A view of market square looking east in 1948

This high angle shot was taken out of an upstairs window at The Grange, then converted into shops. On the extreme right can be seen Harry Streatfeild in his wheelchair  with his sister Alice who was his constant companion as Harry had been crippled from birth. They are deep in conversation with Mrs Bill Draper outside Luckins drapers shop behind them. Luckins was comically described by one elderly resident as ‘Evenden’s for women’ as there was nothing you couldn’t buy there from a whalebone stay for a corset to a buttonhook for ladies boots and everything in between.

The ‘South Suburban Co-op’ shop on the left of  the picture was their drapery department  for both men and women. Just before WWII, Westerham retail trade included five drapers and two bespoke tailors.