Oxford Ghost Signs: Frank East the draper at 29 Queen Street
Frank East announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 14 December 1878 that he had taken over Frank Oliver's linen drapery at 64 Cornmarket Street, and he was then listed in directories as a linen draper, silk mercer, costume, mantle, and bonnet warehouse here until the end of 1896, when he had to move out because the city council was undertaking a major redevelopment of the North-West corner of Carfax.
On 19 December 1896 East announced in the Oxford Times that while these spacious new premises were being built for him at Carfax, he was moving into two separate premises:
- 29 Queen Street for his mantle, dress, and general drapery departments
- 47 Cornmarket Street for his millinery and fancy departments.
The following nineteenth-century ghost sign at the side of his shop at 29 Queen Street simply reads FRANK EAST. It faces eastwards and towers over the lower shop next door that was built by Curry's in 1966 (currently Costa Coffee):
In 1898 East moved back into his newly-built premises, now at 64 & 65 Cornmarket Street (the left-hand side of the present HSBC Bank).
John Daniel A'Bear
According to Malcolm Graham (Oxford Heritage Walks Book 5: “On foot from Carfax to Turn Again”), after Frank East moved out in 198 the words “A’BEAR'S BOOTS” were painted on top of the old sign. This newer sign has almost disappeared in recent years, but except for the letter S that is still visible on the right that is presumably the end of “BOOTS”.
John Daniel A’Bear was baptised at Summertown on 25 July 1851. He was the son of John A'Bear, who described himself as a gentleman, and his wife Caroline.
Kelly's Directory for 1899 shows the boot warehouse of John Daniel A'Bear listed at 29 Queen Street.
The 1901 census shows John Daniel A’Bear (49), described as a boot seller and employer, living at 21 Stanley Road off the Iffley Road in Oxford with his wife Jane Joyce A’Bear (54) and their daughter Lotty (17), who was a pupil teacher, plus a mother’s help and a 16-year-old general servant. In 1911 he and his wife were living with their servant at a house called Glencairn on the north side of Victoria Road in Summertown.
By the time of the 1921 census John had retired and was once again living at 21 Stanley Road with his wife and his daughter Janet May A’Bear (39), who was a governess. He died at 31 Chigwell Road, Bournemouth on 10 October 1932, and his effects came to £29,315 6s.