Cliff Iliffe’s mum & dad started the shop at 22 Church Street in about 1930 taking over from Mr Smith, the organist at St Mary’s church, who had a music shop there. Cliff started work when he was 15 years old. When his mother retired in 1955 he took over the running of the business and his wife Eileen joined him. Later when their son, Alan, left school he also went into the business and they all worked together until the business closed in August 1985.
It was a pork butcher’s shop when it started but by the 1970s they sold bread and groceries too. Baking bread meant getting up early for a 5am start to get the bread into the ovens by 7am. Once the bread was cooked there were other things to make – pork pies, sausages, brawn, dripping, cooked meats, bread and cakes. On Tuesday it was faggots made from pig’s lights and hearts and they got them on sale by 11am. At only 15p a pound (in 1974) it was a nutritious but economical dinner for the shoe workers who would call on their way home. Most people ate 'dinner' at mid-day in those days.
Then in 1979 a coffee lounge was opened in the upstairs room, with access from the side door in John Street where up to 50 people could sit and enjoy a coffee and a cake with their friends and catch up on the news, or enjoy a full lunch with all the food made on the premises.
