Whitemoor Road Chippy – Reborn as Captains Chippy
Who remembers the – Corner Seat Restaurant (previously called a café) that was on the corner of Station Road and Warwick Road? During the 1960s it was once owned and run by Mr Dolphin, and was a very popular venue for decades.
The very distinctive Bow-Window frontage was designed by George Clarke, brother to Dennis Clarke who owned Inchbrook Woodworking Ltd, my then, employers.
I was the joiner who made the whole thing with very little help in their workshop at Common Lane during 1966. English Oak was the timber used, the deep chamfered profiles on the mock Georgian window bars were machined by Raymond Tisdale Joinery, whose workshop was opposite us in Common Lane.
The whole frontage was drawn out full-size onto a joined sheet of hardboard, using the tried and tested ‘rod method,’ to ensure accuracy of fit, into the huge opening. It was one of the most complicated joinery projects I ever tackled, no glue was used just traditional mortice and tenon joints, with wooden pegs for the main frames.
It took me about three weeks from start to finish working alone, I only received help during final assembly. The whole thing was transported by lorry on a cold Sunday morning, I had a small gang to help remove the old frontage, and to break up the quarter plate glass windows, which was a surprisingly tough job. We did it by jumping on the unsupported sections of glass, until we had small enough pieces to load.
Once the whole new frontage was fixed in place and the front door hung, the premises were boarded up until the next day. You can see from the photograph, just how many panes of glass were fitted, each one held in by dozens of very thin oak beads, embedded in waterproof mastic.
The restaurant was opened the following week, after the linseed oil finish had dried and all the timber to brick joints were sealed and secure. I still have the hand-made gouge I used to scoop out some of the surfaces to give the window a ‘weather-worn’ appearance, as requested by the owner – criminal.
The Bow-Framed window was still present during the 1990s (left). But later, it disappeared and replaced with the new frontage.
When the cafe/restaurant eventually closed, the window stayed in situ for estate agent, Newey Property (and the short-lived Kitchen Factory Showroom) until it was removed for the current frontage. I desperately would have liked to rescue the window, to use as a conservatory, but it was thrown away and gone forever. Such is life.
Copyright Cyril Hobbins 2023
Adverts from 1947 and 1969. (source – Kelly’s Directories)
By 2023, 73-year-old Arthur Harrison, had been running hardware shops for 55 years, but decided it was time to hang up his overalls for good. He had been well-known on the ‘DIY circuit’, having first run shops in his home city of Coventry. ‘Arthur’s Food Store’ was his first shop in Stoney Stanton Road back in 1969, when he was just 18. He then moved to Hexworthy Avenue in Styvechale, before coming to Kenilworth.
Advert from Kenilworth Weekly News 1988
Arthur ran Buyrite in Kenilworth for more than three decades, but readily admitted he couldn’t remember the exact year he arrived. But he remarked that the time had come for him to retire, which had been forced upon him.
The landlords have decided to re-develop the site into flats and a shop below. Over the years Buyrite had three premises: two in Talisman Square and the final one in Station Road.
Arthur said: “They have made up their minds, but I’m okay with that. I feel like it’s the right time for me to retire; I can’t say anything bad about the landlords because they have been good to me over the years.” He added: “It will be a sad day when I finally close because I really do like the customers here in Kenilworth. It’s a really nice place to have a shop.”
Like most businesses which are about to close, he expected a busy last few weeks before the shutters go-up, which was originally set for 25th March, but was extended by the landlords for a month. They even opened on Sundays to help get rid of the stock. He remarked: “Takings are already up now they know I’m going!”
The arrival of Wilkinson (later re-named Wilko, now B&M), opposite the shop in 2011, actually did him a great favour. If they haven’t got something, people would just walk across the road and see if he had it in stock. If not, Arthur would always say: “We’ll have it in by Monday.” Wilko, without doubt increased Buyrite’s footfall.
Cyril Hobbins (The late) – A well-known Kenilworth resident wrote: “I shall pop in for ‘Four Candles’ before you shut the shop for good.”
Ann Hunt – “So sad yesterday to see Arthur putting up ‘closing down’ posters in his window. He has been an absolute stalwart of the local retail landscape for so many years. I for one will miss him!”
David Ian Ball – “This is sad news, by far the best shop in Kenilworth!”
Bev Clifford – “The council moved him about due to ‘knocking’ down buildings but Arthur took it all in his stride and carried on. His humour and cheerful nature will be another great loss to Kenilworth. Good luck to retirement.”
Melanie Lawrence – “That’s so sad to hear. I’ve lived in Kenilworth for over 30 years and he has always been there and always so friendly and cheerful. Will be so strange not to see him there.”
Kath Shortley – “Happy retirement Arthur, you deserve it. You were a good neighbour to Alec and myself at Juteronomy. All the very best. You will be missed in the town.”
Marianne Dawn – “Oh no! Love that shop and Arthur. In that Aladdin’s cave, he knows where everything is as well.”
Michaela Franklin – “Sad news, grew up with his shop by my nan’s house in Styvechale. Was always nice to know, when he was in Kenilworth if you ever needed that ‘thing‘ you couldn’t get anywhere else.”
James Fletcher – “The only person who can find a needle in a haystack.”
Sare Scooby Tabor – “Ooh, Mr Arkwright we will miss the banter, you are a legend. Your two beautiful daughters have worked so god damn hard, credit to you.”
