The circle of books....

Many will remember that 142 High Street, Tonbridge, where Mr. Books Bookshop is now, as Angelique ladies outfitter. Not long ago though, as I've discovered it was Featherstone's a bookshop, stationer and toy shop. In the 1950 Kelly's Directory for the Tonbridge area it was another bookseller called John Greig and the shop went by that name. Next door was Clarke and Coleman chemists (so no change at all there) and the other side, number 144, now the Daily Rice Chinese takeaway was Florence Hubbard who, according to my Kelly's Directory sold "gowns" which I assume to be short for coats and jackets also. At the risk of sounding like Michael Portillo, with his Bradshaw's Guide, I do love all this. It's fascinating to know that I can trace the owners of the businesses where Mr. Books trades back to at least the 1930s and that for most of the time since then the shop has been a booksellers....