John’s Mr Chips

Originally one house it seems to have been divided early on. The 1839 map shows that it was occupied by James Trundle and others. By 1851 one of the others was James Wenham, a watchmaker and jeweller from Dereham.

Like so many others around that time he was declared bankrupt in 1860 and by 1871 had moved away. His place was probably taken by William Page, a retired innkeeper and farmer.

Ruth Green, a milliner and dressmaker followed him in business in 1881. She was still there in 1911 and had grown her business to employ three assistants.

The National Provincial Bank opened an agency in Swaffham in 1870 but it is not known exactly where the agency was based.

It was here before 1933.

Image courtesy National provincial Bank Archives

A fish and chip shop has been here at least since the 1970s.