1 Horn Street (Illing's) and 2 The Walk

This building which is now (April 2021) The Winslow Cafe & Bistro, was a grocer's shop for over two centuries before becoming a restaurant in the 1970s. It was run for well over a century by two generations of Frenchs and then two generations of Illings. Part of it is now a separate dwelling (2 The Walk).

E.A. Illing and staff outside the shop. Click on the image for a larger version.

According to its Grade II listing (1984):

Includes No. 2 The Walk. Restaurant and house. Early C18, altered and refronted mid C19. Colourwashed render, rendered band courses to left gable and rendered parapet with band courses and paired brackets to front. Old tile roof to front range with coped ogee brick gable and stack to right. Rear roofs are of slate. Front range has 2 storeys and attic, and 2 bays. Shop front with wooden dentil cornice on fluted Tuscan pilasters to frames. Attic has hipped dormers with 3-light barred casements. 2 storey wing to rear has 2 bays at slight angle with canted bay windows with C19 sashes and pilasters to frames. Attic has hipped dormers with 3-light barred casements. 2-story wing to rear has 2 bays at slight angle with canted bay windows to ground floor. First floor has tripartitite sash to right, paired casement in left bay and hayloft door with winch opening above to left. Central door in rendered porch with simple cornice and parapet. Some timber framing inside.

It appears that 1 Horn Street was originally part of the same plot as 3 Horn Street and 4 The Walk; click here for some suggestions about the origin of the whole property.

The map shows the site of 1-3 Horn Street and 4 The Walk in 1880 (left) and 1979 (right). They appear to have been built on one plot of land filling the corner made by Horn Street and The Walk.

Richard West (1699-1765) was in business as a grocer and tallow-chandler by 1733, and may therefore be responsible for building 1 Horn Street or at least turning it into a shop. By the time he made his will he described himself as a yeoman, and had let the shop to Goldsworth Dudley.

1764 (proved 1765): will of Richard West
He bequeathed to his son Roger West:
All that my Messuage or Tenement Situate in Winslow aforesaid and now in the Occupation of Goldsworth Dudley together also with all houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Gardens and Backsides with their and every of their Appurt(enance)s thereunto belonging 

1774: manor court
Surrender: Roger West, late of Winslow but now of Brooks Market, St Andrew Holborn, tallow chandler & Martha his wife
Admission: Goldsworth Dudley of Winslow, grocer & tallow chandler
Messuage in Winslow now in the occupation of Goldsworth Dudley. Rent 4d, fine 5s.

1779: will of Goldsworth Dudley, grocer & tallow-chandler
He bequeathed all his real estate to his wife Mary Dudley (nee Fox) subject to legacies to his children.

1779: fire insurance
Mary Dudley insured her "dwelling house stable and barns adjoining ... brick and tiled" and contents for £400.

In 1780 Mary married John Baseley, farmer of Swanbourne. According to fire insurance and Land Tax records (1781) she let the grocery business to Thomas Deverell.

1784: Northampton Mercury, 1 Nov
WANTED immediately, A MAN that understands the TALLOW-CHANDLERY Business; likewise to assist in the Soap Trade occasionally. A Character from his last Place will be required.
Apply to Thomas Deverell, Grocer, Chandler, and Ironmongery, in Winslow, Bucks.
N.B. An APPRENTICE is wanted.

Thomas Deverell must have left before 1792.

1792: manor court
Surrender: Mary Baseley of Swanbourne widow
Admission John Redding Holland and Frances his wife
All that Messuage or Tenement situate standing and being in Winslow aforesaid in a certain street there called Great Horn Street late in the tenure or occupation of Goldsworth Dudley deceased and now in the tenure or occupation of John Redding Holland and Frances his wife

In 1793 the Hollands mortgaged the property to Joseph Key Baily of Shenley gentleman for £100 + 4.5% interest.

1795: directory
Holland, John, Grocer & Ironmonger

By 1804 John Holland had moved to Aylesbury and let the business to Frances' brothers William and Robert Ivatts.

