By the 1871 census the business was being run by Vaughan, Joseph (53) Baker. Given his age it seems quite likely that he worked there previously and took over the business when George Hackett died. Joseph Vaughan was still there in the 1881 census, aged 63.
By the 1891 census Joseph had died but his widow Martha, aged 77 by this time, still kept a business going here – but as a Confectioner.
At the 1901 census, interestingly, the shop is being run as both a bakery and a confectioners by one Rawlins, (43) James, describing himself as Baker and confectioner. He continues to run this business for three decades, through the 1911 and 1921 censuses.
Under the 100 year rule, the 1921 census is the last one to have been released, in 2022. The 1931 census was taken but completely destroyed in a German raid during the Second World War. No census was taken in 1941 because of the war and the 1951 census will not be released until 2052.
So today’s historians turn their attention to the Kelly’s street directories, and we can resume our research into the business owners of this shop from the 1931 and 1938 Kelly’s.
In 1931 the business is in the hands of Harry James Bowley. By 1938 it is being advertised as Martin’s newsagents and general stores, proprietors R & J Martin, perhaps a husband and wife team.
In 1939 at the start of the war the government took a mini-census of the entire population in order to be able to issue identity cards. This is known as the 1939 Register and has “stood in” as the 1941 census, but more importantly – right up until the 1990s – was used to issue and record NHS numbers and changes of marital status. Amazingly, notwithstanding the 100 year rule, the 1939 Register has been released and can be consulted.
The residents of no 34 Westgate are recorded in September 1939 and this is where we see the Deering family have moved in. The business is named after F J Deering but is being run by his son Eric (27), who is registered as the newsagent, tobacconist and confectioner. His father Frederick, aged 52, is living there with his mother Daisy (56) and sister Claire (26) and Fred and Claire are both recorded as shop assistants.
Tony Keating, who still lives in Chichester but grew up on Westgate, remembers the shop from the 1940s. In 1950 the Post Office renumbered the entire street and no.34 became no. 40. If you consult the 1954 Kelly’s the shop is still there as F J Deering, newsagents. The business survived many more years, before succumbing to the impact of the College opening its own shop and removing a large chunk of its passing trade. The property is now a private residence but, in the Chichester Conservation Area since 1970, the shop frontage has been retained and adds a lingering historical interest to our streetscape.
Colin Hicks 2025