Hide and Seek

The earliest date we have for this property is 3rd August 1742 when Frances Large of Swaffham, a spinster, sold the property to Mary Grant (later Bouchery), widow. Eventually it was in the occupation of William Pearson, a tailor, in the early 1800s who sold it in 1833 to William Smith, a master painter.

By 1871 it was occupied by Robert Nichols who came from a long line of shoemakers. One of nine bootmakers in the town he continued to trade here until his death in 1922. We are told he was a very good double bass player.

HOUSE: Now offices and flat. Late C18, converted C20. Red brick laid in Flemish bond; roof of black-glazed pantiles. Opened out late C20 and converted to offices. 

EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and dormer attic; 3-window range. Double C20 doors in centre within late C18 timber door case North return wall rebuilt late C20.

Martin’s Cycles is next to the half-built construction which would become Woolworth.

Fred Martin bought the shop in 1931. He had repaired cycles from an early age and continued as a business here. When he died in 1958 the business was taken over by his son-in-law William Owen Williams who added children’s toys to the cycles. He retired in 1980 and Dave Green took over the shop, selling discount household goods.

In the late 1980s the Eastern Daily Press rented it for some time, then Prestige Letting and Property Agents in 2011 and Ruffles Boutique in 2016.

Hide and Seek, selling leatherware, opened and closed in 2023.