Webster & WebbRecently I wrote about some of the older buildings that still remain today. However I did miss out one which I felt was worthy of an article in itself that, which is mainly referred to as “Webster & Webb. It stands on the corner of Lennox Street and the High street and today is occupied by a number of Estate Agents.
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It was constructed in the mid 1820’s at a time when expansion was taking place throughout this small seaside resort. We will leave it to Gerard Young to describe from his article in February 1959 on “Georgian & Regency Bognor,” “This is just the sort of charming old period shop one would hope to find in a seaside town. It gives character to this end of the High Street and is a relief to the eye after some of the more pretentious efforts of later periods.” I wonder how Gerard would review later constructions in this area? Gerard concluded in this article, “It is pleasant to look at because its proportions are good, it is all in the same scale and has worthwhile composition in that its façade is designed as a single unit. In other words it has the qualities of architecture.” |
It was built by Robert Knapton, a very rich man, who apparently came to the aid of the town council of the time with an occasional loan in the region of £600. Robert Knapman engaged a professional architect who designed a symmetrical building. At this time many architects were studying classical Greek designs, shown in this building with the four Ionic pilasters on the façade and the distinctive decoration spiral decoration at the top. The original building had bow windows and of course the side door and the lettering across the top – LIBRARY - would have made it very distinctive and special at the time. It was at the rear of this 11 roomed building that the library could be viewed .At this time it was possible to buy town guides, train timetables and local souvenirs. | |
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The early library recorded quite a number of distinguished visitors including H.R.H. Princess Augustus, She used the library when she visited her friend Lady Arran. The building became what we would call today ‘a central point’ as it published guidebooks, you could post letters, read books etc. By the late 1830’s Robert Knapton sold the business to Mr. Hounsom, who became the first postmaster between 1830 and 1845 and he also dealt in fancy goods, stationery and watch making. The position of postmaster was taken on by Jeremiah Swan and then John Osborn, thus making the building the main post office from 1830 to 1861. The next stage was the purchase by Mr. Mrs. Oram, who also acquired a printing plant behind the shop in 1871. They sold the business in 1872 to Henry Lovett and thus the story of the Bognor Observer commenced, as shown in a recent article. In 1892 advertising for the Bognor Observer referred to their address as being only No. 61 and 63, but in 1899 it is shown as including No. 65. |
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In one of the town guides for 1912/13 there is an entry stating ‘We invite your inspection of our library and printers and stationers, 61-65 High St.,’ an interesting type of advertising for the Company at that period. We tend to think that an inspection or tour of premises is a modern phenomenon. Looking at the size of the shops today I find it interesting to think that around 1916 No. 65 was used as a Piano store. |
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The building is referred to as No. 61, 63 and 65 High Street, whilst for many years it was run as one business there have been periods when each shop was occupied separately. In 1938 it was purchased by Mr. Mrs. Tout who, with their daughter Margaret, were newly arrived from Norfolk and they had another business, until 1961. No. 61 was run by Mrs. Tout as a glass and china shop, who had a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ with Reynolds not to sell the same makes of china and glass; No. 63 by Mr. Tout as a newspaper and stationers; finally No. 65 was run by Margaret, who joined the business when she left school, as a cards & fancy goods shop. It was in fact one shop and entry to each store was gained by walking through the others. At the end of the 2nd World War there was a general atmosphere of trying to return to normal, and one of the ways was to encourage shop |
owners to repaint their building frontages. The Webster and Webb building did in fact comply and the owners painted it a ‘dignified cream with the shop front in deep blue with well executed lettering,’ according to the local press. The rear of the building was a family garden, and here today we have a Chinese Takeaway shop. The children of Princess Marina went into the shop to buy their comics when they were in the town on holiday. Finally in 1961 at the age of 73 Mr. Tout wished to retire and whilst he had a private buyer, who required planning permission, this was refused and finally the council purchased it for redevelopment of the area. Ultimately this redevelopment never materialised and it was then sold to Mr. Lilleywhite who opened the Kenya Coffee House, which I can clearly remember. |
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| Interestingly the Library which Robert Knapton opened in 1822 remained until it was closed in March 1961. When it was occupied by Webster & Webb it was referred to as a ‘Public Reading Room.’ One advertisement for Webster and Webb advises readers that the Library and Subscription Reading Room is open and the cost for using the library only is 1s. (5p.) for one week for one set of books. A list of newspapers, magazines and weeklies are also listed.
Today the building is still occupied as three separate shops by Norman’s, Mann and Charles Peck Estate Agents. Whilst many of the buildings from an earlier era have long since been demolished it is interesting to see that numerous buildings have survived through many phases of construction and destruction. Trades have altered necessitating in some instances a different type of building. However this structure by Robert Knapton remains in our High Street today and is still well used and providing living accommodation for a number of people. |
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• TELEPHONE 01243 823 820 |
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