This substantial mid-19th century building was constructed as a department store which became known as H J Debney & Sons. The Debney family had a shop here well before this, however. Their ancestors may have been worsted weavers in Norwich during the 16th century.

Robert John started his Southwold retail business in 1816. The capital behind it came from questionable sources... Robert John's father - also Robert - was born at Tunstall in 1748 and married a Sarah Clarke in 1775. Their son was born three years later. The family fortune seems to have been accumulated through Robert Debney Senior's smuggling activities as a member of the notorious 'Sizewell Gap Gang'. He died, allegedly, 'on the job' while attempting to recover smuggled goods. He is buried in Tunstall Churchyard.

1816
Robert John Debney - at the age of 38, founds the Debney trading business. He was born in 1778 and married a London girl, Elizabeth Johnson in 1814. Their first-born son, Henry Johnson, was born a year later.

R J Debney's other business interests include the Southwold Gas Light Company of which he becomes a founding trustee in 1848.

Henry Johnson Debney is a churchwarden and is elected as a Corporation Councillor in 1847 in a year when Southwold Council is in a state of crisis and disarray with insufficient candidates to fill the vacancies. In his diary, James Maggs reports that one individual is nominated as a candidate without his agreement and is forced to campaign in the town urging citizens not to vote for him.

1860
Robert John Debney and his son, H J Debney have been running the business as a partnership. However, in April this year, the partnership is dissolved and Henry Johnson takes over as sole proprietor. (M) His father, R J Debney dies two years later in 1863..

1863
Henry Johnson Debney - Son of the founder. Now aged 48, Henry is married to Harriet (nee Ebsworth) and they have had 11 children.

By now, Debney's is an astonishingly broadly based business. Henry is described as "Grocer and Draper, Silk Mercer (merchant), Wine Agent, Bank Manager, Homes and Insurance Agent". with branches also at 37 High Street (W1874), Stradbroke Road, and at Walberswick. Henry dies in 1890. (Gravestone, St Edmund's Church)

1916
Edward Octavius Debney - younger brother of Henry Johnson Debney, now runs the store single-handedly, HJ now being in his 70s..Edward is married to Emily Hornsby MacArthur who was born in Marah in India.

Edward's business is now described as "Wine and Spirit Merchant, Estate and Insurance Agent" (K1916), a more modest range of services than in the past. His older brother, H J, dies in 1917.

Edward O Debney - Wine and Spirit Merchant, Estate and Insurance Agent

Note: Deed records show that, in 1923, the residential part of the site (then referred to as 9 South Green, was occupied by the two spinster sisters of HJ and EO Debney. Later the property was bought by one W M Burton. It appears that Edward O Debney's business now occupies only a small part of the commercial premises, the main shop and warehouse being shared by The Church of England Temperance Society and the Lowestoft Co-Operative Society Ltd.

1931
Edward O Debney dies this year at the age of 77. It appears that the business continues to trade as 'E O Debney' during the early 30s (K1933)although his 40-year-old son, Rupert MacArthur Debney, has now inherited.

1936
Rupert MacArthur Debney - Wine and Spirit Merchant, Estate and Insurance Agent (K1937). Rupert is the last of the Debneys to carry on the business which is now much contracted and confined to a small unit, 7A, - now a garage.

The main building has been converted into an Hotel "The Homestead Hotel' (Advertisement right) (Names of owners?)

Although Rupert will live until 1971, the Debney business seems to draw to a conclusion with the onset of war when at least part of the building is requisitioned as a NAAFI.

During the 1950s, the ground floor of the old Debney store is regularly used for exhibitions by the Southwold & District Art Group, later to become the Southwold Art Circle.

Early 1960s
Entire building converted to residential and known as 'The Homestead', the name previously used for the Debney residence (9) only.

We are extremely grateful to Christine Miller for sharing with us her extensive genealogical research into the Debney family. Also to Heather Martin, from Adelaide, who is a descendent of Robert-the-Smuggler's brother Richard.