James Moore’s Grocery Shop

 

Jimmy Moore's grocery shop in the High Street.

Wivenhoe Memories Collection

 

Wivenhoe Memories Collection

 

Wivenhoe Memories Collection

High Street Trail index – click here

Jimmy Moore and his brother Horace “Horry” owned this shop in 1918 and was the only shop of the time in Wivenhoe that didn’t give goods on tick.  It was a very high class grocer shop selling expensive goods such as wine, coffee and different teas such as Earl Grey.

There was a trap door on the right hand side of the door, which was always open so they could access the cellar easily to get goods from down below. (Today it would be considered a health & safety issue!)

As the photograph shows, they always dressed in black waistcoats and long pristine white aprons. The interior of the shop reflected this clean and smart feeling with shiny mirrors on the walls and was clean and well organised.

There was a marble counter and on it stood the large polished brass scales where goods were weighed before they were put into little blue bags.  There were mahogany shelves and cabinets with drawers for spices and anything else people wanted.  People remember the wonderful smell of freshly ground coffee as they entered the shop.

Jimmy was a well-respected member of the community and a church warden at St.Mary’s Church.

The order on the invoice (see picture on the right):

• 3 dozen 2d chocolate
• 100 Branson ? 10’s
• 200 Players 10’s
• ½ Wave Crest
• 2 Bas Chedlett
• 1 Booths Gin
• 200 Players 10’s
• 3 dozen 2d chocolate

Read more about later owners of this building.

High Street Trail index – click here

Sources:

• Sea Change, Wivenhoe Remembered, Paul Thompson
• Memories of Wivenhoe resident, Stan Kemble