1805: manor court
John Redding Holland late of Aylesbury Grocer & Tallow Chandler held a messuage in Great Horn Street now in the occupation of William Ivatts.  He died since the last court having surrendered it to the use of his will and by his will dated 31 March 1804 he devised it unto his Friends James Ivatts of Aylesbury Cordwainer & Benjamin Houghton Rickett of the same Gentleman“ after the decease or Marriage of his Wife Frances Holland or in her Life time if necessary as therein mentioned to sell and dispose of the aforesaid premises in manner and for the purposes therein mentioned”. 

They immediately sold the property to William Ivatts and Robert Ivatts of Winslow grocers & tallow chandlers, who then mortgaged it to James Read of Bottle Claydon dairyman for £200 + 5% interest.

1806: will of William Ivatts
Leaves to his brother Robert “All my Share Right and Title of a House situate at Winslow in the said County wherein we now dwell”.

1812: will of Frances Holland (proved 1833)
She was living in Winslow with her brother Robert Ivatts.

1820: manor court
Robert Ivatts mortgaged the property to Frances Holland (his sister) for £400 + 5% interest.

1821: will of Robert Ivatts
I give and devise unto my esteemed friend Francis Goode of Buckingham in the said County of Bucks Gentleman and my two Nephews Benjamin Holland and Thomas Ivatts (Son of my late Brother Thomas Ivatts and Alice his Wife) All that my Messuage  or Tenement situate standing and being in Winslow aforesaid wherein I now dwell [on trust to sell it]

1822: special court, 1 May 
Surrender: Frances Holland of Aylesbury widow of John Redding Holland
Admission: Thomas Fleet of Maidenhead Thicket, Berks, gentleman
Consideration: £589 14s
All that Messuage or Tenement situate standing and being in Winslow in the County of Bucks in a certain street there called Great Horn Street then late in the tenure or occupation of Goldsworth Dudley deceased and then in the tenure or occupation of John Redding Holland with the appurtenances  ... Now in the occupation of Reuben Stuchbery.

1823: directory
Stuchbery, Reuben grocer Great Horn Street

1830: Pigot's Directory
Grocer & tea dealer: Stuchbery Thomas (and tallow chandler) Great Horn st

1830: Northampton Mercury, 6 Feb

To Ironmongers, Grocers, Tallow-Chandlers, &c.
To be DISPOSED OF,

AN old-established BUSINESS, embracing the three Branches named above.  The Premises are low-rented, replete with every Convenience, and well calculated for carrying on a good Trade;  no Good-will required, but the Stock and Fixtures taken at a fair Valuation.- Immediate Possession will be given.- Apply on the Premises to T. STUCHBERY, Winslow, Bucks; B. STUCHBERY, Bridge Street, Northampton;  or to J. FLEET, 141 Fenchurch Street, London.- Letters Post paid.
    A steady, obliging YOUTH, from a Dissenter’s Family, who has some Knowledge of the Tea and Grocery Business, and wishes Improvement, may hear of a Situation, by applying as above.
   Feb. 5th, 1830.

1832: Land Tax
Thomas Fleet (owner), Jas W Brinkler (occupier): house etc 7s 9d

1832: Oxford Journal, 26 May

To Grocers, Tallow Chandlers, &c.

To be LET, with immediate possession, eligibly situated in the Market Place, in the town of Winslow, Bucks, - A commodious DWELLING HOUSE, in excellent repair, and very EXTENSIVE PREMISES (in which the above joint business has been carried on a great numbers of years);  comprising parlour, sitting room, kitchen, large and comfortable sleeping rooms, excellent shop, counting house, extensive warehouses and cellars, candle house, fitted up with every requisite for that branch of trade, which, together with the Shop Fixtures, Stock in Trade, &c. (which is not large) are to be taken to at a fair valuation.
   For further particulars, and to treat for the same, apply (if by letter, post paid) to Samuel Foster, auctioneer, Bicester.
N.B. The above presents an excellent opportunity to any person, with a moderate capital, wishing to embark in the above branches.

