Although Summerhill Road is largely a residential Road there are a number of locations from which many businesses have been operated over the years. In addition, many residents have operated business’s from their homes, which has introduced a wide variety of professions ranging from General trades to more exotic and fascinating occupations. One of the earliest formal records was ‘Kelly’s Directory’ which was the equivalent to ‘Yellow Pages in its day. The 1882 edition, of which Ray Swain has a copy, lists many residents from Summerhill Road and includes both Tradesmen and Professional people. Their occupations range from Builders, Florists and Drapers to Shoemakers, Baptist Ministers, Ostrich Feather Dyers and clerks at the Royal Courts of Justice and the India Office.  

The national census occurs every ten years and captures people’s occupations as well as their names, age place of birth etc. On the ‘Census’ section of this website we have attempted to summarise the 1881,1891 and 1901 reports. In the ‘Comments’ section we have captured the occupations of the Head of each household. As a social document it provides a fascinating insight into the wide variety of occupations of Summerhill Road residents over this period. 

The purpose of the next section is to list some of the business’s that have been operated in more recent times, which hopefully will spark peoples memories of days gone by. This listing can be updated as names of more candidates are remembered by residents past and present.

           NAME         NO     BUSINESS             APPROX DATE

A-F   Allens         40      Piggery                   1940’s-1950’s

          Bailey           5        Wholesale Grocer     1950’s-1960’s

          Beckett        10      Fishing Tackle          1950’s-1960’s

          Brown          23a    Baker(Philip Lane)    1940’s-1960’s

          Clarke         33     Midwife(Rose Clarke)       1930’s –1950’s

          Firth             42      Ceramic Tiles          1930’s-1950’s                

G-L    Green's   ( 198 West Green Road) Click HERE for link to feature article.

         Hoills            27      Dressmaker             1940’s-1960’s

              Horncastle      40      Builders                    1990's - Date

          ‘Horseshoe’  (14-16)   Coach Operator          1940’s-1980’s

              Joinery &Timber ( 126 West Green Road)  Click HERE for link to feature article

  Jordan        23a     Pet Shop Owner        1940’s-1960’s

          Kirby           76      Oil Shop and Stores    1940’s-1950’s

          Knuckle          13       Myrtles Home(Residence for Elderly)  1990's- Date

M-S   Petroleum        32    Petrol Distribution Depot   1950’s-1960’s

          Transport Co             (Click HERE for link to feature article)

Robins         68    Dairy                             1940’s-1950’s

         Steeples      13    Fireplace Mfg                 1940’-1960’s

         Stevens        3    Butcher(St Anns Rd)        1940’s-1950’s

                                                 (Later shops in  both Philip Lane & Lordship Lane)

T-Z   White              3      Builder                             1950’s-1960’s