51 Fleetgate Front Room - Barber's Shop and Tobacconist's

Background:

The front rooms are about 250 years old, dating from the 1750's, replacing a building, which is thought to have been built in the 14th century, more than 600 years ago. This house was once part of a larger single dwelling, which included no 47 and 49 and has served many owners. In the early 15th century it was the property of a wealthy merchant, who built a large hall at the rear. It was probably a farmhouse at one time and we also think it was once a boarding school.

The Clipson family bought 51 Fleetgate in 1908 and opened a barber's shop and tobacconist's, so it would have been very much a man's shop. Shaving in those days was by cut-throat razor and you needed a steady hand to avoid a cut. Many men visited the barber every morning for an early shave as well as using the barber's services for hair trimmimg, when necessary. The daily visit to the barbers died out when the safety razor was introduced and not too long after that the electric razor was invented. The last owner, Fred Clipson, eventually changed the shop to a newsagent's, which he ran until he died in 1989. He had not put in any of the modern conveniences that we are all used to, like an inside toilet or a modern kitchen, so it was easy to restore the house, in parts to how it would have looked over one hundred years ago.

Principal Features:

• The ceiling is papered with advertising posters for the Lloyds Newspaper, some featuring news items from a paper published in 1890. There is Stanley meeting Livingstone during their explorations of Africa and the famous daredevil Blondin crossing Niagra Falls on a tightrope. There are also pictures of Victorian families and of sporting events.
• There is an Edwardian wash basin which had the only source of mains water ever to be connected to the building. It is not connected now. It would have been used for shaving, with hot water brought in from the kitchen range side boiler. The basin was not connected to the drains, so waste water would have drained into a bucket and been carried outside for disposal.
• There is a razor rack at the side of the sink. Razors were sharpened with a leather strop.
• The bay window was added in 1927.
• There were three barber chairs, which were converted from ordinary kitchen chairs. Men would have waited their turn in the chair, sitting on wooden benches like the ones still in place.
• Lighting in 1908 was by gas and the fittings are still in place.
• The open fire surround is probably Georgian, with the grate dating from the early 1900's.
• The deed on the wall is dated the 29th year of King George III (1789).

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