Wellbread Bakery

House. c1730-40, on site of early c16 house.
Red brick laid in Flemish bond; roof of black-glazed pantiles. Mid 19c shop front. Late 20c display window to right. Ground floor opened out in c20 but formerly 3 rooms wide.

James Alexander, a grocer and draper lived here in 1841 and was in Swaffham in the 1820s, but he died in 1842. His widow (Elizabeth nee Finch) continued the business and after her death in 1869 George Powley, a tailor, took it over until his death in 1901.

Thomas Arthur Lane began his working life as a grocer in his father’s business in Swaffham but after WWI became a car and cycle dealer. The business failed and the building was bought by Lloyd’s Bank, opening in 1930 but closing in 1935. The National Provincial Bank was open here from 1951.

Image courtesy National Provincial Bank Archives

“I left school to join the then National Provincial Bank next to Boots. Like Barclays across the road we paid out wages to the various military units (during WW2).

One particular American unit drew its Imprest from us and the Paymaster was always escorted by two “snowballs” (military policemen) who would stand in the doorway of the bank and allow no customers in whilst their transactions were being effected. Their submachine guns were fully loaded.”

Rod recalls; Consequences, Swaffham
Heritage, 2021

When the bank closed in 1976 the building became the home of Les and Dizzy’s Hot Bread = Kitchen until 1982 when the business was sold to Ken Barker and became the Wellbread Bakery.