COBBLER'S SHOP - Mr William Hill

Photo: T Newcombe, 1957    The cottage is recorded in the hands of Mrs Hill, only, in 1952,
and the "Old Boot Shop" as 'void' which indicates that Mr. Hill had died and the shop had
closed.  By 1957 the roof looks decidedly tatty.  Note the seat placed near the bus stop was
provided by the late Alfred Westley.  The seat was renewed and placed by the Royal Oak
by 1970.  That seat was removed in 2005 - it is to be hoped the parish council ensure that it
is replaced.
The bus stop for Milton and Northampton was just off the picture to the left.  In icy conditions,
the bus sometimes experienced difficulties moving off from the bus stop as spinning rear wheels
allowed the tail of the bus to slide down Chapel Lane.

Below is a recent picture taken from the same spot.  The house in the background, built c.
1965 when the boot shop was demolished, was Bob Young's new bungalow at the time, to
which he would eventually retire.  The other cottage was once accommodation for two families
and was extensively rebuilt as one in the early 1980s.  It is identifiable on the 1727 Grafton
estate map, along with dozens of other houses but the 'boot shop' building was built between
1757 and 1839.

Photo: T Marsh, 2006

John Green and some of his ancestors were cobblers based in Stoke Road.  William
Hill was an apprentice to John Green's father.