Comments

Thank you very much Pat!  I have not yet joined a site that will enable me to look at the 1939 Register but will do so.

Karen

I'm sure than Alun will be able to give you much more detail but I do remember the shop and it sold items connected with radio and TV - a virtual treasure trove of things electrical.  In Hazel Hudson's book "The New Wedmore Chronicles" she mentions that on VE Day in 1945 there was dancing in the streets and "Herb Urch rigged up an amplifier".  So it does look as if your supposition is correct.

The Wells Journal - Friday 01 July 1938 has this article: 

WEDMORE WEDDING The wedding took place, at St. John’s, Axbridge, of Mr. Herbert William Urch, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Urch. of Church Street, Wedmore, and Miss Stella Harper, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harper, of Park Road, Tredegar, The Rev. J. C. Reynish, rector of Axbridge, officiated. Given away by her uncle, Mr. Harper, of Bath, the bride wore white satin cloque with wreath and veil. The bridesmaids were Miss Ruth Durston, of Axbridge, and Miss Lilian Jones, Bath. The best man was Mr. Ivor Durston (brother-in-law of the bridegroom). The honeymoon is being spent on a motor tour of South Devon. The bride travelled in a brown two-piece suit with hat to match.

Do your KEEN connections come from this part of Somerset?  We have that surname in several of our parish transcriptions.

An Internet search for her full name brought up an entry in The London Gazette of the 9th October 1931 which listed that a Marion Alvis JAMES had been promoted to a Tax Clerk in the Inland Revenue. Unless this is someone else of the same name this does look like her.  Have you tried looking for her on the 1939 Register?

P.S.  Have just found this - A Marion Alvis JAMES, died 1 April 1967 in Cardiff - see GRO Find a will

Thanks Pat & Brian. What Brian says does stack up and might lead to the fact that Brown Brothers Store then may have moved to 33 High St before 31.

Winscombe BTs are available on fiche in Weston Library but we found the early entries very difficult to read.  If we have more time next week we will give it another go!

Checking for George Simpson on the 1861 census finds him in the High Street as a "Tea Dealer".  Comparing the order in which the names appear on the census with a later list of who lived where it does look as if he may have lived next to the Chapel (later Woolworths) in the High Street. Cambridge Place ran immediately alongside the Chapel and when talking to Brian Austin he believes that George SIMPSON's place might have continued in a "L" shape across the back of the Chapel with an access in Cambridge Place.  Perhaps it was only that part which could be described as a "tiny gloomy shop"