1832: Oxford Journal, 16 June

To Grocers, Tallow Chandlers, &c.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION,
By SAMUEL FOSTER,

Under an assignment for the benefit of Creditors, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next (if necessary), the 19th, 20th, and 21st of June inst. on the premises of Mr. James Brinkler, of Winslow, Bucks,- The whole of the STOCK in TRADE, SHOP and WAREHOUSE FIXTURES, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, &c.; comprising upwards of 250 lbs. of tea and coffee, 40 dozen of brushes, 20 dozen of broom heads, 5 half hogsheads of vinegar, half a puncheon of molasses, upwards of a ton of Russia tallow, 150 lbs. of seasoned rush, 80 lbs. of candle cotton, 2 casks of mustard, half a ton of salt, 12 cwt. of cheese, Kent hops, mould and store candles, train, palm, seal, and other oils, gunpowder and shot, rice, fruit, bacon, japan liquid and paste blacking, a large quantity of shop paper, tobacco and snuff, and a great variety of other articles;  an excellent cast iron  candle press, dipping mould and weighing machine, large melting copper, rods, blocks, and every utensil used in the candle trade;  two excellent counters, two large beams and scales, several pairs of smaller ditto, brass and iron weights, 18 tea canisters, nests of drawers, tobacco and snuff jars, coffee and pepper mills (with wheels), &c.

The Household Furniture consists of bedsteads and furnitures, feather and flock beds, wool mattresses, mahogany wardrobe and chests of drawers, mahogany tables, cane-bottomed and Windsor chairs, chimney and swing glasses, Bath stoves and kitchen range, brewing copper, iron-bound casks, &c.- The whole must be sold without reserve.

Catalogues may be had on the premises;  at the Inns in Aylesbury, Buckingham, and Winslow, at Smith’s Printing Office, and of the auctioneer, Bicester.
May be viewed each morning of sale till Ten o’clock, at which time (on account of the number of lots) the auction will commence.

This seems to be when Joshua Lewin French (1809-84), son of the wealthy Congregationalist William French of Buckingham, took over the business, although he did not buy the premises until later.

1841: Census
Joshua L. French, grocer & ironmonger
Elijah W. French, grocer shopman [he later took over the bakery at 10 Horn Street]
+ shopman, 1 male servant, 1 female servant

1843: manor court
Surrender: Thomas Fleet of Maidenhead Thicket, Berks, gentleman & Mary his wife
Admission: Joshua Lewin French of Winslow ironmonger
Consideration: £500

1851: Census
Horn Street

Joshua Lewin	French	Head	married	42	Grocer & ironmonger	b. Buckingham
Martha	do	Wife	married	33	do wife	b. Buckingham
William Henry	do	Son		8	Scholar	b. Winslow
Joshua Lewin	do	Son		7	Scholar	do
Agnes Annie	do	Dau		3		do
Elizabeth	Roads	Servant	unm	21	House servant	b. Great Horwood
Edward	Pigott	Porter	unm	36	Porter	b. Winslow

1853: Musson & Craven's Directory
French, Joshua Lewin grocer hop seed & colour merchant & furnishing ironmonger Horn Street

1856: sale of 3 Horn Street & 4 The Walk
J.L. French purchased 4 The Walk in 1861, but it wasn't sold to E.A. Illing with 1 Horn Street (see below).

This photo was taken in April 1908. The people are standing outside 4 The Walk. In the foreground (right) is 2 The Walk, which was part of 1 Horn Street and probably put into the form you can see here by J.L. French.

