26 Derby Street, The Derby Arms

History of 26 Derby Street

By 1881 Mr Henry William Hunt was trading at from this corner premises as a millwright and general storekeeper until Mr John Glasscock took over in 1886 to trade as the Fly & Hackney cab company cab company as well as obtaining a licence to serve alcohol and traded as the Derby Arms. From 1891-94 Mrs Ann Hyland followed and then from around 1884 Mrs Sarah Lakin took over the licence and added the trades of grocer and tea dealer. She is still there in 1913. She would sell a cupful of jam for 1d (penny). By the ‘20s Mr Challis was in charge, followed by Mrs H. Pocock in the 1950s. Mr & Mrs Callan ran the business from 1973 to January 1987.

By the mid 1990s or so, the Derby Stores was in the safe hands of the Singhs who have run it with their indefatigable and versatile team. They have transformed this corner shop to become a focal point for Newnham residents in search of traditional and unusual foods, and the Singhs have correspondingly broadened their range of goods. The store is stocked from floor to ceiling with a wide array of delicatessen, wines & spirits, kosha foods, with fresh fruit and vegetables displayed enticingly on the pavement. Neera’s own home-made curries have proved very popular. Services provided are: to take in dry cleaning, the post office services taken over from the former owners at No.21 Granchester Street and banking services. When Mike and Marion Richards retired from running the original post office at 21 Grantchester Street in 2000, the Singhs took over the business from the Derby Stores so as not to let the Newnham community down. With it came a full panoply of stationery, pens, wrapping paper, cards and calendars.

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• The Derby Stores, 26 Derby Street (from 1881)

Census Information

1901

John Lakin, 51, grocer and beer retailer, b London
Sarah, 51, b Cambs
Comfort, daughter, 16, post office telephone, b Cheshire

1913

Mrs Sarah Lakin, grocery, provision, and general stores, off beer license