A TOUR OF OLNEY MARKET PLACE - NUMBER 1

Bay Antiques
No 1 Market Place, 2005
Number 1 Market Place on the corner of the Market Place was a prime site for a shop. At the time of the first Census in 1841, John Toon was the shopkeeper and lived there with his wife, Mary and two teenage assistants, Edward and Catherine Eyles. He had been in business there as a grocer at least since 1833 when his name appears as one of the ratepayers for the Poor Levy of that year. He is listed as a 'wool dealer' in a trade directory of 1844, which probably meant that he dealt with fleeces and used the animal fat for candle making, hence he was also a tallow chandler. He also used the extensive buildings running up the side lane.

By 1978 Mr T Eyles advertised the business as 'late J Toon' and possibly he was the 'young Edward' shopman of 1841, or perhaps a relative. He had an assistant and this 'principal representative', Mr A Timperley, took over the business upon Mr. Eyles's retirement. By then, glass and china, and wines and spirits, were stocked and sold. Mr Timperley continued there into the First World War.

By 1920, a change of trade took place and Arthur Hopper ran the Post Office and dealt in confectionery from this corner site. The Register of Electors confirmed that he ran the Post Office at Number 1 in 1936 and probably continued there almost to the end of the 1930's. Also, listed in this register are Albert and Elsie Boswell who may have lived at the rear of Number 1.

In 1939 Deryck Humphriss used the premises as an Optician.