Warren's Stores, Whitecroft Road

Ann Carter in 1953

I worked part time at Warren’s shop from 1965 to 1971. The shop was then owned by Cyril and Peggy Warren who came from Barrington. Other part time employees were Eddie Hill from Shepreth, Lou Halsey from Whitecroft Road, Joan Wilkinson who lived in West Way and Betty Izzard and Margaret Harrup who lived in Howard Road.

The shop sold a very wide range of commodities. Fresh meat was purchased from an Orwell butcher. One regular customer had a weekly order for half a shoulder of lamb as long as it didn’t cost more than seven shillings and sixpence (37½ p). All dry goods, i.e. biscuits, dried fruit etc. were delivered in large boxes and had to be weighed up in special paper bags. Bacon was delivered as a whole side and had to be deboned and then sliced as required by the customers.

Each week Mr Warren would deliver orders to customers who were unable to visit the shop personally. Monday was half day closing when Mr Warren would go to Eaden Lilley’s in Cambridge to order any special items that customers requested.

At Christmas the shop ran a Christmas club where parents could contribute weekly towards the cost of either goods or toys. There was a special toy and confectionery section at this time of the year and if any child showed particular interest in something they wanted for Christmas the item would be secretly withdrawn and put in a box with the customer’s name on it.

After Warren’s sold the shop and went to live in North End it was bought by an Australian couple (Mr and Mrs Bacon) who after a short time sold up and returned to Australia. The shop then closed. Later it was opened as a Butcher’s by Russel Davey who now continues the business at Fieldgate Nurseries in Station Road

Ann Carter was interviewed by Ann Handscombe in April 2016.

Comments about this page

  • There may be some confusion, as there have been two village shops known as Warren’s. The one mentioned on this page was in Whitecroft Road. The shop that is now One Stop, in the High Street, was known as Warren’s Bakehouse in the early 1900s. From 1955 to 1965 it was run by Mr & Mrs Salisbury.
    See this page on our website for further details: https://www.meldrethhistory.org.uk/the-village/streets/high_street-3/from_warrens_to_one_stop

    By Meldreth Local History Group (27/12/2020)
  • The Hutchinsons had the shop after the Bacons I think? I lived opposite the shop with my parents from 1963 until 1981 and loved popping over the road to get my sweets with my pocket money!!

    By Lindy Thomas (27/12/2020)
  • Before the Warrens had the shop was it run by the Salisbury sisters as I have a vague memory of a little shop with a door on the side of the building? We would go there on our way to school to buy sweets. As I recall it was very small inside and must have undergone alterations in the mid 1960s.

    By Trevor j graver (26/12/2020)

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