Now combined with No 5, this 17th C building housed 2 businesses in the Victorian Era. The steep roof indicates originally thatched.
Although this looks to have typical Victorian shop fronts, no 7 Church Street is substantially older than it might first appear. The steep roof was originally thatched, the kick out at the lower edge also indicates that a later brick skin was added to the original frontage.
In the 1600s, many of the buildings in Harleston would have been thatched which makes it even more remarkable that the town never had a major fire such as the one that destroyed Bungay.
The old chapel which stood just around the corner from No7 (on the North East side of the Market Place) used to house the town firefighting provision.
In 1712, three Cromes (hooked agricultural fork) and 25 Bucketts sic and 2 ladders were kept for the use of the town
A typical Georgian
Leather Fire Bucket
Looking more its age in this late 19th / Early 20th Century image
In the 1850s the two buildings were partially united to form a bakers and bread shop before being separated again, rejoined by the 1920s to make a large general store, separated again in the post war era then re-combined as they are today into a café.
Kennys Stores on a rainy day in the 20’s
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