No 5 Mill Lane
 
 

The building was originally a Nonconformist chapel which, according to Maggs, was founded in 1799 by Mr William Samkin. It had seating for 150 worshippers It was sold in 1835 and a new Methodist Church built to replace it in East Green.

1908
Frederick Hill - Cabinet Maker and Undertaker - Workshop (K1908). Frederick Hill has recently moved the business here from No 96 High Street where he had learned his craft as a boy apprentice to Charles Naunton. (Source: Obituary, Halesworth Times Sept 1 1951)


 
Frederick Hill - Cabinet Maker and Undertaker - Workshop
 
Frederick Hill - Cabinet Maker and Undertaker - Workshop
 

1937
Frederick Hill - Cabinet Maker and Undertaker - Workshop (K1937)

1939
Frederick Hill - Cabinet Maker and Undertaker - Workshop (SRB)
For some years Frederick Hill has maintained a miniature circus for the entertainment of tourists. (He advertises it as 'Southwold Zoo'). He has trained his menagerie of small animals and birds to perform elaborate tricks on apparatus which he has built. Sadly, his entire cast of small creatures has to be destroyed at the outbreak of war when the town is evacuated.

The late John Harris spent his holidays in Southwold between the wars. To read an account of his memories of visits to the Frederick Hill Menagerie, click here. With thanks to John Harris's widow, Mary, for allowing us to quote from his memoir.


1949
Frederick Hill
- retires this year but continues to run his menagerie.

 

1951
Frederick Hill - Dies on August 30 aged 86. Read his obituary in the Halesworth Times here

1952
K H H Fiske- Painter and Decorator, takes occupation on 2nd April. Also adverttises himself at No 11 St James Green (SRB, CSP1953)


1960
K H H Fiske- Glazier, Painter and Paper Hanger (SPM1960)


 

1973
Mungo Duncan - Duncan & Son - Builders. Mungo was previously manager of William Denny & Son of Unit 20 St Edmund's Road. He founds Duncan & Son this year, partnered by his son Brian and daughter Pauline.


 
 
 

 

 
 

Now residential

   

Do you have any memories or records about this address? Can you correct any of our information or fill in any of our blanks? If so, please email Barry Tolfree
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SOURCES:
BSD - Bernard Segrave-Daly
BCS = Bygones & Characters of Southwold by Barrett Jenkins
C = Census
CP = Cinema Programme 1958
CSP = Coronation Souvenir Programme 1953
G = Gales Trade Directory
GRO = General Register Office
K = Kelly's Directory
LM = Local memory
M = James Maggs' Southwold Diary 1818-1876
MCG = Methodist Church Guide 1930
NA = National Archives
PP = Pantomime Programme 1933
PLR = Petrol Licence Records

POD = Post Office Directory
PPP = Pier Pavilion Programme 1924, 1926
RCE = Rotary Club Exhibition 1969
SCM = Southwold Catholic Magazine 1923
SCTG = Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide
SER = Southwold Electoral Register
SFP = Southwold Scouts Fete Programme 1947
SG = Southwold Guide
SGCH = Southwold Golf Club Handbook
SLHR = Southwold Local History Recorder 1980s 1990s (Mrs R. McDermot)
SMHS = Southwold Museum & Historical Society

SN = Southwold & Neighbourhood 1903
SPM = Southwold Parish Magazine 1895 -1954
SR = Southwold Recorder 1927, 1932, 1934, 1935
SRB = Southwold Rate Book
SRT = Southwold Railway Timetable 1915
SSAS = Southwold Sea Angling Society Handbook 1909
SST = Southwold Summer Theatre Programmes
SSW = Southwold Shopping Week Programme, June/July 1922
STG = Southwold Town Guide 1930
SVL = Southwold Visitors List 1907, 1930
SVCP = Southwold Victory Celebration Programme 1946
SWCG = Southwold Wesleyan Church Guide

TTR = 'The Town Revisited' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 2000
TTT = ''To The Town' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 1988
W = White’s History, Gazetteer and Directory of Suffolk 1874

 
Note on dates
Unless otherwise stated, dates given do not indicate the years in which the business started or finished but those for which there is firm evidence that it was trading at this address. Sources in brackets; key at bottom of page.


No 5 still exhibits some of the features of its chapel origins.


Advertisement in the Southwold Magazine for a special fund-raising performance at 'Southwold Zoo' in aid of Southwold Cottage Hospital.
Click image to enlarge

Bertie the Bantam, Advertised as 'The only performing bantam cock in the world'.

'Branty' Blowers, the Bellman, was a carpenter who worked for Frederick Hill.
The two pictures above are rom 'Bygones and Local Characters of Southwold' by Barrett Jenkins, reproduced by permission of the author's daughter, Ann Thornton.

1960 advert for Fiske
1960 advertisement in Southwold Magazine. Reproduced courtesy of David Wright