31 Potter Street Worksop

By Pat Malkin

The photograph shows the Knitters Shop on Potter Street, number 31, Potter Street is a grade 11 listed building, dating back to 1690.

It had previously been a jewellers and watchmakers, the shop would have been a house back in 1690 and the original stone staircase is still there.

There would have been stables, and the pig sty troughs are still in the wall at the back of the house.

Amongst the pile of documents relating to the shop shows that in 1881 it belonged to a boot and shoe dealer called Dave Barlow, also amongst the many parchment deeds to the shop shows that a Richard Rollitt living there, who was a joiner and builder.

 In 1826 Stokeham Huthwaite left the property to a Thomas Wearing.

Another fascinating document, dated 8th June 1827, records how a Lt. John Huthwaite was killed in a duel in the West Indies.

There is a bill from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1934 for a corn rent of 12 shillings, which could relate to a former malt house at the back of number 33, Potter Street next door.

There is a reference in the paperwork to a Henry Donston, and the Masonic Hall next door to the shop is also named Donston House.