THorndene - alliance & leicester - betfred - marcus grimes
18th July 2025
The semi-detached houses to the north of Myrtle House on the west side of the High Street were Highclere and Thorndene respectively. The left-hand side one (as you look face on) is Highclere
The right-hand side of the house was Thorndene, the upper storey of which became a flat in the 1950s. The ground floor was the dental practice of Mr. Hooker and his partner Mr. Shaw. Mr. Hooker, who lived at Five Oaks in Sandy Lane, owned Thorndene and, on his retirement in the mid 1960s, the business also became a bakery - Millers Bakery. However, two bakeries could not exist financially in close proximity, so Millers closed and the building was taken over by the Alliance and Leicester Building Society. This branch was closed before being taken over by Santander, and the building became called BetFred. This closed during the Covid outbreak and the premises are now occupied by Marcus Grimes Estate Agents.
HOUSES 31
Highclere & Thorndene: This shows the original semi-detached houses.
SHOPS 13
Betfred: A photo from 2011 showing BetFred.
SHOPS 14
Alliance & Leicester: The building society shop in July 2005 - vacant and ready to be used by another business. The branch was closed two years before the Society was taken over by Santander. You can also see the previous frontage to Truffles in this photo.
SHOPS 22
Betfred: Scaffolding on the betting shop in late August. It was only there for a few days while work was carried out on the upper storey.
The right-hand side of the house was Thorndene, the upper storey of which became a flat in the 1950s. The ground floor was the dental practice of Mr. Hooker and his partner Mr. Shaw. Mr. Hooker, who lived at Five Oaks in Sandy Lane, owned Thorndene and, on his retirement in the mid 1960s, the business also became a bakery - Millers Bakery. However, two bakeries could not exist financially in close proximity, so Millers closed and the building was taken over by the Alliance and Leicester Building Society. This branch was closed before being taken over by Santander, and the building became called BetFred. This closed during the Covid outbreak and the premises are now occupied by Marcus Grimes Estate Agents.
HOUSES 31
Highclere & Thorndene: This shows the original semi-detached houses.
SHOPS 13
Betfred: A photo from 2011 showing BetFred.
SHOPS 14
Alliance & Leicester: The building society shop in July 2005 - vacant and ready to be used by another business. The branch was closed two years before the Society was taken over by Santander. You can also see the previous frontage to Truffles in this photo.
SHOPS 22
Betfred: Scaffolding on the betting shop in late August. It was only there for a few days while work was carried out on the upper storey.