Most of this rank of houses, from nos.19-23, are shown on maps in the late 18th century, but were probably built much earlier, as indicated by the mullioned windows and door canopy of no.20. The Chilcott family are recorded as owners from the mid 18th to the mid 19th century. Numbers 24 and 25 were added at the western end in the 1820s, and no.19 rebuilt later, probably in about 1894 when it was taken over by Henry Bence, ‘grocer, confectioner and builder’. These houses appear to have been occupied by the poorer tenants in the early 19th century, when several were converted to grocer shops which continued in this capacity for a very long time, most notably no.23 which was run by the Batten family from at least 1854 up to 1962. Whatley’s Butcher’s shop at no.26, which ran from 1871 to 1940, became a private dwelling in 1965, but indications of the shop window are still visible on the front of the house. The only surviving shop, number 19, after serving as a grocery store for at least 90 years, became an electrical dealers for a while after WWII, but has served as a hairdressing salon since 1967.

A view of Barrett’s Buildings, looking towards the High Street. Visible on the opposite side of the street is Batten’s shop in Chilcott’s Buildings. On the right are the buildings attached to the wall of the Crown Inn.

A view taken in the early 1900s showing Chilcott’s Buildings at the corner of Mill Lane. The muddy condition of the road is clearly visible in this photograph.