8: Reed Employment
No 8 is a very narrow building squeezed in between two much wider ones.
In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. According to Salter, No. 8 was then in the occupation of a Mr Slatter, and its frontage measured just 4 yards 0 feet 7 inches.
At the time of the 1851 census, Esther Furley, the widow of the poulterer who had held this shop, lived upstairs with two servants.
In 1881, the surveyor and auctioneer John B. Hobdell (one of the partners in the ground-floor premises) lived upstairs with his 15-year-old schoolboy son.
In 1901 Stephen King, who sold china and glass, lived over his shop with his wife and baby son.
| Occupiers of 8 High Street | |
| 1839, 1846 | John Furley Poulterer |
| By 1852–1872 | John Fisher Surveyor, auctioneer, & builder |
| 1876–1885 | Fisher & Hobdell Auctioneers, builders, & surveyors |
| 1887–1896 | H. Harris Fancy bazaar |
| 1896–1968 | S. King & Son China & glass warehouse |
| 1970–1980 | Crombey Ltd Outfitters |
| 1980+ | Music Market (upstairs) |
| By 1993–present | Reed Employment Employment Bureau |