At Randell’s Footcare, our clinics are tucked away across North Norfolk, often occupying buildings with long-forgotten pasts. Unlike high street chains or modern shopping centres, many of our locations are steeped in history. And our Aylsham clinic on Penfold Street is no exception.
The name Penfold Street itself harks back to centuries past, referencing the old animal pound once located on nearby Blickling Road. But it’s the very building we now call home that tells the most intriguing story.
Leather, Labour and Local Trade
In 1839, the rear buildings of the Black Boys pub (still a notable Aylsham landmark) were owned by Richard Clarke. While a tenant ran the pub out front, Clarke was hard at work behind the scenes, crafting leather goods from hides in his workshop. These back buildings housed his weighing room. Where tanned hides were measured—and a currying shop, where leather was treated, dyed, and made supple. It was a place of trade and industry, but not without its strong, distinctive smells!
Coffins, Auctions and Soldiers
By 1913, the site’s purpose had shifted dramatically. It became home to Walter Wade’s undertakers, the sound of hammers once used on leather now driving nails into coffins. Later, Stanley Bruce’s auction house brought the lively rhythm of the auctioneer’s gavel to the yard as it operated as a furniture repository.
During World War I, the site played a vital logistical role as part of the Junior Army & Navy Stores,. Distributing supplies to young soldiers and serving as a base of operations. The energy and urgency of wartime activity added yet another layer to the building’s evolving identity on Penfold Street.
First Aid, Film and Footcare
Next door, West End Cinema entertained locals from 1921, followed by the Co-op’s arrival in 1924. Meanwhile, our building turned to healthcare: from 1934 until the late 1980s, it was used by the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, with first aid classes taught on-site and an ambulance stationed in the yard.
By the 1990s, it had become a photographer’s studio run by Brian Barrett—before finally transitioning to a new kind of care when Randell’s Footcare moved in during 2005.
A Building with a Thousand Stories
From leather tanning and undertakers to auctions, ambulances and now podiatry—our Aylsham clinic is a true reflection of the town’s evolving history. If walls could talk, ours would have tales of hard work, healing, community, and change.
So next time you visit us, take a moment to appreciate the echoes of the past. You might not hear the clatter of cobblers’ tools or the clang of an ambulance bell, but the spirit of service and care is very much still alive. Contact us today to arrange your next appointment at our Aylsham Clinic.
With Thanks to Maggie Vaughan Lewis and Aylsham Town Archive