1861: Oxfordshire Telegraph, 9 Jan
THE CHEAPEST AND BEST LIGHT.
J. L. FRENCH, Grocer, and General and Furnishing Ironmonger. WINSLOW.
Begs to call attention to his New and Well Assorted Stock of Petrolenue [sic] Lamps, comprising the Newest Designs (direct from the sole Patentee,) varying in price from the Cottagers’ Lamp at 1s. 6d., to the Handsome Drawing Room ditto, at One Guinea.
  The Public should bear in mind, that for the cost of about a Farthing an Hour, one of these Lamps will give the light of Two Mould Candles; and that, by the use of them, the grease dropping from Candles is entirely obviated.  Two gentlemen, supplied by J. L. F., have entirely discontinued the use of Candles in favour of the Petrolenue Lamp.  Young’s Patent Paraffin (also direct,) of finest quality, 3s 6d. per gallon; 2nd quality, 3s.
  A considerable stock of Furnishing Ironmongery also on hand.  Gardner’s and Biddle’s Turnip Cutters in Stock; also Hornsby’s, Howard’s, and Ransome’s Implements, those of either maker procured at list prices.
Hops, Seeds, and Colours.  Fine Old Leicester Cheese.

1861: Census
Horn Street

Joshua L.	French	Head	married	52	Ironmonger, grocer &c. employing 4 men & 1 boy	b. Buckingham
William Henry	do	Son	unm	18	Assistant & rifle volunteer	b. Winslow
Joshua Lewin	do	Son		17	do          do	do
Hepzibah	Marks	Servant	unm	20	General servant	b. Great Horwood

1861: Oxfordshire Telegraph, 8 May
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND SEEDS.
J. L. FRENCH, WINSLOW,
Begs to inform the farming public that he has now on hand a well assorted stock of Farming Implements for the season, by different makers, comprising Ransome’s, Howard’s and Hornsby’s Patent Ploughs, Howard’s Light and Heavy Harrows, Cartwright’s Chain Harrows, Drills by Hensman, Leighton, Smith’s Patent Horse Hoe, Howard’s Patent Horse Hoe, &c.  Clover, Turnip, Swede and Mangel Worsel Seeds, Garden Seeds of all kinds.  Also a large stock of general and furnishing Ironmongery Cart Harness and Plough Traces, Digging Forks, Spades and Shovels, Cutlery, Guns and Pistols, Electro Plate, (Spoons, Forks, Tea Pots, &c.,) Carpenters Tools, &c, &c.  Hops, Oils, Colours, Sacks, &c.
   Winslow, May 1861.

Bill from J.L. French to Mr Denchfield, 1863

1864: Post Office Directory
French, Joshua Lewin general ironmonger grocer & provision dealer Horn Street

1867: Bucks Herald, 10 August
J. L. FRENCH & SONS,
GENERAL IRONMONGERS, AGRICULTURAL AGENTS AND HOUSE FURNISHERS, WINSLOW.
FOR REAPING MACHINES and other IMPLEMENTS, by all Makers, also for any article in either of the above lines.

In 1870 W.H. French the son moved the ironmonger's part of the business to new premises at 3 Market Square.

1871: Census
Horn Street

Joshua L.	French	Head	married	62	Grocer employs 2 shopmen & porter	b. Buckingham
Martha	do	Wife	married	53	do wife	b. Buckingham
Agnes	do	Dau	unm	23	do daughter	b. Winslow
Sarah	do	Niece	unm	23	no occupation	do
Rosa	Capel	Servant	unm	19	General servant (dom)	b. Thornborough

1876: Harrod's Directory
French, Joshua L. jun., grocer and Postmaster, Horn Street

J.L. French jr took over the grocery business at 1 Horn Street in the early 1870s but in about 1879 he moved to become a grocer at Ashford, Kent, in premises belonging to his father, leaving the Winslow shop under the overall management of his father who had retired to The Old Tanyard, Horn Street. J.L. jr was a china and glass dealer at Ashford in 1891 and later became a Congregational preacher. He was recorded in the 1901 Census at Rowley Regis, Staffs.

