ID Number – 455.116
Image No – img097
Subject – Fireplace Centre
Date – 2006
Donor – RogersStan
Street – Rodbourne Road
House Number/Name – 1
Location – Rodbourne Road
Shop – Fireplace Centre
- ID Number - 455.116
- Image Number - img097
- Photo Date - 2006
- Subject - Fireplace Centre
- House Number/Name - 1
- Shops - Fireplace Centre
- Type - Photo
- Streets - Rodbourne Road
- Donor - RogersStan
This shop was Bunces Bakers shop before Ken and Norman Bunce (the sons of the baker) changed it to the Fireplace Centre.
what were the units =1a 2c &b to the right of the fireplace centre and was there a builders yard at the rear of the building? was amused to see two pieces of timber on the exposed wall in the shape of a ‘V’ for victory?
We have looked at the Business Directories for Swindon and can’t find any record of a builders yard but as the records we have looked at only go up to 1973 there may have been one later. Regarding the occupancy of 1a, 1b, & 1c, Rodbourne Road, which were shops, there have been several trades over the years from butchers, grocers, commission agents, boot repairers and believe it or not a poodle beauty parlour. From 1933 to 1934, 1a was occupied by J.G.Bailey and if you type this in the “Search” box on this page you will be able to view four photos of the shop. No 1c in 1973 was occupied by Cloughs Typewriter Co. which later moved into the premises of the old Terminus Cafe at 124, Rodbourne Road. This is now being converted into flats and we will feature photos on the site when these have been completed.
Your reference to the V shaped piece of wood presumably refers to the exposed timbers now that No.s 1, 1a, 1b & 1c are being demolished to be replaced by 6 apartments. We will post photos showing different stages of the demolition and construction when it is completed in the Autumn.
I lived in Hawkins Street and on the corner was Bunces bakery/cake shop ..I used to go into Bunces nearly ever week when I was a boy back in 1960. My favorite cakes were the Lardy cakes. and later when it became the Fireplace Centre my dad worked in there after he retired from the railway. I still have a pair of brass candlesticks bought from there .