Hidden Horsham - Jones Bootmakers

Decoration above Jones the Bootmakers

These decorations are in West Street above Jones Bootmakers, to the right as you enter Swan Walk. Click on the thumbnail to the right to see the full image of the current shop front. The meaning of the symbology is not known and information would be appreciated

An undated photograph (no 92) in Bygone Horsham, see external links below, reveals that this was once Cheeseman's Piano Warehouse. The word 'piano' hung in discrete letters from the chimney to the left of the view shown. The chimney has now been removed and only the stub remains

To the left of this store stood The Swan Hotel, demolished to make way for the entrance to Swan Walk. The walk was once open but now is fully under cover. In its heyday the inn was just four and a half coaching hours from London. In the 1830s the coach left the inn every day at seven, except Sundays, and returned by eight in the evening

The image below c1960 shows a time when it was possible to drive and even park in West Street. Look carefully at the signage on the right and you may spot Dixeys the Optician who are still there, although they moved to the neighbouring store soon after 1951. The Swan Inn and building featured are centre ground on the left hand side

Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

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