would have on our business – passing trade dried up completely.’ So nine months later, having trimmed sails and survived, the company moved into 3 Raleigh Street, and have found their fortunes turning round. ‘We have found more people coming in and more new properties coming onto the books,’ said Lesley. ‘We have a good base to build from as we continue to work towards the building being rebuilt. We now have planning permission and Lea Humphries is working for us, rebuilding the back
wall up to roof height, putting on a new roof and then rebuilding and repairing the inside. There’s still a huge amount of work to be done, but we think we are on the road back.
‘None of the freeholders ever gave themselves the option of giving up, and we are coming through. It’s taken a long time, but we are getting there.’
Higher Street: the Old Work Exchange and Thai restaurant – Tim and Becca Way
The brother and sister team face the biggest challenge of all the freeholders – but continue to examine all the possibilities for the rebuilding of the beautiful carved façade to the building. ‘We took ownership of the building just a few weeks before the fire,’ said Tim. ‘Not exactly what you want! But we are slowly putting together the plans for how we are going to rebuild – though obviously there are many challenges – especially because the front is so fragile and must be maintained. ‘We are looking at various ways to rebuild – but have to use as much of the original building as possible. The idea is to take the building back to what it was before the Government officers decided to change it into the work exchange – it will be more authentic than it ever was!’
Higher Street Gallery – Mark Goodwin Higher Street Gallery was – and will be again – a family business: Ken and wife Catherine ran it with son Mark until more than 15 years ago when Mark took sole control – and it has always been well supported by locals and tourists alike.
But it is the devastation to a family home which caused the greatest trauma for the family. They have always lived above the gallery, ever since they first moved to Dartmouth in 1982. ‘It’s been a very difficult time for all of us because Higher Street was where we had our happiest memories
as a family, and that all went up in smoke,’ said Mark. ‘But looking back on the whole year we have had the most amazing support from the people of Dartmouth. Friends and customers have been so helpful and been so supportive. ‘We would like to say that now we have planning permission and can start to rebuild, things are looking up and becoming positive. We have always said that we are coming back and will be back as soon as we can. ‘Hopefully we will be able to create new memories in this wonderful old building which by some miracle has managed to survive the fire. We can think positively about the future now. It’s wonderful how the freeholders came together to get things going - Simon of Smith Street Deli has been amazing. I’m grateful to him, Lesley at Singer and Singer and all the other freeholders.’
Compass Office Shop – Emilie Clarke and Alan Heard
Emily and Alan found themselves having to operate out of their front room following the fire – the danger of their building falling in kept them out for three weeks – and dependent on trade customers for support. ‘We had to keep trading,’ said Emily. ‘The front room was full and three of us were trying to use it – frankly the stress was unbearable. We were absolutely amazed at the support we received from our trade customers – who were ALL ordering stuff, even if they didn’t need it, just to help us!
‘We put up signs everywhere and were running up and down the town with deliveries. Simon Geen, who works for us, must have felt like he was doing a marathon every day up and down the town. He was brilliant, and everyone who supported us made it possible for us to continue.’ After loss adjusters wrote off their entire stock, the couple had to redecorate and then deep clean the shop before re-opening with a fire sale, and donated much of the damaged stock to the Flavel, Dartmouth Pre School,
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