In the last few weeks before closure, Arthur was literally selling everything, the shelving and even the till had to go. By the last day of trading the shop was virtually empty but his daughter Louise indicated that any leftover stock would be donated to charity.
Photo courtesy the late of Cyril Hobbins
Due to illness, Arthur was unable to attend the shop for the last couple of weeks of trading. His daughters took charge of the shop during this period. But he was able to attend on the final day of trading, Saturday 29th April 2023. As usual he had a big smile on his face!
One question some Kenilworth people asked Arthur was: “How the devil do you do a stock-take, in a place like this?”
Sadly, Arthur died on 4th August 2023. His funeral took place at Cannon Hill Chapel, Canley Crematorium, on 21st August.
The Railtons were a Banbury based family whose main business was farming, but also owned a shoe shop in the town which was run by manager, Solomon Shrimpton. They then decided to open other branches at: Chipping Norton, Buckingham and Kenilworth. To manage the shop at Kenilworth they entrusted Solomon Shrimpton’s son, Ernest, who had been gaining experience of the shoe trade at their Banbury shop.
Born in 1880, he had married Nellie Louise Judge at Banbury in 1904, and bought her to Kenilworth, and they settled into married life living above the shop. They had one child together, a daughter called Nellie. The Railtons had taken over the shoe shop of Herbert Wridgway at No. 10, The Square (now Enhanced Mobility). Within a short time, the business had moved into the larger shop next door at No. 6, (presently the Tree House Bookshop), where it became a permanent fixture in the town.
Following the sudden death of Henry Hill Railton, when he was only 46 years-old, Ernest was able to purchase the business from the Railton family, concluding the deal on 27th May 1915. He paid them a whopping £1,840-12s-6p for the business, with a loan of £1000 over a seven-year-period, a loan he actually got from the Railton family, such was their trust in him.
With WW1 now into its third year, the Army was on the look-out for new recruits, and a town’s such as Kenilworth were being targeted. At a tribunal in November 1916, Ernest was spared conscription as he was considered to be unfit for military service, instead, he was granted a munitions order. This made him work 36 hours-per-week, he ended up working at the Coventry Ordnance Works, Stoney Stanton Road, in Coventry. It was here that some of the heaviest British guns were made during the war.
Ernest also (for a period) had a shop in New Street, but the year is unknown. He may well have moved there temporarily for some reason. It could also have been while the main shop was having some refurbisments, or he may have just trying out another shop in town, seeing if it might work. As can be seen, it was a much smaller shop than the one in The Square.
He was obviously a very shrewd businessman, promoting his footwear at every available opportunity. He organised many window displays at other businesses, like at the Building Societies, and also at dinner and dance functions etc. He sold a wide variety of footwear, including many different brands, including: Clarks, Norvic, Lotus, Mascot and Delta. He was a regular advertiser in many local newspapers, so he knew the value of advertising, and it obviously worked for him.
In 1930, Ernest attended an coroner’s inquest, concerning the death of 67 year old Thomas Owens of Roseland Road, who had been an employee of his for 16 years. He had taken his own life by drowning in the River Avon at Warwick, following the death of his wife two days earlier, and was seemingly un-able to cope with his loss. He had been plagued with leg problems since infancy, and was also suffered from bouts of depression.
The “Boot Business” was obviously thriving, and by 1936, Ernest had saved enough money to purchase a sizeable plot of land at Abbey End, where he had a house build. He and Nellie would stay there for the rest of their lives. The house he built still survives today, and is located in the area of the present day Mulberry Court.
The shop was damaged when the landmine was dropped on The Square/Abbey End in 1940. Soon after, Ernest decided to sell the business to the Norvic Shoe Company, who were a large footwear manufacturer based in Norwich and Northampton. They had numerous shops around the country, and Kenilworth was a good addition to their business.
The sale of the business gave him the opportunity to retire at the age of about 60, giving him time to concentrate on his interests. He had a great passion for crown green bowling, and spent many happy hours on the green in the Abbey Fields (now a children’s play area). He was a long-standing committee member of the Tennis & Bowls Club, and by 1965, at the age of 85, he was the only original member left. In his younger life, he liked keeping fit and was very keen on gymnastics, and cross country running. His other interests included football, and was a keen supporter of Coventry City, and watched them for many seasons. He was a firm believer in supporting your local team.
In 1953, he was at the diamond jubilee celebrations of his former school, Banbury Grammar. Over 1000 past and present pupils attended, and one of the dignitaries in attendance, was none other than MP for Stratford, John Profumo.
Along with Charles Randall, he was a founder member of the Kenilworth Conservative Club. Indeed, he was in attendance during their 50th anniversary celebrations at the club in 1964. The event was reported in the 6th November edition of the Kenilworth Weekly News, and the catering was put on by fellow member Mr Fancott, of the Fancott’s Bakery.
The name Railton, remained above the shop until about 1958 (probably for commercial reasons), then the Norvic name eventually appeared. In was around 1967 that Norvic eventually closed, and the premises were taken over by horticultural & pet food supplier, F. W. Hodgskins. The property has since been the, Picture Shop, and presently, the Tree House Bookshop.
Nellie died in 1969, aged 92, but Ernest lived for another eleven years, passing away in 1980, he was just over 100!. He had enjoyed, the best part of forty years in retirement.
