Originally built as a bakery and bakers shop in 1909 by Edmund Hanbury, it was the last building he commissioned in Thundridge. Serving not only Hanbury Manor but also the local villagers with fresh bread every day, it must have been a wonderful thing to have.
But then in 1923 it was sold as part of the 'estate auction' and became the local shop replacing the original small shop in Wadesmill, adjacent to the Anchor.
The bakery had worked for roughly thirteen years, 'thirteen' is also ironically known as a bakers dozen! and although the new owner 'let' the premises to become a shop why was it was not kept as a bakery?
So for the next 87 years Thundridge, Wadesmill and surrounding area had a village shop and Post Office. Then in 2009 the Post Office disappeared, like so many in England and the shop fell into decline.
So with a lack of investment and a loss of trade, partly due to the Post Office withdrawal and major remedial road works through Thundridge, in August 2010 the village shop ceased to exist and was left to rot!
Now, just over twelve months later the good news is that it has new owners and they are preparing to bring it back to life!
Visit the 'Thundridge Stores' website.
Shop as it is now, being brought back to life.
Bits found showing the sale of the estate in 1923
