In common with many other old buildings, we find our new workspace to be plenty in atmosphere and lacking only in right angles and heating. On the bright side, our rolling floors and rolling chairs combine in a thrilling high-speed experience! As we traverse through the workday, forgetting the past is an impossible task. We cannot help but bump up to it – indeed, history seeps out of the wood grain. And on dark days when the sky dims and drizzle descends, the distant past seems ever closer in this narrow, cobbled alley.
It is the dawn of the 1600s – ruffs are in vogue, smallpox is rampaging and the timber for our building is being felled. Great oaks are hewn and pieced together with wooden pegs forming this simple, solid structure that’s stood for 400 years. What has come before us? We can only imagine. Indeed, the existence of a ghost and the possibility of one are often much in the same. In this line of thinking, we can tentatively suggest that our workspace is not only shared with the Charlie the dog. Perhaps this building is home to a whole cast of historical characters, lingering between here and then.
Starting life as a domestic and commercial building, Robert Corduroy was the first of many to occupy these rooms that we know of, his lease dating from 1621. Devizes, grown rich from the wool and cloth trade, had almost a surplus of wealthy tradesmen or small merchants. A large building such as this was well suited to these plucky individuals, with the direct route through the alley to the market only adding to the allure. Though now blocked off, St John’s Alley was once a connection between the Old Shambles and the Tanners Market, now the small space in front of the Town Hall.
It took almost 200 years to become an Alehouse in 1794, following the long and noble British tradition of finding new places to drink. Latterly known as ‘The Wheatsheaf’ or ‘The Boot Inn’, the sometime proprietors Mr James and John Tylee ran not only this pub. As mayors of Devizes, each taking his turn, they were surely very busy. Perhaps now they find rest, and join us each day for a drink. I hope they are content with our offerings – there is a distinct lack of ale in our kitchenette.
In 1878, building use changed yet again. Still owned by the Tylee family, they begun a new tenancy with a Mr Charles Bennet, seller of second-hand furniture. From pub to furniture depot is quite the switch, however it proved to be a lasting one as following the death of Bennet, a Mr Noah Huges resumed the business. Sadly, his career ended by his admission to the local insane asylum. Driven mad by furniture – let’s hope history does not repeat itself here. It was in 1926 that 2-3 St John’s Alley become what it is now. For almost the past 100 years, people just like you or I have walked up the stairs and into work. It is a rather romantic notion, this continuance of a century old pattern of life. However, the disrepair of the building and subsequent discovery of dry rot in 1975 put a rather unromantic and blunt pause in this history.
It was in the 1980s when major restoration and refurbishment work was undertaken to save the crumbling building, primarily undertaken by Dr Summerhayes. A fusion of new and old timber and the creation of two bay windows only add to the tapestry of alterations and repairs done to this building. The tentative light that comes in through our large windows complement rather well the victorian brick smokestack. The view from the additional 19th century storey is lovely on a sunny day and as for the cellar? Well, one can only imagine the spirits once kept and still lingering.
In present day, we have some rather colourful, vibrant and often feathered downstairs neighbours. In a kaleidoscope of netting and flowers, the hats of Joan Pressley Hat Shop greet us each morning. It’s a cheery start to each day, a surprising contrast to the muted historical pallet of St John’s Alley. As we each arrive and settle in for the day, I like to think we are kept company each day by a host of historical characters who take joy in the sound of chatter in the alley, the thundering of rain against our windows, and of course enjoy the sight of some good hats.
