COWES HERITAGE and
COMMUNITY GROUP
Registered Charity: 1192247
This building started life as Wilton House, home of the Day family. In 1967 International Stores took over from the family firm, they was followed by Gateway then Safeway, Somerfield and finally Sainsbury’s
This captures life in Victorian times. Although the businesses have changed the upper storeys of the buildings are largely unchanged
This family grocers proudly displays its “By Royal Appointment” above the entrance as well as the notice “By Royal Appointment to the late Queen Victoria” in the window. Today it is the Coast Restaurant
For many years the smell of coffee roasting was a feature of this corner of Shooters Hill. Later run by Nimrod Light. Today it is divided between a restaurant and a charity shop.
A butcher’s shop run for many years by the Salero family, Cowes Advertiser took over for a spell and today it is Toio Marine Clothing. 2024
Much of this area was destroyed by bombs on 4th/5th May 1942, including Debenhams photographic shop. The Harbour Lights pub replaced that and today the site holds apartments and an estate agent.
This prominent building at the bottom of Terminus Road was a Milliners and Ladies Tailor owned by Samuel Dawson Caws, Later on this building became the Pier Hotel; not to be confused with the Pier View on the other side of the road. In this picture today’s Pier View is yet to be built, the old Pier Tavern is visible.
Unfortunately this interesting building was demolished & replaced by the functional but uninspiring Nat West building. Today it has been given a further transformation as Pinnacle Suites with The Bird restaurant and Cowes Town Central shopping arcade, below.
Almost unchanged facade hides major changes. Once a yacht chandlers with a large workshop today it has adapted to modern demand, concentrating on yachting clothing. It is still a name known all over the world.
This shows what is now Marks & Spencer’s with advertisers making use of the Coop’s prominent position. It is also the main bus terminus in Cowes.
Run for several years by Rod Hillier who was asked to keep the Beken Name on his shop. It is currently (2024) Eclectica antique shop
Long gone but once was a handy shop for workers waiting for the Floating Bridge to buy their ciggies or sweets.
Once an essential High St shop in every town, where children bought sweets and teenagers the latest records. Later M & Co now Poundland.
Annie & John Hogan ran this popular wet fish shop, taking over from Colin Winsor. At one time it was owned by Mac Fisheries.
With a bakehouse in the rear Baker & Son not only baked bread but also had Tea & Coffee Rooms plus what was advertised as “Noted House Bride Cakes”.
Situated next to the pedestrian entrance to Cowes Yacht Haven this Ironmongers and Yacht Fitters later became a Greengrocers then Tiffin’s Cafe and is now Smoking Lobster Restaurant.
This open fronted Fruit & Veg shop was always busy, later taken over by Harry Bliss who continued the friendly business with a smile. Today it is a butcher’s.
One of the first supermarkets that transformed shopping and led to the demise of many corner shops. This building formerly the Royalty Cinema was demolished and apartments and a therapy centre have replaced it.
For many years this large building housed both the main Cowes Post Office and the Telephone Exchange.
This clothes shop was open until quite recently. now it is Costa Coffee.
It started life as a pub; the George IV, later the Albion, then International, Clarkes TV then a cycle shop
Formerly the Coop Furniture shop in Mill Hill Rd.
Brian Stean left the Beckford Centre and moved to these larger premises. After it closed it was demolished and new housing was built.
Dear & Morgan, 90-91High St; The firm of Dear and Morgan, wholesale & provision merchants was the largest of its kind on the Isle of Wight. It had its own wharf on the Medina where barges were unloaded. It stood where the road widens today.
This old photo from a bygone age shows a wooden building on the Cross Street corner; long gone and replaced by the brick building where Roly’s Fudge shop stands now (2024)
This is where a world renowned fashion house began its life. Redfern’s reputation went far and wide, including Royal patronage.
Just one of the shop shops that have gone, on the left a corner of Youngs the TV & Radio shop can be seen
A Beken’s photo of a now lost village Post Office.
Seen here in 1912, post First World War Henry Joliliffe used part of the building as a cycle shop & taxi service, His mother ran the grocery section. George Snook purchased the property later run by his sons Ron & Peter with a bake house in the rear. Fred & Rita Moore took over the shop, later converting it into the Portland Inn.
Courtesy of Nick Clark this colourful shot captures the busy local independent store in Worseley Rd Gurnard.