110-111 High Street
George Bennett and Sons, drapers, soft furnishers and complete outfitters, had a shop here from the 1860s to the 1950s. One side of the shop sold clothes and the other sheets and household items. The site has been a Tesco since the 1960s.
112 High Street
The Hapgood family, who were ironmongers, established their premises here in 1848. Ann Hapgood took over the business after her husband Arthur’s death in 1898 and by the time of the 1911 census is listed as an ironmonger. The business lasted over a hundred years, finally closing in 1983 after the owner was fined for changing the windows without permission. It is now Friends Hair.
The Bennett family in the garden of Nos 110-111 in about the 1890s.
The roof of Bennetts on fire in 1940 and the aftermath of the fire instore. The King family lived over Bennetts during the war. One evening Lilian looked out of kitchen window and saw smoke, so rang the hand bell (on display) to call her husband Edward in from garden. As there was no phone in the house he ran across road to the telephone kiosk out and shouted ‘fire’ into the phone. Fortunately the fire engine came quickly and the fire was brought under control.
The Hapgood family were quite prominent in Lymington, owning and occupying various properties on the High Street over the years including Nos 19, 89, 112 and 113. One of the family members, Ronald, is shown here in about 1911.
