The History of French’s Fish Shop goes back over 100 years. William Thomas French was the man that started it all. He was one of eight children and grew up in Tamworth, however at the start of the First World War, he came to Wells-Next-The-Sea on the North Norfolk Coast (where French’s Fish Shop still is today) with the fourth Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. William met a lady called Blanche Hawes, and they made a promise that if he managed to survive the war, that he would return to live in Wells with Blanche.
In 1918 the war ended, and as promised William returned to be with Blanche in Wells-Next-The-Sea. They married in September 1921. They settled in to married life and tried to earn a living in Wells, however with minimal opportunities they were forced to move back to Tamworth to find work.
As luck would have it, shortly after, Blanche’s father, found a small shop in Wells for sale and lent them some money to return, and open it as a Fish and Chip Shop. They were able to open their shop on Station Road in 1921.
A few years later, a shop on the Quayside became available, so they purchased this shop, with a mortgage, and ran both shops for a while. They were selling Fish and Chips, as well as fresh fish, and even has their own smoke house for Herrings and Kippers. The fish used largely came from the port in Wells, but they also used fish from Lowestoft which arrived via train.
William and Blanche went on to have two sons, Reginald and Maurice, who both worked in the family business. They helped doing the round with fresh fish during the day, and selling fish and chips in the shop in the evening. When William retired, Maurice and Reg took over the business and Marcus (Maurice’s son) helped in the shop from aged 9 with things like making batter and fetching potatoes.
After finishing college, Marcus worked in the shop full time. Unfortunately, Reg died suddenly in 1984, and Maurice was diagnosed with Cancer, meaning that Maurice’s wife (Myrtle) and Marcus took over the running of the business.
By now, the wet fish (now delivered by road) was much less profitable, and the huge amount of work associated with selling fresh fish lead to it being moved to a different shop, allowing the fish and chip shop to be expanded. Marcus continues to run the shop, after his mothers’ retirement and then death.
Marcus is married to Annette (who worked as a nurse), and have two children, Alanna and Arianne. Both children have worked in the business during weekends and holidays, and then attended higher education to become a nurse and a teacher. Alanna has since left the NHS after the birth of her own daughter, and has returned to the business full time as Manager.
Do you remember the first time?
The place, the company and the enjoyment.
Going to the seaside for the weekend, or just a day trip.
The sun, sea and the smell of the salt air and feeling satisfied.
We are of course talking about the first time, eating fish and chips at the seaside.
Probably with your parents, or friends, sitting on the Quay wall at Wells next the Sea. You had probably been down the beach, playing in the sand, or crabbing off the Quay wall.
Years later, you will do the same with your own children, or Grandchildren, because you want them to have the same experience, and recall the times when things were less complicated and more enjoyable.
Generations have done this in the past, and wish to relive the experience again with their loved ones. It’s like an old song, that makes brain tingle with excitement, and transports you to that place and time, that makes you smile with the memory.
Come to Wells next the Sea, build up an appetite, on the golden sweeping beach, or catching crabs off the Quay wall, telling the youngsters, ‘Look! I’ve caught you another one’. Then have French’s fish and chips, sitting on the Quay wall, facing the shops
(although the best view is the other way, looking at the sea).
The best things in life do not have to be expensive. Simple pleasures, and memorable times, that you’ll remember for a life time.
Make memories that will last generations while you can.
