Today in Middleton Street is the spacious Middletons Clothing and footwear store at 21 to 25. It encompasses three former individual properties which have been opened up into the one shop. We will take a look at the different businesses and establishments which made up the row of shops, then how the three premises were merged into one under the ownership of Muriel Bedingfield, followed by the next occupant Jean Gilberts and bring it up to date to Middletons.

In the late 1800s structural work took place and the style of the buildings has altered over the years quite significantly. 

No 21 Middleton Street, first in the row, was the last to become a shop,  although the right hand window of the early photo above could suggest some activity took place there?

George Lane had worked as a butler for solicitors Edward Palmer Clarke and his wife Julia of Vicar Street for many years. He had an outfitters and shoe and boot warehouse in Market Street in 1896. By 1901 he had moved his shop to 21 Middleton Street. After George passed away in the early 1900s, his widow Charlotte continued to keep the shop. By 1925 Walter Lane had taken over the business.

Walter's shop did very well and traded for several decades. Very much a traditional tailors and outfitters, the shop was full of Trilby hats and caps, waist coats, Harris Tweed jackets, flannel trousers, long johns, socks, ties and shoes - in fact anything the well dressed man wore in the 1930s and 1940s.

Walter was born in 1883 and with his wife Mabel in 1911 was living in Kimberley Street, with Walter listed as an outfitters manager, presumably running George's shop for Charlotte.  Once Walter owned the gentlemen's outfitters, he and Mabel moved to Middleton Street, living above and behind the shop. Mabel died in 1948 and Walter moved to a bungalow on Chapel Lane. He died on 13th January 1972. 

It was in a small room behind Walter Lane's shop in 1928 that George Reeve, having completed an apprenticeship, set up his own printing business, with only a case of type, a little machine and a carving knife to cut paper. The printing business grew quickly and he moved to Church Street and later Market Street, with stationery and bookshops being opened too. The shop still remains open today on Damgate corner.

When Walter retired the shop was taken over by Ernie and Minnie Chenery as The Candy Box, a confectionery shop. They originally had a shop in Damgate before moving to Middleton Street and another shop in Wicklewood. They also later opened another Candy Box at 17 Market Place, currently the Marmalade Tree. 

When the Chererys closed the Middleton Street shop around 1970, Muriel Bedingfield acquired the premises and extended her shop at number 23 and 25 into number 21.

The second and middle shop now numbered 23 Middleton Street was in the 1880s and 1890s Robert Bird Alpe's chemist shop. Robert and his wife Mary had a son Frank, who also became a chemist and druggist and joined his father in 

the business. At the turn of the century they moved from Middleton Street to Town Green just over the road to what is now the Needlecraft Haberdashery shop. Robert died in 1906 but the chemists remained on Town Green under Frank for many years and was popular with local residents. 

Frank Alpe also became well known for being a judge and was the public analyst, living in a house close by called Bracondale with its own tennis court.

Back on Middleton Street it seems the chemist shop reverted to being a dwelling, and it was the home of George Taylor the auctioneer, a managing clerk by 1911. Its history is then unclear but is likely it remained a house for a few years, converting 

to a shop again by the time Muriel and George Bedingfield acquired the premises for their own drapery shop in 1939. 

The third and end shop, 25 Middleton Street, was the first house to be converted to a shop and Ephraim Joseph Perfitt jeweller and watchmaker was in situ in the early 1880s. Not only were watches and jewellery sold but also fancy goods like china, glassware and toys. Known as Joseph, his father, also Ephraim Joseph, had another shop in Market Street which he had opened as a young man around 1840.

After Joseph's watch and jewellery shop closed, by 1911 cabinet maker Charles Henry Bird had taken over the premises for his furniture shop with his wife Jessie. They moved further up the road to part of Caius House in 1925, which is now Jarrolds.

After Charles moved out number 25 became a sweet shop owned by Henry and wife Beatrice Neeve in 1939, and they also lived there.

In the post war years Smiths Bakeries became occupants and  in the 1960s Grace Curson ran the bakery. Back in those days each area of town could be self sufficient as they had their own butchers, grocers, drapers and bakers - so you really could shop local. By 1969 Muriel Bedingfield had acquired the shop in addition to her drapery store and sold children's clothing here. The merger of the buildings had begun.

Bedingfields and beyond

Muriel Bedingfield was born on 27th July 1912 to parents  William Henry and Maude Corston. Her father opened a general store in Damgate in 1919 and in the 1920s acquired the property next door and opened a drapery, selling clothing and undergarments. Muriel worked for her father in Damgate at a time when goods like flour, sugar, lard and currants were weighed out and wrapped, which Muriel would do.

Muriel married George Bedingfield in 1938 and opened her own drapery store at 23 Middleton Street, where they were living in 1939. George was a motor engineer and had his own garage on Avenue Road, employing two men. Muriel and George had three sons - George, John and Roger. Both Muriel and George were very keen ballroom dancers and loved attending dances.

Muriel's brother Hubert owned the Town Green Mace shop and brother William opened a shop on Lime Tree Avenue in the early 1970s.

Muriel's shop was highly thought of by both staff and customers. The ladies that worked for her got on well and remember their time there fondly. First Muriel's extension into Smiths bakery on the right was used for children's clothes, notably the Ladybird clothing brand and local school uniforms. When Chenerys closed their sweet shop and Muriel acquired the premises she added a selection of ladies fashions to their range of household linens, wool and underwear.

Muriel decided to retire in February 1982 and sold her business to Ray and Jean Gilbert. At the time, Muriel wrote in her letter to her customers: "I have enjoyed my business life and shall miss it greatly. I have been supported by a loyal and patient staff, and have come to think of them not as employees but as real  friends." Sadly by then George had died in 1971. Muriel passed away in 1992 still living in Wymondham.

Under Ray and Jean Gilbert the shop had some internal alterations and modernisation, new lines added and was named 'Jean Gilberts'. Men's clothing was now sold along with ladieswear, underwear and hosiery, household linens and a large variety of wool and knitting patterns and accessories. Ray has now passed away but Jean still lives in the town.

In 1999 Roger Hare acquired the property and Middletons opened. They soon found their place in Wymondham as a top quality shop for footwear and clothing for men and women, continuing the clothing theme of Walter Lane and Muriel Bedingfield's days. Roger's son Guy and wife Fiona manage  the shop now and with their staff always provide a friendly and knowledgable service.

Middletons is a lovely shop and well worth a look whether you live here or you are visiting Wymondham. It would be nice to think the Lanes, Alpes, Perfitts and Bedingfields are looking down on Middletons with an appreciative smile to their past and the shop today.