In the 1880s Fishermen lived here besides tradesmen, skilled workers & shopkeepers. Street directories show that residents included a confectioner, dressmaker, bell hanger, blacksmith and bootmaker. Thomas Boucher was listed at no.33 as a comedian. Cross referencing newspaper records we found he was a fruit and potato merchant - his shop doubled up as a theatrical dress store, lending costumes to local productions. He was a champion swimmer, gave diving displays through hoops, a voluntary fireman & amateur actor. He also went to court for assaulting his wife. We haven’t yet found anyone who has heard of Thomas Boucher or knows anything else about him. If you have any information we would love to hear from you.
Biddy the Tubman grew up on West Street as part of a large family. Many buildings were built as warehouses and would have had a donkey living in the bottom room to pull fish up from the shore.
Market Hall hosted public gatherings, talks & rallies, prominent Suffragettes, political and religious groups spoke there. It held Easter balls until 5am & also tea parties for poor children, raising money to buy them boots. It was also at one time a Coroner’s court, a theatre and an aquarium (housing an octopus).
The two large buildings at the top end (on Marine Parade) were formerly libraries, one with a billiards room where 'elegant musical evenings were held'. One later became the Belle-Vue boarding house, later the Norfolk Hotel and at one stage was a photographic studio. Oswald Mosely and the Black Shirts spoke there. At the other end of the street The Hastings Arms hosted meetings of the Ancient Order of Druids.
The artist Rosetti stayed in rooms above The Cutter while courting Lizzie Siddal, where at one point the landlord was James Bell, a former valet to Lord Nelson.
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