2013 Unoccupied (was organic food shop 1972 – 2012)

History:

• PIANOFORTE MAKER George Youatt 1872
• PIANOFORTE MAKER George Youatt & Son 1875-85

The Camden Town area contained many small piano manufacturers, and many Victorian homes had an upright piano.

Sesame, 1972

From 1867 there was a large piano factory in Fitzroy Road, saved from demolition in the 1970s by a vigorous local campaign. It is now known as Hopkinson’s Place, containing flats and Primrose Hill Community Centre. No.128 seems small for a piano maker, but might have been primarily a showcase shop where ready-made parts were assembled. In 1870 George Youatt had been at 148, and by 1890 there was a Victor Youatt, pianoforte maker and perhaps his son, at 140.

•  STATIONER Mrs Jane Salloway 1890
•  SECOND-HAND BOOKSELLER Albert Pitman  1895
•  SERVANTS’ REGISTER OFFICE Mrs Rose Alexander 1900

The grander homes round here had two or three servants. Even many ordinary families, including skilled workers and shopkeepers, had a resident maid-of-all-work. Others paid someone to come in once a week to do the ‘rough work’. Servants worked very long hours for very little money, and often had nowhere to sleep other than on rolled-out bedding in the kitchen.

• GLASS AND CHINA DEALER  Henry Hall 1905-10
•  MILLINER Madame Jeanne Tissington 1915-35
•  DRESSMAKER Mrs Margaret Mercier  1940
  

  Sesame organics, closed, in 2013

•  FRENCH POLISHER Henry Clarke 1955-50
• UPHOLSTERER Claude Casson 1970-60
•  ORGANIC FOOD SHOP  Sesame 1972-2012, now unoccupied