1881: Census
Horn Street

Caroline	Simonds	Servant	unm	44	Housekeeper	b. Mursley
Ebenezer	Illing	Servant	unm	18	Grocer's assistant	b. Lt Horwood
William	Topham	Servant	unm	20	do	b. St Neots

1882: Enfranchisement (i.e. conversion from copyhold to freehold) of J.L. French's property, 20 Dec

1883: will of Joshua Lewin French sr (proved 1884)
He left to each of his two sons William Henry and Joshua Lewin jr "one undivided moiety or half part of the house shop and premises and appurtenances thereto in Horn Street in Winslow aforesaid in which the grocery and other businesses are now carried on by me [and] one individual moiety or half part of the messuage or tenement and premises and appurtenances thereto in Winslow aforesaid which I purchased of Richard Baldwin [4 The Walk] ... and of ... my stock in trade and book debts"

1887: Kelly's Directory
French & Son, grocers, Horn Street

Soon after this W.H. French sold both his businesses to the men who managed them, and E.A. Illing bought the grocer's.

The photo shows the shop, now E.A. Illing & Sons, decked out for the 1935 Silver Jubilee, with the fire engine in front

1891: Census
Horn Street

Ebenezer Alfred	Illing	Head	married	28	Grocer	b. Lt Horwood
Elizabeth Ellen	Illing	Wife	married	23		b. West Derby, Lancs
John Watson	Harris	Assistant	single	23	Grocer's assistant	b. Steeple Aston
Rose Ann	Ward	Servant	single	20	General servant	b. North Marston

E.A. Illing, who came from a Little Horwood farming family, also rented Magpie Farm from before 1897 (see Winslow Hall sale) and eventually bought it.

Bill from E.A. Illing to John Grace, 1894

1899: E.A. Illing bought 4 The Walk in the sale of W.H. French's property

1901: Census
Horn Street

Ebenezer Alfred	Illing	Head	married	38	Grocer & farmer	b. Lt Horwood
Elizabeth Ellen	do	Wife	married	33		b. West Derby, Lancs
Alfred John	do	Son		9		b. Winslow
Herbert Edward	do	Son		7		do
Sydney Arthur	do	Son		5		do
William Ernest	do	Son		1		do
Gwendoline Ethel	Morgan	Visitor	single	22	Lady nurse	b. Chepstow
Kate ?Eliza	Smith	Governess	single	36	Governess	b. Ipswich
Ellen	Bilton	Servant	single	22	General servant	b. Cambridge

The Illing family c.1910, apparently in the garden behind 1-3 Horn Street

1911: Census
Horn Street: 8 rooms

Ebenezer Alfred	Illing	Head	married	48	Grocer & farmer	b. Lt Horwood
Elizabeth Ellen	do	Wife	married	43	married 20 years 4 children	b. West Derby, Lancs
Alfred John	do	Son		19	Grocer	b. Winslow
Herbert Edward	do	Son		17	do	do
Sydney Arthur	do	Son		15	Attends school	do
William Ernest	do	Son		11	do	do
Marianne	Higgs	Servant	single	18	General servant	b. Loughton

The business became E.A. Illing & Sons

1939: Kelly's Directory
Illing, E.A. & Sons, grocers, Horn street & farmers, Magpie farm. T.N. 69.

The Illings also acquired 3 Horn Street, next door. In 1939, Ebenezer and Ellen Illing were living there, and the occupants of no.1 were Sarah Higgins (b.1891), widow, and her daughters Evelyn (b.1919, later Cranwell), shop assistant, and Vera (b.1926).

1954: death of Ebenezer A. Illing of 3 Horn Street, aged 90, on 6 May.

1958: death of Elizabeth E. Illing of 3 Horn Street, aged 90, on 2 March.

Please note that there is some confusion about which house is 1 Horn Street. The adjacent, separate house divided into two is no.1A (Old Millfield House) and no.3. In some places including the Bucks Heritage Portal you may find another 1 Horn Street which is now officially 5A Market Square (Horn House).