Two photographs showing the exterior of Waylen’s shop at 32 High Street, Warminster, photographed by Danny Howell, on Sunday 21st February 1999.
Miss Vera Waylen and her sister, Mrs. Jean Hunt, were newsagents, tobacconists, and sellers of toys, postcards, sweets and chocolate.
To the left is the Chantry (Dental Surgery). To the right is Jacqueline’s restaurant.
A list of some of the shops and businesses at High Street, Warminster, in December 1998; recorded by Danny Howell:
Left-hand side from Market Place ~
3 High Street. Ciro Cittero. Men’s outfitters.
5 High Street. Twist. Hairdressers.
9 High Street. Gems. Jewellers.
25 High Street. Empty shop
(formerly Haine & Smith, opticians).
27 High Street. The Gallery. Art and prints.
29 High Street. Johnsons. Dry cleaners.
31 High Street. Olivers. Footwear.
33 High Street. Woolworths. Department store.
37 High Street. Farnfield & Nicholls. Solicitors.
45 High Street. H&M Supplies.
Outdoor, Survival and Military goods.
47a High Street. Gypsy Moon Tattoos. Tattoo artist.
47 High Street. Nick’s Shoe Repairs.
49 High Street. Warminster Fish & Fruit.
51 High Street. Corner Cutters. Hairdressers.
Right-hand side from Market Place ~
2 High Street. Dorothy House. Charity shop.
4 High Street. S.L. Corden & Sons.
Ironmonger and hardware.
6 High Street. Gibsons, Chemist.
10 & 12 High Street. Miranda’s. Florist.
14 High Street. Clive Lewis. Insurance Agent.
18 & 20 High Street. Athenaeum Theatre.
Entrance to The Close.
24 High Street. Mantrap. Hairdressers.
26 High Street. M C Sports.
Sports clothing and accessories.
28 High Street. Les Parisiens. French restaurant.
32 High Street. Waylens. Newsagent, confectionery, stationery and toys.
34 High Street. The Chantry Dental Practice.
36 High Street. Wiltshire Carpet Fitters.
38 High Street. Dashwood & Brooke. Bridal wear.
38 High Street. Quartet. Gifts.
48 High Street. Trustee Savings Bank (TSB).
50 High Street. Empty shop
(formerly Doug Carter, butcher).
52 High Street. Empty shop
(formerly used as hairdressing salon).
Saturday 30th August 1997
Notice from Waylens, High Street, Warminster: “We regret to announce that as from 1st September 1997 we shall cease selling daily newspapers and magazines. We shall, however, continue with toys, stationery, confectionery, cigarettes and, of course, the Warminster Journal. We would like to thank all our longstanding newspaper customers for their loyalty over the years.”
From The Warminster Digest, Tuesday 4th February 1997:
Quite often you must have thought – it’s present ideas time again as one of your loved ones reaches another anniversary – what shall I get them this time?
It is the zebra crossing in the High Street that leads to another of Warminster’s ‘hidden’ little treasures that locals know about.
This place to browse is Quartet’s gift shop which is reached by walking up what almost feels like the stairs to go up to the theatre or cinema but in fact leads to proprietors Sheila Toomey or Jane Parsons.
A wide selection of gift ideas catch the idea starting with locally produced handicrafts that greets one in a glass cabinet just before entering the shop proper.
In fact, locally produced goods sit alongside the nationally famous products. Danny Howell’s books about local history sit alongside books about Oscar Wilde, while papier mache ornaments can be found nestling alongside chinaware from further afield.
Everything from stylish clothes through to fountain pens, from children’s toys through to backgammon sets mean that with what is obviously a well thought out layout which gives plenty of room to browse ideas in all sorts of price ranges are there to be had.
“The statue you are looking at is produced by a local craftsman. In fact, all the items in this part of the shop are on display by locals,” explained Sheila Toomey.
The shop also sells on commission basis antique jewellery and china for other people.are
The business card that I picked up describes the shop as selling gifts and collectables.
I was intrigued – how did they get the name Quartet which more normally one would assume was connected to music?
“The business started seven years ago and there were four partners. Two have now retired but we are now so well known as Quartet – the place for quality.”
Wednesday 7th April 1993
Sheila Gibson, the chemist at High Street, Warminster, for the last 21 years, is about to retire. Her final day in the shop will be on Monday 19th April 1993, after which Mr. David Tomlinson will be at the helm.
43 High Street, Warminster. Spacious town centre property with planning permission to convert to four self-contained flats. With parking space. Sale on Wednesday 26th February 1992 by Halifax Property Services, Auction Office, 13 Market Place, Devizes. Telephone 0380 722321.
Friday 27th October 1989
Advertisement ~
Bags O’Style
47 High Street, Warminster
(opposite TSB bank)
now open.
Large selection of luggage, handbags,
purses, wallets, holdalls, briefcases,
fashion jewellery, sheepskin slippers, etc.
Opening hours:
Monday 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Tuesday 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Wednesday 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
Thursday 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Friday 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Saturday 9.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Sunday closed.
Come and see us.
Reg Cundick and Danny Howell in the book The Inns And Taverns Of Warminster, published in November 1987, stated:
The Ship Inn was recorded by both Daniell and Halliday. It was in existence during the early 1700s.
It was situated immediately west of the building known today as Warminster Arts Centre (the former Athenaeum).
The Ship closed in March 1901 and was demolished soon afterwards, allowing the former cul-de-sac of Common Close (now The Close) to join with the High Street, making it a through-way with Portway. The Close was made a one-way street, much later, in July 1943.
The last tenant of The Ship was George Hitchings, and the last owner was Mr. Hicks, a baker and confectioner in business at the High Street. He was known locally as “the midnight baker” on account of the late hour he often returned to his shop after making his deliveries to the villages around Warminster.
When The Ship closed, the licence was not discontinued, because Hicks applied for it to be transferred to him so that he could sell drink from the house next door to his shop. He was granted the licence on condition that he made certain alterations to his property. Hicks said the house would be re-named when such work was completed but it would not be called The Ship.
By February 1903 no alterations had been carried out, and at the annual Brewster Sessions, a Brewery representative said the licence would be relinquished. The magistrates agreed with this decision because the Nag’s Head beerhouse at Portway had applied for a full licence and in consequence there would be no change in the number of licensed houses in the town.
Reg Cundick and Danny Howell in the book The Inns And Taverns Of Warminster, published in November 1987, stated:
The King’s Head
The King’s Head was listed by both Daniell and Halliday. The latter says it was situated next to and above the Angel at the High Street. This means it was west of St. Laurence’s Chapel, where Hodges have a menswear shop today. The building they now trade from was renovated in 1856. At the same time, six old houses which had stood for centuries on the High Street frontage of St. Laurence’s Chapel were demolished. The King’s Head had ceased to operate before 1801, hence no mention of it in the 1801 Survey of Warminster.
Friday 3rd May 1985
An advertisement for Revelation from the Wylye Valley Life, issued No.25, dated Friday 3rd May 1985, showing some prices of the “quality clothing” they offered “at bargain prices.”
