Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Old Shop Sign - 24 Wightman Road
Many thanks to shop owner Esat Karahasan who's currently renovating the shop premises at 24 Wightman Road. Esat uncovered these signs in the process and kindly took these shots to share with us all. (He's also taken the trouble to preserve the signs in situ for future generations).
The top image shows the sign at the front of the shop. Alongside the shop name are the words "Groceries" and "Provisions". The second image is the side of the premises and the words alongside the shop name are "Coffee" and "Merchant".
Thanks Esat
As to the shop's history, from 1892 up until the war the shop was a grocer's. For most of that period, till 1927 or 1928, it was Grimes & Co or G A Grimes, run by Suffolk-born cabinet maker's son, George Arthur Grimes.
He had arrived at the property with his family when he was aged 30 in c 1897. In 1901 he was living above the shop with his wife, sister, three children and a servant. His 9-year old daughter was recorded in that census as having been born in Harringay. So apparently Grimes and his wife had been in the neighbourhood since at least as far back as 1892. In 1891 he and his wife were living in Evershot Road in Stroud Green where he was working as a "traveller grocer"
Prior to Grimes's arrival, the shop was a grocer's run by A. C. Percival.
Below is a picture of the shop c 1905.
24 Wightman Road c.1905 as G. A. Grimes
-
Comment by Angela on December 30, 2013 at 17:15
-
I've done a quick search on this and the earliest mention I can find is of George Arthur Grimes, Cheesemonger in Kelly's Directory of 1894.
By 1898, he has become a grocer and provisions merchant, and during the 1920s, a spirits and wine dealer. The last mention is in the 1926 directory and the phone book.
-
Comment by Esat Karahasan on December 30, 2013 at 19:38
-
Thanks for the mention Hugh and also the history Angela.
-
Comment by Hugh on December 30, 2013 at 20:06
-
So, Esat, what about a cheese counter then?
-
-
Sorry Hugh, didn't find one in there and don't plan on installing one. Will be using the unit as on office for my home inspections business.
-
-
Dagnabbit!
-
-
Info updated with potted history of the shop.
-
-
Angela, do you still have access to that 1894 directory? I’m unable to find any verification of Grimes as a cheesemonger.
Add a Comment
© 2025 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Harringay online to add comments!
Join Harringay online