History of Ashwell Stores/Parade House in photos

In the Church Account Books of the Ashwell Churchwardens dated 1570 it states “Item payed John Sell for oyle for the clock 1117d.”  and an entry in 1592 “Item payed unto John Sell for whipcord and nails 11117d.” so there is evidence of a shop 450 years ago -  I suspect it always was a shop, was John Sell the first proprietor?

The property has been changed and added too many times during its hundreds of years of history, like all things it has evolved.  The front of the property dates from the 1400’s with later additions ie the warehouse which dates from the late 1700’s.