A Short History of Anita’s and Roses Bungalow

William Clements, aged 28, was recorded as being a baker at Anita’s, in 1891 employing his brother Arthur John Clements.  William died in 1902 and Arthur, born in 1873, took over as William left a widow (Emily Cordery) and five children. Arthur also brought his wife, his daughter called Susan, his mother and a sister Rose, from Henley, where Arthur was a journeyman baker.

Arthur and family moved into Glanfield, a house (Upwey) alongside Spring Gardens in Basingstoke Road.  From here Arthur also ran a horse drawn bus service between Reading and Swallowfield.

Arthur purchased land originally belonging to Hunter of Beech Hill, near to Back Lane and built two semi-detached houses called Amersham and Bicester after places where he was brought up.  One house became the Police House the other Arthur lived in.  At the back, he had a grocery shop and built a bakehouse.   Eventually he moved to The Limes, (Warings today) where he opened a grocer’s shop.  He built a bakehouse at the rear installing the first ovens there.  Arthur had seven daughters and the business was called Clements et Filles.  He eventually had a son.

The bungalow at the rear of Anita’s was built by Arthur at an unknown date (after 1918) to house his sister Rose, who never married.

The other shop in Anita’s building was occupied by Albert E Webb, who was a saddler and from 1891, ran the business for 50 years.  When Edwin Webb retired he built a bungalow called Saddlers on Spencers Wood Hill which has been recently demolished and a new house built.

Behind William’s bakery, at the Summer House was Wilson’s 2d library and sweet shop, which could be Roses Bungalow but more likely to be an extension of the bakery.  Herbert Wilson was there from 1935-1960 at least.

Mrs Powell Clements was at the bakery from 1903–1920 and Emily Clements (William’s wife) was there from 1925-1931; Mrs Powell Clements is thought to be the same person as Emily.  Edna Carter worked here in the 1960s and in 1966, Rosemary Hairdressers, was here.  In the 1970s sometime, it was Michael Charles Hairdressers.  For a short while in the 1990’s, it was a Water Bed shop, followed in 1992 by Anita’s.  The above is the result of an enquiry about Roses Bungalow made at the Carnival and we wish to thank Ron Holyday again, for his presentation at the Carnival.

The date information has been taken from Directories and is uncertain.

Margaret BamptonOctober 2014