Old Shops in North Berwick

[lizci]

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help me with information about old shops in North Berwick.

My g-g-grandmother's half-sister, Lavinia Fraser, seems to have had a shop in the High Street - 1881 and 1891 she was at 22 High Street, first described as a toy merchant and then a fancy shopkeeper.  In 1901 she was at 50 High Street, a fancy goods merchant.  (I'm presuming she lived "above the shop".)

I'd like to know more about the shops, but also hoping I might discover what happened to Lavinia.  She doesn't appear in the 1911 Census, and I can find no death record for her anywhere in Scotland (or England) for that time period.  I even checked if she'd got married, though she was 60 in 1901, so that seemed unlikely.

I don't know if there are any trade directories for North Berwick, which might help me find out if and when the shop changed hands, to pin down when she disappeared!

Thanks in anticipation.

Lizci

[hume]

Hi Lizci,

I'm not sure if you've found (and disproved) this one already, but there was a Lavina [sic] Fraser, born around 1832, who died 1st March 1904 in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario as per FamilySearch.

I had a quick look on the 1901 Canadian census to see if I could rule this out, but I didn't find anyone matching these details which sounds hopeful.

hume

[lizci]

Hi Hume
Thanks for this information - it's certainly a possibility.  "My" Lavinia was born about 1839, but I've seen so many wrong ages on death certificates that I wouldn't rule this one out.  It would explain the lack of any death record in this country.
She was unmarried but had several older half-sisters, so it may be that one of them (or one of their children) had gone to Canada, and she decided to visit them.  I will certainly pursue this line of enquiry.
Many thanks for your help,
Lizci

[elboy]

Lizci

There is a new publication about old shops in North Berwick which has recently gone on sale.

elboy

[lizci]

Thanks Elboy - do you happen to know what it's called?  I had a look at Stenlake Publications website to see if it was one of their books.  I did find one on Old North Berwick, but it was more general - not just shops.  Or maybe this is one that's been published locally???

Lizci

[Lorna1320]

You might also like to try the Haddington Library as they have newspapers that would have advertisements in Haddington.  I think its based in North Berwick up from the North Berwick Fry - but you would need to check as I know that some records are moving into Haddington Court Street soon.  I managed to find my Great-Great Grandfather James T Muat Watchmaker's shop in Quality Street, North Berwick this way. 

Lorna1320

[elboy]

Lizci

The book is on sale at this shop. Best ask what dates it covers.

1 High Street, North Berwick, East Lothian EH39 4HH
01620 890903 ‎ · tippecanoe.co.uk

elboy

[Lorna1320]

The book is called 'Old Haddington' and its by Craig Statham instead of Malcolm Cant who does the vast majority of the books.  Its published by Stenlake Publishing Limited in Ayrshire, 01290 55122 or www.stenlake.co.uk - but you can try to GOOGLE it to see if you can buy it elsewhere. 

I've got the book if you want me to do a look up - but you are probably better getting hold of a copy yourself that way you can see what's in it.  My book cost £7.99 and that was about 5 years ago.

Lorna1320

[lizci]

Lorna1320 and Elboy - thanks for your help.  I'll see if I can get a copy of the book.  I'm in the west of Scotland but hope to make a trip to East Lothian some time to look up old newspapers .. they may give me another lead.

Lizci