Just why was the crossroads in Market Lavington sometimes known as Lamb Corner? That’s what this photo has been captioned.
This 1960s photo at Market Lavington Museum is captioned 'Lamb Corner'
Let’s start at the extreme left where we see the very edge of a building on High Street (the hairdressers in 2010)
The end of the sign saying this was a motorcycle shop
It says ‘YCLE’ on it. Where people now sit to have their hair coiffured was once (in the 1960s) a motorcycle showroom.
Across White Street, Mr Hussey had his furniture emporium.
Ray Hussey's furniture shop
Next door to Mr Hussey’s shop were the premises of the man who took the photograph, Peter Francis.
Peter Francis's Photographic Shop
There’s also a reminder there of the school sign of the era – the smart looking boy and girl with the satchels swinging over shoulders. This photo was taken when what is now ‘The Old School’ was just the school.
Moving on we come to a grocery store.
A much changed building which has been many things over the years
This building is one which has regularly changed use and appearance. These days it is a private home, but people might have known it as Mr Dempsey’s shop, The Spar, or The Vivo.
The final building shown on the south side of Church Street was called Lucinda. In earlier days it had been Mr Pike’s butcher’s shop and after extensive rebuilding it is now a house.
Lucindas had once been a butcher's shop and is now a private house.
Across on the other side of Church Street we can see just the corner of one building.
A part of the former pub, The Volunteer
At the time of the photo this would have been one of four pubs in the village – The Volunteer Arms. Back in the nineteenth century it had been called The Angel.
So why is the corner called Lamb Corner? It is believed that there was once a pub called ‘The Lamb’. Can you help with more information?
Tags: Market Lavington, Museum, photograph, pub, Shop
Market Lavington Museum 
November 15, 2010 at 5:39 pm |
I see that suspended streetlight is still there at the cross roads.
November 15, 2010 at 5:42 pm |
Thanks Jim.
Yes, it had quite a long life then.
November 15, 2010 at 7:38 pm |
From what I remember from my father Cliff where the corner is wider and right on the corner was the Lamb Pub. I of course cannot remember it.
My mother Vi worked for Ray Hussey in his furniture shop.
The grocery shop was also owned at one time by Mr and Mrs Prouse.
A Mr Kyte had a TV shop next to Peter Francis.
November 16, 2010 at 7:35 pm |
Just one more comment on this subject. The motor cycle shop on the corner was run by a man called Bonny Good. He lived in Devizes as i remember, he had two arms as normal but through a motor accident one hung limp by his side. He drove his car using just one hand to change gear (not automatic) and steer the car. I wonder if they would let him drive today.