Pictorial Kesgrave 1994 - Part 3
Contents
Keith Beecroft Copyright 2008
Kesgrave Tyre and Exhaust Centre, formally Brooklands Motors, Graham Avery Garage and filling station. The business used to be run as a small filling station and cycle repairers by a Mr. Quantrill.
B E Sewell Garage, filling station and car sales, located on the Main Road close to the junction with Edmunton Road. The premises used to be occupied by Mann Egerton as a tractor repair depot with Mr. Markham from Martlesham as manager. Until quite recently the Mann Egerton name could be seen painted on the garage roof.
Main Road, photographed at the junction with Edmonton Road looking east towards the Bell Inn. Showing the service road to the Kesgrave Kitchen Cafe, Coop, other shops and bungalows.
Co-op Store, Main Road, fronted by the service road, altered extended and modernised by Ipswich Cooperative Society. Originally the premises consisted of two shops, Stannards Newsagents on the left and a ladies hairdressers on the right.
Kesgrave Kitchen Cafe, Main Road, fronted by the service road to provide parking for light vehicles. Formally Toms Transport Cafe, which at the time had its own separate car and lorry park at the east end of the service road, where a pair of houses now stand. The Premises were previously a Drapers Store.
Primrose Dairy, Main Road, close to the Co-op, now a private residence. From this site Henry Smith and his sister Freda supplied and delivered milk to the local community every day from 1929 to 1971, by Horse drawn cart, initially and then motorised vehicle. Whilst working in Dobbs Lane near the shop Fredas horse collapsed and died.
Mainline Furniture and Antiques, Main Road, at the east end of the service road. Previously Randells Butchers Shop.
Former Post Office Stores, built for that purpose in 1938. Here the local mail was collected, sorted and distributed and counter services carried out until the business was transferred to the Butchers Shop opposite the Main Road School in 1991. Originally run for many years by Peter Woolnough, the business was then taken over by the Bloomfields then the Smiths, changed hands again and was extensively enlarged in 1990 to form a number of self contained flats to rear and an office to the front west corner. The Shop now sells flowers, clothing and stationery.
Kesgrave Fisheries, run by the Ellis family, extended and refurbished in 1992 to include a pizza bar. Previously run by the Bixbys, the Quantrills and prior to that 0. Ketteringham who advertised a fish and chip supper delivered to your door for 6d (pre-decimal)
A further view showing the refurbished frontage and the extension to the rear.
Penzance Road shopping complex, built in the 1950s as part of the 'Cornwall' housing development.
Post Office, on the corner of Oregan Road and Penzance Road - notice the mobile Butchers Shop.
Two further views of the Penzance Road shopping complex taken in 1992 showing the parking problem of the time. Improvements to the parking area and harc surfacing to the forecourt is planned. The Village Store was previously run by the Battle Brothers who had the reputation of being able to supply anything - and they did.
Edmonton Road, Montana Road shopping area, complementing the Penzance Road complex serving the 'Cornwall' and 'Canadian' estates.
Elmers, a family run business, has held the major site since its construction, a general provisions supermarket and hardware store until the 1980s at which time the whole business was devoted to hardware.
R. Johnson Butchers, situated on the south side of the Main Road, west of the High School subway. Before becoming a butchers the premises were used by Bennetts General Stores, frequented by the school children spending their pocket money on confectionery and the like.
A view of the Butchers Shop in 1992 following the addition of the Post Office Counter Service into the shopping area.
Doranda Carpets Shop, located on the north side of the Main Road opposite the Church, originally a Drug Store and Shoe Repair Shop. Mr. Brown expanded his Drug Store to incorporate the whole of the shop but eventually sold to Doranda. A notable feature of the shop is the timber frontage, which was brought from Limmer and Pipers shop on the Cornhill, in Ipswich, when that shop was demolished to make way for the arch construction when Lloyds Avenue was taken through to give access to the Cornhill.
Carpet Cuts, Main Road, adjacent to the Bell Inn, retailing off-cuts from Doranda Carpets. These premises prior to renovation had been the Post Office Stores and then a General Stores with an adjacent Fish & Chip Shop which ceased trading in the late 1950s when the General Stores extended, building wool racks over the old frying range. Recent rebuilding caused amazement with the locals by being reconstructed wall by wall, using the original timber frame and roof members.
161, Main Road, now a private residence, once the premises of Banthorpes and later A.S. Gower coal merchants, who supplied the local community and beyond with fuel from stocks piled high in the backyard. The drive to the left led to E.J. & V.C. Fentons Fruit Farm, now part of the Grange Farm Housing Development.
Property adjacent to the Coal Merchants - is this where teas were served to weary travellers in years gone by? It is thought the Tea Shop was called Bonnies and it is said that H.R.H. The Queen Mother once stopped for refreshments on her way to Southwold.
All Saints Church Hall. Built in 1932 on ground adjacent to the Church graveyard, facing the Main Road. Opened by Mrs. C. Lawrence, wife of the Archdeacon of Suffolk, on July 4th 1932 Built for a total cost of £1711.
It is reported that an old stable, in the grounds of Kesgrave House, once served as the Church Hall prior to the purpose built hall being built in 1932. Is this that building? now a private dwelling close to where Kesgrave House once stood near to the Bell Lane junction with the Main Road.
The Catholic Church, Main Road, photographed prior to the access roundabout to the Grange Farm housing development being constructed and prior to major extension work to the Church itself. The original drive to Grange Farm can be seen to the left of the Church.
The interior of the Church, prior to major extension work, carried out in 1993. A model of the R101 can be seen suspended from the roof.
The Catholic Church of the Holy Family & St. Michael was constructed in 1931, by relatives and friends to the memory of Squadron Leader Michael Rope, who lost his life in the R101 Airship disaster on October 5th 1930 near Beauvais, France.
Compare this views with those above to see the effect of the extension work on the external appearance of the Church.
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