The Shop on the Green, or The Stores
The shop was the end one of a terrace of three houses that stood between the Green and Chapel Lane (or the Alley). They were thought to have been built in the early 19th century. and of clay lump construction.
The buildings still stand but the shop is now just a private home. Over the years there have been many owners or tenants, for much of that time one of its front rooms was used as shop.
Local stories claim the row of 3 cottages were sold for £50 over a pint in the Crown, but no date is given.
1839/40 details from Tithe Apportionments:
Tm 407, cottage & garden -owner & occupier John Pyman . This was the size of 2 cottages as the shop was added later
Tm 408a, cottage & garden -owner John Pyman, occ George Baker. At the end of the Alley, later called Blenco’s
According ro various trade directories between 1840 and 1850 John Pyman was a shop keeper in Thorney Green. In 1851 William Pyman age 43 is a grocer in Thorney Green and in various directories he is named as a shop keeper through to 1874.
1837, this advert is possibly to advertise the recent opening of the shop.
1839/40 details from Tithe Apportionments:
- 407, cottage & garden -owner & occupier John Pyman.
- 408a, cottage & garden -owner John Pyman, occ George Baker. At the end of the Alley, later called Blenco’s
Another early mention that Pyman was keeping a shop is from 1841 when we read: MARRIED. at the Baptist Chapel, Stowmarket, Mr. John Pyman, shopkeeper, of Stowupland, to Mrs. Jane Vince, widow, of the same place.
According to various trade directories between 1840 and 1850 John Pyman was a shop keeper in Thorney Green.
In 1855 following his death the estate was auctioned in 2 lots.
Lot I.—A highly desirable and valuable ESTATE. Advantageously situated at Stowupland, and abutting upon the Queen’s Highway, leading from Stowmarket to Stonham ; CONSISTING of a substantially-erected Farm-House, comprising entrance passage, parlour, kitchen, backhouse, dairy, pantry, and bedrooms, Barn, Stable, and other requisite farming Buildings. This would be Park Farm farmhouse. Also a DOUBLE TENEMENT probably the 2 cottages on the green one of which was the shop.
John Pyman died in 1855 and by then the shop seems to have been taken over by WILLIAM PYMAN
In 1861 William Pyman age 43 maybe a son of John is a grocer here with wife Mary Ann. They are still there in 1871.
June 1876 William Pyman, shopkeeper, Stowupland, was charged, on the information of Mr. Joseph Pawsey, Sanitary Inspector for the Stow Union, with neglecting to comply with an order served upon him to cover up a cesspool and provide a trap for a drain.
In 1881 Wiliam is living with Elijah Mays shopkeeper, the following year, 1882 William Pyman dies aged 79
There then seems some confusion as to whether Abraham (Abram) Diaper took over this shop or whether he had premises along Back Road.
ABRAHAM DIAPER shop in Stowupland between 1881 – 1908. He had previously been at the Pot of Flowers Stowmarket 1864 – 1881.
Bury Free Press 12 Aug 1893: ‘A parrot belonging to Mr. Abraham Diaper, of Stowupland, appeared, in a disturbed state on Thursday afternoon last week. On being taken out of
the cage, in which the bird had been kept for over 18 years, laid an egg, which is about the size of a partridge’s egg. The parrot is extraordinary bird to talk; it has a word to all customers entering Mr Diaper’s shop.’
By the 1920’s when Mrs Box went to London, she let the house and shop to Mr & Mrs James Diaper (apparently not a relative of Abraham) and for a time the shop was closed.
In 1938 The wedding took place at the Congregational Church of Mr. Samuel Jesse Skinner, elder son of Mr and Mrs. Samuel Skinner, of The Stores. Stowupland Green, and Miss Jessie Evelyn Morrison, For seven years the bridegroom has been an active worker at Stowupland Congregational Church in the capacities of hon organist
The shop closed in 1945 but the Skinner’s remained till after Mrs Skinner’s death in 1951 when Mr Skinner sold the property to Mr and Mrs Matthias.
A few years later G.Jackson bought the cottages and gave the end and centre one to his mother and Mr & Mrs Samuel Skinner either became tenants or bought the one with the shop and between the 1920s and 40s the shop became known as Skinner’s.
The young Leslie Brame recalled being told to ‘Run up to the shop and get half-pound of cheese’, this was red cheddar imported from New Zealand. ‘it came to the shop in the form of a squashed sphere, with a good wax rind on it, and it was cut with a special cheese cutter… we took home a wedge-shaped segment…more or less the weight we had asked for’.
Sometimes it was fat and lean pickled pork that Leslie was sent to buy. This was kept ‘in a stone jar of salt water under his counter…and mother would put it into a rabbit pie.’
The shop closed again in 1945 but the Skinner’s remained till after Mrs Skinner’s death in 1951 when Mr Skinner sold the property to Mr and Mrs Matthias.
From the 1950’s Winnie and Ben (John Benjamin) Matthias shared the work of running their shop.
Daughter Pamela married Brian Southgate in 1952, Brian’s father had run a shop in Buxhall and Pamela’s parents set the couple up in a shop on a new site in Buxhall. (Information “Hall of Flagons” by Tony Clayton.)
Ben delivered the grocery orders after working all day at the Stowmarket Iron Foundry whilst his wife took care of the day-to-day running of the shop.
From the 1950’s Winnie and Ben (John Benjamin) Matthias shared the work of running their shop.
Ben delivered the grocery orders after working all day at the Stowmarket Iron Foundry whilst his wife took care of the day-to-day running of the shop.
1965: Matthias sold to the Mann’s.
Read more in A Stowupland General Store, Matthias to Mann.
1965: Matthias sold to the Mann’s.
The shop was reopened by Frank R.D. Mann, mainly as a sweet shop till he retired on 30th September 1981. The house was sold and became a private home.
