A NUMBER of readers have shed more light on the history of a shop being renovated in St James Street, Taunton.

Builders uncovered a sign referring to Kingsbury’s Stores at the former Sovrins store, which is set to be taken over by Neal’s Yard organic health and beauty remedies.

Ray Fouracre, 89, said: “Kingsbury’s was a corn merchants and I went to work there for a little while in 1940, when I was 15.

“They sold all sorts of animal feed such as dog food, chicken fee and pig nuts, all mixed by hand on the premises.

“I used to go out with an old man who drove an Austin 7 delivery van.

“I was paid just over £1 a week, which was a lot for a boy of 15 in those days.”

Dave Stutt sent us the photo of a Kingsbury’s advert in his 1951 edition of Kelly’s directory.

Clive Goddard, now aged 80, remembers being sent to the shop, managed by Joe Moyland, in 1949 from Goodlands coal merchants, where he was an office boy.

He added: “I also think that maybe Goodlands purchased corn/straw for the horses in North Town Wharf.”

Heather Brannon said that coal, corn and iron merchant Joseph Kingsbury and his wife, Jane, lived above the store.

She said there were a number of children who became architects or emigrated to Australia.