Trades People

“Tradespeople of Westbourne 1845-1938” shows how businesses have come and gone during that time. They range from specialists such as wheelwrights and watch repairers to “all-in-one” shops such as Comber’s. In 1895, this latter advertised itself as family grocer, baker, pork butcher, corn and provision merchant, and also offered British wines, patent medicines, Crosse and Blackwell’s specialities, tinned meats and fruits, as well as brooms and brushes.

Everyday life in Westbourne over almost a century is cleverly illustrated by the latest publication from the village’s local history group.

The book was originally compiled by Peter Ellacott in 1981, with a series of tables showing which traders were operating at any given date. (See N0.1 above) It has now been updated by Peter Wilkinson and Peter Barge, with new indexes of individual trades and more than 300 surnames of those who followed them. There are also new illustrations and photos.

TRADES PEOPLE OF WESTBOURNE