Shops and Businesses

In Victorian times Gringley was fairly self sufficient.  The 1864 Business Directory incidates there were a variety of shops and businesses.  Gringley even had its own policeman, J. Earp (no relation).  Gradually over time shops closed and by the early 1970s only Cross Hill Stores and the Post Office next to the Blue Bell on the High Street remained.  

Cross Hill, Pre 1918. 
Whaley's bakers (now Acorn House) to the left of the cart, see the shop sign on the end wall,
and the general stores behind the cart (now Trust Cottage)
Cross Hill Stores or 'Blakes' was run by Kelvin Law for many years. The last person to run ithe shop was Terry Forster before he
bought the Blue Bell, c1970s.  (Thanks to Kath Staves for this information, May 2020)

 1935, Jubilee Celebrations.   Bill Hunter outside Masons Butchers, High Street, (opposite the church)

1900s.  Gringley Central Stores (now Ridgewood House) 
Known as Dixons, then Blackwells - closed in 1963
 

Needham's butcher's shop, and to the right the cobblers run by Mr Walton  (the right hand part of what is now Sunnyside Cottage)
 

  Saddlers Shop, High Street, opposite Ravenhill.   (Saddlers Cottage to the left of the shop)

2020

Gringley Surgery.  During 1930's/1940s there was a practice at the property now known as The Secret Garden (2020).  The surgery then moved during 1970s/1980s to the High Street (above photo).  New premises were subsequently built on Leys Lane.

Rennisons, cycle repairs.  High Street (next to Montem House)

Rennisons Garage more recently c.1980s (Buttercross Cottage now stands on the site)  

 
Receipt for fuel from Rennisons Garage, 1985

Rood House, just visible to the right of the photograph, once upon a time, a 'hardware' store selling anything made of tin

 The Post Office C1930s (now North/South Beeches), High Street  

In more recent times a Post Office operated from the property next door to the Blue Bell.  Mrs Marshall ran this business for many years, retirning in 1987. June Riley then took over the business which she ran for almost 15 years.  

In 1972/73 Anne Rhoades produced a wonderful archive of information for a school project. The pages below show an extract from the section headed 'Shops in Gringley'. 

  H J Hunter & Sons, Building Contractors, Joiners and Undertakers, Gosforth House, High Street.  'The Coppers' is to the left of Gosforth House opposite Horsewells Street. 

The Police House(s)

Gringley has had two police houses at different times, one on the High Street, appropriately named 'The Coppers', opposite Horsewells Street.  The other at the very far end of the High Street, (on the opposite side of the road to Beacon House).  The 'Police' sign is still at the front of this property.  

We were lucky to be contacted by Brian Horsely whose grandfather, George Weston was Police Sergeant at Gringley between the two World Wars, 1912-1935.  George was born in 1869 and left school to work as a kitchenhand at Belvoir Castle.  At 18 he decided to join the police force. He served as a Constable at Everton amongst other places and was eventually promoted to Sergeant and was stationed at the police house on the High Street.  He was responsible for covering 10-12 parishes on his bicycle.  Brian recounted a family story of his grandfather arresting a deserter towards the end of WW1.  He handcuffed the prisoner to the mangle whilst he went off to borrow a pony and trap to take him to the cells in Retford.  Sergeant Weston retired after 35 years of service and the family moved to West Wells.   

Brian also mentions his father, William Henry Hewitt (Bill) Horsley.  He explains how his father renovated Bank End.  In 1984 when his parents passed away the propery was sold. 

Our grateful thanks to Brian Horsley in Australia for sharing this information.