FREDERIC Pearse whose shop was in the upper High Street, was one of the most prolific photographers of Andover, producing a large range of photographic postcards of the town. Although many do not bear his name on the reverse, the style of chalky-white lettering at the base of the card is a sure sign of his work.

This view shows the buildings just across from the Guildhall forecourt with the 1887 Jubilee lamp in the foreground. On the left is the main Post Office, which was in the High Street until replaced by a new building in Bridge Street that opened in 1913. That, sadly, has now closed for all counter business and is now back in the High Street at the rear of newsagents, W H Smith & Son. With recent bank closures as well, and some of that business transferred to the Post Office, there must be doubts as to whether this will be sustainable in the future. This old High Street Post Office now has a re-vamped frontage of pillars, porticoes and pediments. It became a branch of Midland Bank for many years but is now Jennings Racing Ltd.

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Eastern side of the High Street, c.1904 (Image: Frederic Pearse) Next to the Post Office are the offices today of solicitors Barker, Son and Isherwood. The building has a distinctive bowed frontage and iron-railed balcony on the first floor that has changed little since it was built, probably in 1807. When this photograph was taken, the practice was run by John William Smith as solicitors Smith & Son. He had succeeded his father, also John Smith, in 1899, having been taken into partnership just a year before. Living at Weyhill, he drove a pony and trap into Andover each day, stabling the animal in an outbuilding to the rear of the premises. Having in early life been in the Hampshire Carabiniers Yeomanry, he was always known locally as ‘the Major’. Later the practice became Smith and Barker, gradually evolving into the Barker, Son and Isherwood we know today.   

The wide but lower building shielded by the sun canopies was actually two sets of premises. In 1904, the left side was the hairdresser, Albert Watling Barton, while on the right was Fry and Sons, bakers and confectioners. Both businesses were recent set-ups and had succeeded barber and jeweller James Chevis who had occupied both premises. In 1901, aged 72, he sold up after the death of his son, also James, who would otherwise have taken over the family concern. Both Barton and Fry remained in business there until 1931, when F W Woolworth bought the site and re-built the premises. Forty years later they moved across the street and built a much bigger store on the site of Parsons and Hart.

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The rather austere-looking building with shoulder-arched windows was another solicitor’s practice; that of Thomas Lamb whose house was The Elms at the junction of Western and Salisbury Roads. He was succeeded by his son Bruce in 1906 who was to take his own life in 1932. The High Street building was bought by Burton’s the Tailor and the ground floor was completely re-vamped in 1935. Above, the façade remains the same, even today. Black marble slabs either side of the entrance record the Burton makeover in 1935 and although Burton’s have also long gone, the slabs still remain.

Four buildings on four sites, all with different histories, changing with the times in order to meet the demands of successive periods. So, do high streets evolve.

If you are interested in local history, why not join Andover History and Archaeology Society? Details can be found at andoverlocalhistoryarchaeology.uk.