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Local history - Newport, Isle of Wight
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40 High Street
Between the 1840s and 60s Number 40 High Street was a fruiterer and green grocers, but by 1898 it had become a shoe shop.
In the early 1840s in Southampton, James Bishop (senior) (1852-1913) had established a shoe manufacturing business. The Central Boot and Shoe Factory later ran from East Street and a second factory was established at Landport, Portsea Island. When James (senior) retired, his sons took over and the business which was renamed Bishop Brothers. Oldest son James Bishop (junior) (1852-1913) was also an active councillor and became Mayor of Southampton in 1884 and again in 1889.
By 1886, Messrs Bishop Brothers Boot Warehouse was established at 40 High Street, Newport where it continued to trade for around thirty years. Walter Bishop, the brother of James (junior) moved to the Isle of Wight where he helped run the business. By 1904, the family had branches in ‘every town’ including 77 High Street Sandown, 142 High Street Ryde, 77 High Street Sandown, 142 High Street Ryde, Birmingham Road Cowes, Tennyson Road Freshwater, Station Road Shanklin (later Regents Parade) and 76 High Street Ventnor.
In 1914 Lennards Limited, a nationwide boot and shoe manufacturing firm established a new shoe shop at Number 48 High Street, but by February 1915 they had acquired the corner premises at Number 40. Then known as Bishop’s Corner, it was soon renamed ‘Leonard’s corner’.
Architects Messrs Bridgman & Bridgman of Paignton, Devon were employed to design new premises which were opened in December 1915. Recent renovations have uncovered the floor mosaic for the side entrance, which would have matched the front entrance mosaic seen in old photographs. Outside the glazed terracotta tile lettering around the parapet can still be seen today.
Lennards continued to trade until the 1980s when a takeover led to closures around the country. Since then the shop has been the Newport branch of Specsavers, and latterly Cloud 9, a clothing store. In 2024 Grace’s Bakery relocated from Pyle Street creating a new café at Number 40 High Street.
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In the early 1840s in Southampton, James Bishop (senior) (1852-1913) had established a shoe manufacturing business. The Central Boot and Shoe Factory later ran from East Street and a second factory was established at Landport, Portsea Island. When James (senior) retired, his sons took over and the business which was renamed Bishop Brothers. Oldest son James Bishop (junior) (1852-1913) was also an active councillor and became Mayor of Southampton in 1884 and again in 1889.
By 1886, Messrs Bishop Brothers Boot Warehouse was established at 40 High Street, Newport where it continued to trade for around thirty years. Walter Bishop, the brother of James (junior) moved to the Isle of Wight where he helped run the business. By 1904, the family had branches in ‘every town’ including 77 High Street Sandown, 142 High Street Ryde, 77 High Street Sandown, 142 High Street Ryde, Birmingham Road Cowes, Tennyson Road Freshwater, Station Road Shanklin (later Regents Parade) and 76 High Street Ventnor.
In 1914 Lennards Limited, a nationwide boot and shoe manufacturing firm established a new shoe shop at Number 48 High Street, but by February 1915 they had acquired the corner premises at Number 40. Then known as Bishop’s Corner, it was soon renamed ‘Leonard’s corner’.
Architects Messrs Bridgman & Bridgman of Paignton, Devon were employed to design new premises which were opened in December 1915. Recent renovations have uncovered the floor mosaic for the side entrance, which would have matched the front entrance mosaic seen in old photographs. Outside the glazed terracotta tile lettering around the parapet can still be seen today.
Lennards continued to trade until the 1980s when a takeover led to closures around the country. Since then the shop has been the Newport branch of Specsavers, and latterly Cloud 9, a clothing store. In 2024 Grace’s Bakery relocated from Pyle Street creating a new café at Number 40 High Street.
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40 High Street
An artist's impression of how Lennards shoe shop might have looked shortly after it was rebuilt in 1915.
The main entrance to the shop was from the corner of the High Street and St Thomas' Square. An intricate stone floor mosaic welcomed customers into the shop.
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The main entrance to the shop was from the corner of the High Street and St Thomas' Square. An intricate stone floor mosaic welcomed customers into the shop.
All images are ©copyright. No images, text, social story on this website or any related social media account may be reproduced or shared through any source without specific permission from Quayscape
40 High Street
Part of the mosaic from Lennards shoe shop.
99 High Street
For almost a hundred and fifty years, (1865-2011) Number 99 High Street was the central Post Office for Newport. The earliest mention of a post office at this address was in the 1870s when George Duke was a grocer and the Postmaster for Newport.
Previous to this, the post office had been in the Corn Market in the 1840s and 50s and in Quay Street in the late 1850s and 60s.
It is not clear how old the building at Number 99 is, but in 1903 this central Post Office had significant work. The front of the building was remodelled, similar to how it now looks. Stone plinths was intersected with red brickwork and a pediment (triangular shaped gable) sited above the front door. At the back of the building, large sorting offices and telegraph rooms were built and outbuildings erected for storing the post office trucks and bicycles.
The Post Office continued to trade from Number 99 after the new sorting office was built at Riverway Industrial Estate in 1989, but finally vacated the building in the 2010s with the Post Office counter services housed in the nearby Coop.
