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Clearly built as a private house, these premises have hosted various business endeavours from time to time. Just before Christmas 1841 a strange advertisement appeared in the local press. This was an opportunity to view a “Gigantic Child” at 6, St James Terrace, for which privilege the public could buy tickets. The price is unspecified but perhaps this was seen as great entertainment in the days before television.
In about March 1857 Mr William Hands, who described himself as a “Surgeon Dentist, Chemist etc.”, relocated his pharmacy to these premises, having formerly been at 17 Suffolk Parade (now number 33). He offered a range of pills and potions with extraordinary claims as to their efficacy, which should make us thankful for modern medicine! Mr Hands moved again in the mid 1860s, when he opened a chemist’s shop in the High Street, and there he died in 1909, aged 77. Mrs Hands also ran her millinery and dressmaking business at this address in 1857.
By 1871 Mr H. Sheppard ran his plumbing, gas fitting and decorating business from this house and in by 1881 the occupant had changed to Mr Ferdinand Dudly Ward Smith, a bricklayer and builder. By 1902 the house was once more entirely residential and appears to have remained so for much of the 20th century.
By the start of the 21st century this house was the home of a dog-grooming parlour called Charlie Allen’s Canine Comforts, offering a brushing, de – matting, bathing, blow dry, clipper cutting, scissor cutting & shaping, hand stripping, nail trimming, ear pluck (at additional cost) and more. The ear pluck and teeth brushing cost £4 each.
In recent years the house has reverted to residential use.
Researcher: Stuart Manton (January 2026)
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