A Lot of Activity at The Cornhill

Many years ago, when I started collecting pictures and books about Lincoln, this was one of the first postcards I bought.  Probably paid too much for it at the time but I was attracted by the colour and the image of Lincoln people going about their daily business.

It is often difficult to date old postcards within say 50 years, but the names of the businesses on this one allow us to date it within 8 years.  Using Lincoln trade directories I can see that Melbourn Bros were there by 1894 and moved to Brayford Head sometime before 1913.

Apart from Melbourn Bros there are two other businesses pictured which were there for at least the same period of time.  Joseph Hepworth and Son maintained their corner position from about 1890 until the 1980s when they became Next Plc.  Prior to that they were on the corner of High Street and Guildhall Street, where HSBC bank is now.

Peel Bros was a partnership between two corn merchants brothers, Alfred and Walter Peel.  Walter married Grace Melbourn, daughter of Newell Cecil Melbourn, wine and spirit merchant, in 1889.  Alfred married Amelia Robey, daughter of Robert Robey of Robey & Co, in 1885.  Alfred and Walters parnership was dissolved in 1906, Amelia acted as Alfred's attorney as he was seriously ill and died in 1907.  Peel Bros continued to trade from the Cornhill address until the 1950s.

There is a small sign with the word "HANSON" above the doorway next to Melbourns, that was John Robert Hanson, gun and cycle manufacturer.  Hanson moved to the Cornhill somewhere between 1897 and 1901, he died in 1904, at the age of 42, and there is no record of the business on the Cornhill in 1905 so it is probable that the business died with him.

The building with Corinthian pillars is the old Corn Exchange, built in 1848, it was soon found to be inadequate for the amount of the business that was conducted there.  In 1880 the new Corn Exchange was built to the left of the old building, the tower stood over the entrance.  In the mid 20th century, when not used as a Corn Exchange, it was a cinema and a roller skating rink.

To the right and at the back of the old Corn Exchange can be seen the "New" Market.  The rest of the picture is in heavy shadow but the Cornhill Hotel and the City Wine & Spirit Stores can be just made out.

Horse Fair at the Cornhill in 1910

The Cornhill in 1965 populated by Vauxhall, BMC group and Rootes group vehicles.