Great to see cake shop restoration

Vaughan Hardy says…

It is nice to see 11, Watergate, The Cake Shop , possibly being restored to a private dwelling/dwellings with the development of six, two bedroom apartments.

Built about 1841 its first occupant was George Healey born 1808 in Wymondham,Leics.He was an attorney at law and solicitor when it was still known as Walkergate.Mr and Mrs John Thomas Lewis Harvey were in occupation from about 1881 when they advertised for a “General servant washing put out.One child. Wesleyan and from country preferred”.

It was put up for sale in 1883 when it was described as “Ten rooms, two entrance halls,large office,good cellarage,stabling,carriage house,three granaries, garden , lawn, fruit trees” by 1891 Joseph Amos Smith, born in Grantham in 1838 with his wife Hannah, born 1837 in Chesterfield had converted the premises into a bakers and confectionery.

In 1897 the business was run by Miss Katherine Smith from Melbourne, Derbyshire.

By the early 1930’s it had been acquired by W.M. Herriott from Boston with their children Gladys May and James.

Gladys married John Harrison Foster who was our Mayor in 1987/88. She died in 2012.

Although it is said that Frank Bruno the boxer once stopped in town to enjoy the delights of this establishment it has been closed, neglected and forlorn for many years.

This building has been left neglected for far too long and it is highly commended that a developer has seen fit to restore an unwanted shop into hopefully desirable residences.