~ Gallery - Shops ~
Temple Street, Lower Gornal
Very few premises remain in Temple Street today, notably remembered would the old bike shop at No.1, Bill's Carpets and The Fountain Inn but apart from the Fountain, all retail has now ceased in the street.
In the early part of the 20th Century many houses in Temple Street had a secondary use for dressmaking, tailoring by the women folk, but the street was and still is, principally dwellings.
The shop at nr.1 was occupied by Whitehouse Cycles since 1970, but even this shop closed around 2008.
Previously this shop was a grocery store.
Joseph Westwood, head teacher at Red Hall School, was resident here in 1893. [ER]
Harry Evans was a grocer at this address in 1911. [Census] and later by his wife Mini and was still trading here into the 1940s.
The conversion of the old bike shop into a private dwelling was featured in the BBC TV series "Homes Under The Hammer" in 2018.
The origins of the street name is uncertain, a temple could have existed here at some time in the past, could this have been a Masonic or Salvation Army temple?
The following businesses were trading in Temple Street in 1912. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
14. Harry George Marsh, painter.
William Nock, beer retailer. (Fountain Inn)
John Smith, draper.
Caroline Louisa Taylor, pawnbroker.
Thomas Worton, draper.
The following businesses were trading in Temple Street in 1916. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
Harry Evans, grocer.
Lower Gornal Unionist Working Men's Club (William Wise, sec.).
Miss Jennie Smith, draper.
George Thomas Greenway [sic], boot maker.
The following businesses were trading in Temple Street in 1921. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
Harry Evans, grocer.
2. Major Jones, insurance agent.
Lower Gornal Unionist Working Mens Club, (William Wise sec.)
Jennie Smith (Miss), draper.
George Thomas Greenaway, boot maker.
The following businesses were trading in Temple Street in 1924. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
Harry Evans, grocer.
2. Major Jones, insurance agent.
12. Edward Jones, newsagent.
Major Jones, corn dealer.
Lower Gornal Unionist Working Mens Club (William Wise sec.).
Jennie Smith (Miss), draper.
George Thomas Greenaway, boot maker.
The following businesses were trading in Temple Street in 1928. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
Harry Evans, grocer.
2. Major Jones, insurance agent & Major Jones Jnr., corn dealer.
12. Edward Jones, newsagent.
20a. Jennie Smith (Miss), draper.
George Thomas Greenaway, boot maker.
The following businesses were trading in Temple Street in 1936. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
[1] Harry Evans, grocer.
2. Major Jones, insurance agent.
12. Edward Jones, newsagent.
16. William Cox, boot repairer.
18. Arthur William Parrett, dentist.
20a. Jennie Smith (Miss), shopkeeper.
1939 Florence Smith, shop-keeper (umbrella) [Register]

Henry Joseph Gillen, physician & surgeon.
The following businesses were trading in Temple Street in 1940. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1. Harry Evans, grocer.
11. Frederick Sansome, hairdresser.
12. Edward Jones, newsagent, (and Harry Jones, newsagent) [1939 Register].
16. William Cox, boot repairer, (shoe maker & repairer) [1939 Register].
20a. Jennie Smith (Miss), shopkeeper. (Florence Smith, shop-keeper (umbrella). [1939 Register])
Shops trading in the 1950s-1960s...
1. J. & J. Compson, grocery and provisions.
12. F.T.Sansome, gentlemen's hairdresser (est. 30 years in 1963).
Shops trading recent...
12. 2006: J.B. Hicking, Insurance Consultant.
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