Westbury High Street before the shops…

THE history of Westbury High Street has become a hot topic in the town following a story in White Horse News about a former resident whose family owned one of the first shop.

Martin Gray’s parents ran the High Street pharmacy after moving to the town from Manchester and he is compiling information about the High Street.  

Now Westbury Heritage Society has been busy delving into their archives to reveal more about the town centre prior to the High Street being built in early 1960s.

Liz Argent from the Westbury Heritage Society told White Horse News, “Before the High Street development, the site was occupied by a large house built in the early 1800s called Fontainville. It was home to various families over the years, including members of the Jefferies gloving family. 

“It was taken over by the army during the Second World War and used by a number of different units, including Americans prior to D-Day. Temporary huts were erected in the grounds as barracks. After the war some council tenants were housed in the huts by Westbury Urban District Council and the main house fell into disrepair. It was demolished to make way for the High Street. The High Street was built in two main phases. The first was from early 1962 and the second was completed in 1966. Another eight units and Barclays bank were added at the west end at a later date.

“The first shop to open in the High Street in January 1963 was W H Missen who sold electrical goods. When the Keymarkets supermarket opened in August it caused quite a stir as it was the first purpose-built self-service shop in the town! At its height, shops included a shoe shop, clothes shops, two banks, a chemist, a butcher, a baker and at least one newsagent.”

• Martin Gray is keen to hear from anyone else with memories or photos. Please send your recollections to Martin Gray at martingraynz@gmail.com or to WHN at news@ whitehorsenews.co.uk