70 Years of Gerrards Cross
By local historian, E. Clive Rouse, M.B.E., F.S.A., written in 1982

I have lived in the area since 1910. I have, thus, probably seen more of this aspect of the town than most other residents.

Prior to the opening of the Railway in 1906, it was building in 1904/5, when shopping development started in anticipation, the only shop in the area was Bonsey, the Butcher, on the Common. Immediately after this, de­velopment was rapid, the Post Office moved from "The Old Post Office", opposite the Bull, subsequently named "Flint Cottage" and since demolished by a Garage extension, to the corner opposite the present building, now Halls, the outfitters.

Standing at the Packhorse and looking toward the Railway Bridge, there was nothing but an open field beyond "Huntsmans Hall" cottages bearing a date-stone of 1790 (they were the kennels of the Old Berkely Hunt), until one reached Rayners at the corner of Bulstrode Way. Beyond this, again, were the Railway Cottages and separate Stationmaster's House. Over the bridge, on the other side of the Station Approach were the grounds of Ethorpe House, with gardens and orchards and a holly hedge 12 or 15 feet high. This was the home of General Prior; and at the top of Station Approach were Nutt's Auction Rooms.

There were a few shops in Oak End Way, rather poor property. But later came the Assembly Rooms, susequently Moffitts Showrooms, furnishers and upholsterers. Here also was the Park Creamery, a picturesque thatched building, now demolished and replaced by flats. It is strange that Station Road, at the very centre of the shopping area, was always ill-planned and something of a hotch-potch with Nutt's coal yard, Burgess the builders, and Green's yard, with poor housing at the end until Lovells built their new offices, partly on Marsham Lane. But in Station Road stood a corrugated iron building proudly named The Town Hall. It later became a roller skating rink, then part of the County Garage, itself now defunct. Taylor, the grocer, was one of the early shops here (later Springell, the hair-dresser and now Charles), and it was the great fire there in 1912, when engines had to come 5 miles from Uxbridge, that resulted in the formation of the Gerrards Cross Volunteer Fire Brigade, most of the local traders taking turns at duty.

The sequence of development seems to have been as follows. First a few shops in Oak End Way and Station Road that I have mentioned. Next, the present row between these two roads — Station Parade, and a few shops on the same side beyond the bridge. Then followed the filling in of the Ethorpe grounds, the house having become an Hotel. Here were built shops and flats up to Ethorpe Close and Ethorpe Crescent and including Newman, the Baker's splendid shop and the Cinema and Masonic Hall, designed by Stanley Beard, the Architect.

In 1957/9 came the demolition of the Railway Cottages and their replace­ment by more shops, and then the gradual filling-in of the space between the Packhorse and Buistrode Way. Finally there was some re-building in Oak End Way, and much development throughout Station Road.

One regrets the passing of the individual business and the characters who ran them. There was Wally Cox, nominally a stationer, but who stocked everything and could never find it. He was succeeded by Binder — a great local benefactor and philanthropist. George Tomling ran a music shop. He was an accomplished musician, piano-tuner and organist at St. James's Church. Jewson, the Chemist, wore a frock coat and stiff collar and never stopped talking. Many thought him more than eccentric. But behind it all was a classical scholar of considerable distinction and did a notable translation of the Pastern Letters. He was succeeded by Charles Rayner, a father-figure in his field. One remembers Roff the Greengrocer (the business now in the third generation): Batte, the Fishmonger succeeded by Bott, whose slab is always a picture. I recall Parker who ran the shoe shop: and one must not forget Sidney Bates, the furnisher and upholsterer, whose good taste in fabrics and skill in display made his window always a joy to look into.

Continued on the next page: Local Trading Families