Number 20

Introduction

When John Jagger rebuilt this side of Carr Lane in 1925, most shopkeepers lived above their premises. But not here. No. 20 was the only purpose‑built lock‑up shop on the whole parade — small, single‑storey, and designed for someone to turn the key at night and head home. And yet, for nearly a century, more village life has passed through this tiny doorway than you’d ever imagine.

Legacy

It’s easy to overlook No. 20. It’s small, low, and modest. But inside this tiny lock‑up lies almost a century of village life — fish suppers, great wheels of cheese, Barnsley mill girls queueing for sandwiches, decades of flowers, and now award‑winning ice cream.

It has never had a family living above it, but it has always had the village living through it.

No. 20 shows that even the smallest shop on the parade can hold some of the biggest stories.

Fun Fact

This building was a ‘lock-up’, There was no upstairs accommodation, the shop-keeper simply ‘locked-up’ at the end of the day and went home.

Listen to the history of the shop or scroll through the timeline. Narrated by Henry Sawyer

Creative Response

The story of a shop at the end of a row of shops – The story of Harry Redman’s fish ‘n’ chips – A poem, a dance and a film

Credits: Poet: Adam Strickson, Dancer: Sanchita Mazumdar, Film maker: Elia Tomé

Adam is the lead artist for Kirklees arts charity, 6 million+, working with refugees of all ages from twelve countries and was delighted to lead this group for their participation in Moonraking Festival 25, when they created a beautiful floating moon for the canal and joyously participated in the procession.

Brought up in the Cotswolds, Adam has lived in or near Slaithwaite for nearly 40 years. He has had 3 poetry collections published and has been Poet in Residence for Ilkley Literature Festival. Adam is currently working with Balbir Singh Dance Company, finding creative ways for people to manage long term pain.

Adam says,

“I wanted to celebrate the wider, diverse nature of West Yorkshire and the many communities I work with as well as the fascinating history of my home of Slaithwaite. Fish and chips, which seems so English but has fascinating origins in other cultures, seemed to be the ideal vehicle for this exploration. Bringing a South Asian dancer from Brighouse who uses Indian classical dance and British Sign Language (BSL) and a Greek-Lebanese film-maker from Leeds into the mix has hopefully resulted in an entertaining and informative intercultural poetry film that will have wide appeal.”

The dancer, Sanchita, uses a mix of Indian Kathak and BSL (British Sign Language) to illustrate the poem.

1927–Early 1930s

George Hay, Fried Fish Dealer

The earliest record comes from Kelly’s Directory, 1927, listing George Hay, Fried Fish Dealer.
This was classic lock-up work: long hours, hot oil, and food served wrapped in paper. By the early 1930s, the fryer was still going strong, filling Carr Lane with the smell of chips.

1930s–1951

Harry Redman

In the early 1930s, the shop passed to Harry Redman. Though he lived elsewhere on Carr Lane, the family had strong shopkeeping roots — his wife Alice Annie sold sweets and tobacco nearby, and the trades overlapped.

Harry’s early life was shaped by hardship; his father died of Spanish Flu, and his mother worked at Crowther’s Mill. During the war, Harry served as an Air Raid Prevention (ARP) Warden while continuing to run the shop.

In 1951, the shop was formally transferred to his mother and again recorded simply as a lock-up.

1961–1968

George & Hilda Mullins, Cheesemongers

In 1961, George and Hilda Mullins bought No. 20. Remembered simply as “the cheese people,” they sold large wheels of Cheshire and Lancashire cheese — the kind that had to be regularly turned to keep in good condition.
Older villagers still associate No. 20 with cheese above all else.

1968–1972

Benny Parker

The shop next passed to John “Benny” Parker, a young, energetic musician who had toured army bases and recorded music — but here ran a tiny, extremely busy shop. Workers from Globe Mill, including bus-loads of Barnsley lasses, packed the space daily. “It were about the size of a front room,” Benny recalled. “Stand in the middle and you could touch both walls.” His mother Hilda Parker worked alongside him, firmly keeping things in order. In 1972, Benny sold the business to Valerie Pickering, linked to the neighbouring shop at No. 19.

Late 1970s–2000s

Valley Florists

By the late 1970s, No. 20 became Valley Florists, run by Alec and Jean Wilkinson. For over thirty years, the shop was filled with flowers for weddings, funerals, churches and everyday homes. Jean Wilkinson became one of those familiar, welcoming faces that defined Carr Lane.

2000s–Present

Vanilla Bean

In the early 2000s, Janice Joyce expanded her homemade ice-cream business into No. 20, joined by her husband Eric, a retired firefighter. Together they created Vanilla Bean, producing award-winning ice cream from this tiny unit. There were successes — and the occasional mishap, including one memorable freezer switch-off. In 2017, the business passed to Andrew Coates, and today is carried on by Matthew and Charlotte Castle, keeping the shop lively, popular and much loved.

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Number 20

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