A TOUR OF OLNEY MARKET PLACE - NUMBER 5

Allens of Olney
Nos 5 & 6 Market Place, 2005
Number 5 (the building to the left of the lamp post in the photograph) was another prime site on the Market Place and was probably owned by Robert Andrews at the time of the earliest levies in 1801 and 1810/11. The premises were probably empty at the time of the 1833 levy as they are recorded as 'late Bell'. However, by 1841 Daniel and Hannah Clarabut were running their drapery and millinery business from here. (A later advertisement stated the business was established in 1837, when Daniel would have only been in his early 20's.) Daniel was also agent for the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society. He died on 5th October 1880.

William Clarabut took over Number 5 and during his time purchased Number 6, the shop next door, and added it to his growing establishment. Gentlemen's tailoring was carried on in this department and in 1911 was still advertising the drapery in Number 5 and tailoring in Number 6. By the 1920's Charles Mortimer Allen had taken over the business and before 1939 had engaged a partner, Charles Cook. The business was advertised in 1939 as 'Allen and Cook Drapers', but presumably this partnership did not last long as the business soon reverted to 'Allens of Olney'.