The pizza chain Prezzo operated a restaurant from 2016, and the Island chain Correo 'all day' opened a cafe and bar in 2022.
All images are ©copyright. No images, text, social story on this website or any related social media account may be reproduced or shared through any source without specific permission from Quayscape
Previous to this, the post office had been in the Corn Market in the 1840s and 50s and in Quay Street in the late 1850s and 60s.
It is not clear how old the building at Number 99 is, but in 1903 this central Post Office had significant work. The front of the building was remodelled, similar to how it now looks. Stone plinths was intersected with red brickwork and a pediment (triangular shaped gable) sited above the front door. At the back of the building, large sorting offices and telegraph rooms were built and outbuildings erected for storing the post office trucks and bicycles.
The Post Office continued to trade from Number 99 after the new sorting office was built at Riverway Industrial Estate in 1989, but finally vacated the building in the 2010s with the Post Office counter services housed in the nearby Coop.
The pizza chain Prezzo operated a restaurant from 2016, and the Island chain Correo 'all day' opened a cafe and bar in 2022.
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85a Upper St James Street
Originally built as a chapel for worshippers who had broken away from the Newport Congregational Church in Lower St James Street (now the Man in the Moon), 85a Upper St James Street Chapel was known as Node Hill Chapel. It was enlarged in 1828, again in the late 1840s and 1866.
When the two Newport congregations were reunited in 1881, they worshipped together at the Newport Congregational Church. By the mid 1880s, Node Hill Chapel had become a Lecture Hall, hosting concerts, horticultural shows, youth festivals, marriages and lectures.
The hall was later converted into a shop and by the 1970s the tenants was Beavis, the island’s catering equipment specialist.
Over the years Beavis also retailed frozen food, and when their High Street shop closed, the Upper St James branch sold china, glasswear, cutlery and household gifts. Antiques, crafts and a coffee shop were located on the upper gallery.
Number 85a is now occupied on both floors by Café Isola, which has been run by IOW Espresso Co since 2010.
All images are ©copyright. No images, text, social story on this website or any related social media account may be reproduced or shared through any source without specific permission from Quayscape
Originally built as a chapel for worshippers who had broken away from the Newport Congregational Church in Lower St James Street (now the Man in the Moon), 85a Upper St James Street Chapel was known as Node Hill Chapel. It was enlarged in 1828, again in the late 1840s and 1866.
When the two Newport congregations were reunited in 1881, they worshipped together at the Newport Congregational Church. By the mid 1880s, Node Hill Chapel had become a Lecture Hall, hosting concerts, horticultural shows, youth festivals, marriages and lectures.
The hall was later converted into a shop and by the 1970s the tenants was Beavis, the island’s catering equipment specialist.
Over the years Beavis also retailed frozen food, and when their High Street shop closed, the Upper St James branch sold china, glasswear, cutlery and household gifts. Antiques, crafts and a coffee shop were located on the upper gallery.
Number 85a is now occupied on both floors by Café Isola, which has been run by IOW Espresso Co since 2010.
All images are ©copyright. No images, text, social story on this website or any related social media account may be reproduced or shared through any source without specific permission from Quayscape
When the two Newport congregations were reunited in 1881, they worshipped together at the Newport Congregational Church. By the mid 1880s, Node Hill Chapel had become a Lecture Hall, hosting concerts, horticultural shows, youth festivals, marriages and lectures.
The hall was later converted into a shop and by the 1970s the tenants was Beavis, the island’s catering equipment specialist.
Over the years Beavis also retailed frozen food, and when their High Street shop closed, the Upper St James branch sold china, glasswear, cutlery and household gifts. Antiques, crafts and a coffee shop were located on the upper gallery.
Number 85a is now occupied on both floors by Café Isola, which has been run by IOW Espresso Co since 2010.
All images are ©copyright. No images, text, social story on this website or any related social media account may be reproduced or shared through any source without specific permission from Quayscape
Originally built as a chapel for worshippers who had broken away from the Newport Congregational Church in Lower St James Street (now the Man in the Moon), 85a Upper St James Street Chapel was known as Node Hill Chapel. It was enlarged in 1828, again in the late 1840s and 1866.
When the two Newport congregations were reunited in 1881, they worshipped together at the Newport Congregational Church. By the mid 1880s, Node Hill Chapel had become a Lecture Hall, hosting concerts, horticultural shows, youth festivals, marriages and lectures.
The hall was later converted into a shop and by the 1970s the tenants was Beavis, the island’s catering equipment specialist.
Over the years Beavis also retailed frozen food, and when their High Street shop closed, the Upper St James branch sold china, glasswear, cutlery and household gifts. Antiques, crafts and a coffee shop were located on the upper gallery.
Number 85a is now occupied on both floors by Café Isola, which has been run by IOW Espresso Co since 2010.
All images are ©copyright. No images, text, social story on this website or any related social media account may be reproduced or shared through any source without specific permission from Quayscape
11 Town Lane, Newport
History coming soon
All images are ©copyright. No images, text, social story on this website or any related social media account may be reproduced or shared through any source without specific permission from Quayscape
All images are ©copyright. No images, text, social story on this website or any related social media account may be reproduced or shared through any source without specific permission from Quayscape
Please excuse us while the Quayscape website is having a redesign
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