen & Woollen Drapers

William Adams, Samuel Cliffe and Company, Edward Collett,

Maltsters

William Mortiboy, George Northwood

Optician Edward Adey
Music shop James Griffiths
Physician Robert Little
Tailors

William Adams, Edward Collett, Samuel Harris, Evans Kirk, William Henry Laxton
Joseph Lloyd

Spectacle Frame Maker Edward Adey
Surgeon John Talbot Cartwright
Straw Hat Maker Elizabeth Jeavons
Watch and Clock Maker William Hay


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


From Melville & Company's 1851 Wolverhampton Directory.


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