[Lyn L]

PC, your wife is right  That is where the shop was and it was double fronted with the steps up to the doorway.

The date it closed had to be in the  1980s I think ? and I'm sure nothing else replaced it before it was demolished .  I'll try and get some more info though.

[peterchall]

I note that there is now what seems to be an archway through to the back of some houses/flats next to the domestic appliance shop, and my wife says that's where the shop was - I thought it was a bit further along and recall a double fronted, black painted, shop with 2 or 3 steps up to a set-back door. My domestic bliss depends on the answer

So did another retail business replace Wares or was the building replaced when the business was sold? Any ideas of dates? 

[Signals99]

Lyn L
I recall an elderly lady in the shop sometimes, always wore high neck dresses invariably fastened at the neck by a cameo broach. Also a very dapper middle aged man called Robert who was always fussing around her. I do believe it was the owner and her son. As I say, when you entered Wares you went back almost to Victorian times, one of my dear old dads observations. Hope this helps.

[Lyn L]

A friend of mine was the best friend of the daughter of the last owner of Wares. I can't remember the lady`s name now but seem to think she was a Ware before marriage. I believe she sold the business due to her failing health, Parkinson's Disease springs to mind.
It was an amazing shop, but some of her stock had been there years and yet she knew exactly where anything was. I bought all sorts of things there, when I was knitting (for England it seemed) I would always go there for wool and patterns. I will contact my friend and see if she's still in touch with the daughter and maybe find out a little more  ?

[Signals99]

Rochester-bred.
Correct on all three shops, the fishmongers was Squirrels, as stated the hardware shop was Woodcrafts, I think the butchers was Williams, and next to that was a newsagent.
There was a public house next to Squirrels, on the corner of a cul-de sac (back entrance to SEEB showrooms.). On the corner of Victoria Street and East Row was the old brewery building, plus a shop that at one time was an off licence.
PM sent to PTB and MIKE S ref Wares shop. Thank you gents

[peterchall]

I bought the materials to make my daughters' (plural because it was passed down the line like clothes) dolls-house at Woodcrafts. It included very small patterned wall-paper and miniature furniture, so presumably it specialised in such stuff and is why I went there from Chatham. The dolls-house - a bungalow of which the roof lifted off to give easy access - is still in my loft.

I believe the Ware family suffered a tragedy when the daughter was killed in an accident on her wedding morning.

[Mike S]

The DIY shop was Woodcrafts, owned by a man by the name of Philbrick, can't remember his first name.

[Rochester-bred]

I bought some of my sons baby clothes from Wares and anything from buttons, ribbon, wool, etc.

Does anyone remember the shop opposite Wares on the other side of the road where they sold things like nails, screws and bits of D.I.Y. things. I even remember going in and getting the odd bolt for my pram and also door knobs, but I can`t remember its name and wasn't there a butchers on the same side of the road as well as a fishmongers?

[Mike S]

Yes, it was Wares, at some time in the 1950's. They had pencils - triangular in section with their name printed on them. This was presumably an advertising excercise with pencils being given to customers. My father had one, but he was not a customer, he workrd for the opposition - Leonards in the High Street.

[prb]

Can only remember Wares in Victoria Street

[Signals99]

To all you old Rochester lads & lasses, looking for the name of the haberdashers in Victoria Street. It was on the left hand side looking towards Star Hill from the bottom of East Row. You went up three steps to enter the premises, inside you went back thirty years, small cane chairs for the customers, everything in neat wooden trays and a wonderful old Grandfather clock in the corner.
My mother bought her corsets there, a wonderful construction of whale bone, yards of pink lace all topped (or bottomed  off by a set of suspenders designed to support a battleship.