This old photograph, dating from the early 1900s, shows Newman’s Post Office and stores, which was situated at the bottom end of Shepperton High Street (the site is now Lordsbridge House). Local trade directories show that the business was established in the 1890s by Charles Alfred Newman, although by this time it was being run by his son, Charles Clement Newman and his wife Rebecca.
They may well be the couple at the door with their dog. The picture reveals just what a varied business it was. Besides the post office, occupying the two storey building, the store to the right sold confectionery, stationery, glass, china and toys.
Several picture postcards of the area bear the Newman name so it seems they published these too, for sale to the many day trippers who flocked to the riverside. Newman’s were also agents for ‘crested’ china made by W.H. Goss of Stoke-on-Trent, which carried a colourful coat of arms relating to Shepperton and again made popular souvenirs. I have several pieces of this in my collection.
As if all this wasn’t enough, as advertised on the side of the upper storey of the post office, the small lean-to on the left housed a horse and carriage which could be hired out, and also acted as the local taxi to pick people up from the railway station. A fine example of Victorian enterprise!
‘The Little Ships of Dunkirk’ will be the subject of a talk by John Tough, whose family helped organise the boats used in the evacuation, at the next meeting of the Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society. The talk is at 8pm on Tues 17th March at Halliford School, Russell Road Shepperton. All welcome, admission £2 for non-members.