This page was first created in 2002 and then was updated in 2008.  Some of the commentary touches on changes between 1977 when an American friend went home and 2002 and some on changes between 2002 and 2009.

Where The Oaks office building is now (right-hand picture), the Ministry of Pensions and Social Security had an office, and next to it, Woodward and Stalder sold sports goods.

The next building, Madeley House, was used by Hetherington solicitors for many years, but the present occupants keep quiet about their identity.

Marks & Spencer Simply Food opened in 2006 and is very popular with the local population.  The previous tenants sold BMW's here, but the site has been through many hands carrying out some function in the motor trade, usually including selling petrol as well.  Gordon White was the tenant until some date in the 1980's.

 
Pilgrim House, with St. Andrew's United Reformed Church upstairs, was built on the site of the previous URC, its large car park and the hall behind the car park.  These shops are therefore all fairly recent, having been first occupied in the early 1980's.  Most of the seven units are still in the original trade although not under the original owners.  Trades that have come and gone include a kitchen design and fitting shop, a children's shoe shop, and a bicycle shop.  Today's businesses are, from right to left, Gerrards Cross Bookshop, St. Giles Furniture (arrived 2009), Vision ladies hairdressing, Lisa La Moda (also 2009), Davies Furnishing and Fego cafe.

The new cafe attracts people to its outside seating on a sunny afternoon.  The Post Office looks much the same on the outside, but the amount of space inside has been reduced.  It is now operated by a private business which includes sales of stationery and cards, together with a photo laboratory.

The first shop across Marsham Way is now the office of Brampton, Estate Agents.  Twenty five years ago, it housed Halls, mens' outfitters.  The little shop next in the parade sells smart lady's fashions but it is not clear what went on in the premises back in 1975.  Next to that used to be Bott's the fishmonger - a much-loved shop but not loved enough for the response to the poster "use us or lose us!" to have enough effect to save the business.  It is now a men's outfitters.  At the extreme left is Cardella, selling cards, gifts and chocolates, but this was one of the two units occupied twenty five years ago by Percivall's, electrical appliances.

John Morrish and then Anthony Badger sold jewelry here until Ballare took over. This unit was the other half of Percivall's.  Cullen's was a good quality grocers, specialising in wines and cheeses in its later days, but in the mid '80s the present restaurant, Santucci, took over. 

The next two units used to be occupied by Bruce and Lumb, furnishers, but later Woolwich Building Society occupied the first one which has been empty for quite a while now.. The other half of Bruce and Lumb is now a little place selling gifts and jewelry, although it has had a number of incarnations since Bruce & Lumb left. 

The white fronted unit houses Haarts, yet another Estate Agent, but it has been in that business before, being A C Frost in 1975.  Frosts the estate agent disappeared completely for a few years, but has re-emerged as The Frost Partnership in the single story unit next to where A C Frost used to be.  That unit was Eleanor's, ladies and children's wear followed by Accent in the same line of business..
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The last shop in this parade before the railway bridge is now Gascoigne-Pees, Estate Agents.  Previously it was occupied by Hetheringtons which a few years ago  gloried under the name of Hetherington, Swannell & Secrett.

Over the parapet of the railway bridge is the deep cutting which is destined to be filled in, with a railway tunnel incorporated, in order that Tesco can build a supermarket on it.  The Planning Application that was eventually successful was fiercely opposed by the great majority of the local population, but to no avail.
There is a lot more about this project on another part of this site.

This is an artist's impression of the Tesco store over the railway cutting, planned to open in 2005, but still awaited.  Hampton's (see below) shows on the left, and Gascoigne-Pees (see previous picture) but with its colour changed appears on the right,
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North of the railway bridge has seen substantial changes to the scenery.  Hamptons used to be Giddy and Giddy, which is not much of a change, but the new building to the left replaces the County Garage which had over-the-pavement petrol pumps, a way through to the rear premises and some retail space.  What we have now is the Tea Tree restaurant which also sells gifts. 

The Subway snack bar is popular with the younger generation and replaces the premises of David Pitfield, a picture framer.  For some of the time since County Garage went, these two shops were Cheyne ladies and mens wear. All these premises are now Guidelines, ladies fashions.   The unit on the right was part of County Garage, and the building at the end at the junction with Station Road for a period was occupied by Leisure Crafts.

After crossing Station Road, we come to the National Westminster Bank, occupying the premises formerly used by one its constituent parts, Westminster Bank.  Many changes inside, but largely unchanged outside.  Next door is Katie's Confections.  These premises have housed bakers all along, under two or three names, but the one that sticks in mind from earlier days is Sturleys.

Cargo Home Shop was preceded by several businesses since Sainsbury's left.  Ones that come to mind are a dress shop and a steak restaurant.  What is extraordinary is that the shop front is still pure Sainsbury's!  

A little dress shop, Elna's, occupied this unit which now houses D & A, opticians.  It had been a dress shop under one name or another for a long time. The estate agent in this building  follows others over recent years, but it was Windsor Shoes before that, specialising, if I remember correctly, in childrens shoes - they even had an X-ray machine!
Rodgers Partnership used to be Worboys, a well known local butcher.  In recent years, Health & Beauty Pharmacy has expanded into this unit.  Its original premises, also seen on the next picture, was occupied by Savory & Moore, a Bond Street chemist.

Barnardos charity shop has been here for well over ten years, but before that, it was Jenny Lind, ladies fashions.  It is called Wine Rack now, but the next unit has been Stowells and Threshers before that.  Certainly up to 1977 and maybe later, S.T.S Home Decor occupied the corner shop before the business moved along Oak End Way.  S.T.S was followed by Ducostat which started by offering stationery including office requirements, but has metamorphosed into a shop selling gifts of many descriptions.

Finally, we come the old Barclays Bank building and a handsome one it is.  It is now used by W R Beck, property management.

I do hope you found the tour informative.  Would you like to look at the west side now?

You just might want to go back to the introductory page!

Photos © Guy Gorton