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No 36 North Street
Most of the buildings on either side
of North Street change use regularly as businesses open then close and new
tenants take over. No 36 was built as a town house in the late 18th
century of red brick and blue slate but in recent years has
been used as a retail outlet for various trades, notably as a firm of
drapers and outfitters, firstly John Wall & Sons and later E B Horn which
took over the premises after moving from the Market Place.
A more recent use was as Henry's, a
restaurant and takeaway, which proved so popular with young people that in
September 2008, a group entry appeared on the Internet web site, Facebook
(see box below). It is now a bar known as Firkin Ale.
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John Wall & Sons |
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Old established businesses added
embellishments to their retail premises to impress customers and
here at their shop at Numbers 34 and 36 North Street,
John Wall and Sons,
who dressed many people in the town, introduced mosaics in
the entrance doorway that survive to this day although one half of the building
is now a real ale bar (see below) and the other an Italian
restaurant. |
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REMEMBERING HENRY'S
There is no accounting for taste but there are
many people out there who have a soft spot for Henry's, the snack
bar and takeaway that once occupied No 36 North Street but now
closed and Firkin Ale has been operating from the premises since
2006.
In September 2008, Mik Haynes opened a group on the Facebook web
site, the Internet social utility that connects people with friends
and others who work, study and live around them, where those who
remembered the food outlet could pay homage to the service it
provided and the two very friendly people, Hetty and Harry, who ran
it. He called his page "Henry's was Great" and he said in the
introduction: "It had a chip shop menu but was pub food-esque and it
was a great place to go for a good English meal at a good price. I
bet everyone has a particular memory about Henry's whether it be
their steakwich or just their ketchup which seemed to be better than
everyone else's. If you loved Henry's join the group and let
everyone know your usual order."
Many knew the place as Greasy Henry's but it was remembered with
real affection because the replies came flooding in and here are a
few samples:
(1) Their pizzas were top notch, always friendly whatever the time
of day, bring it back! (2) Oohh! Cheeseburger and chips! Always had
that on a Friday lunch time when we popped into town for half a
woodpecker in the Nags! There was something about the relish they
used if I remember rightly. Never had a burger as good anywhere
else! (3) Full English breakfast was tops for me, yum yum. (4)
Sausage and mash with onion gravy was two quid back in 1996. (5) The
double steakwich was the Number 1 top draw of all time in Bourne's
culinary history. It was about the only thing I would buy (other
than the Saturday morning hangover breakfast which was ad much of an
event amongst the boys as the night on the town previous) but well
worth it. Screw the Firkin, let's run a Bring Back Henry's Campaign.
(6) These lovely people supplied my school dinners, large chips
swimming in vinegar. Happy days. (7) Double steakwich. Top drawer.
(8) The best ever quarter-pounder with cheese! I have never ever had
a better burger since. It was the relish! (9) Half-pounder and chips
washed down with a dandelion and burdock. For take-away, fish chips
and peas. (10) You couldn't beat the all-day breakfast. (11)
Mmmmmmmmmm, mixed grill!
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