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THE closure of a long established solicitors' practice in Romsey uncovered a wealth of archive documents which are now in the Hampshire Record Office and provided this month's speaker, Barbara Burbridge, with fascinating material for her talk on Victorian Shops and Billheads.

Tylee, Mortimer and Attlee, under various successive partnerships, had been in Romsey for over 200 years and with the death of Mr Attlee in 1990, the premises were cleared.

One very early document was dated 1525 and this, along with thousands of others, was stored in a vulnerable upstairs annexe, taking its chance with time, the weather and the ravages of creeping mould.

Luckily, much was saved to provide a wonderful insight into the commercial life of nineteenth century Romsey.

Information on invoices sent by traders to their customers and clients reflect the changing economy of the town and the billheads that decorate those invoices can be both fascinating and beautifully designed.

Victorian artwork in elaborate copper-plate scripts often includes an engraved illustation of the trader's premises that pre-dates any photograph.

However, because the key purpose is to advertise, the building is often drawn in a far grander style than existed in fact.

Later on, the billheads became simpler and often included the logos of product brand names.

One amusing 1930s example which incorporated advertising for Harpic reminded customers that there was only one quart of water between you and the main sewer'.

Among other examples were Charles Edward Godfrey, an important Victorian draper who specialised in family mourning and provided arrangements for the whole funeral.

By the 1900s the firm had become Sharland Bros and by the 1930s, E G Crick.

By then, provision for funerals was no longer so important and Crick's billhead advertised 'Everything for Baby'.

One of Godfrey's apprentices did rather better than his master and went on to establish Edwin Jones's emporium in Southampton which is now Debenhams.

There was Francis Cressey who combined the businesses of brewer and coal merchant, and A F Ellery, a monumental mason at Bath House, Middlebridge Street, whose premises' facade demonstated the whole range of the stone carver's art.

One extended bill for cakes was sent by Brown's the bakers to solicitor Bartram Waller Attlee who held the record for riding over six miles on a penny-farthing bicycle in one hour. Evidently, his cake consumption did little to impede his pedal power.

All the documents amassed by Tylee, Mortimer and Attlee are now in the Hampshire Record Office and can be examined there. Where necessary, they will have undergone specialist restoration in order that they survive for future generations to see.

The next meeting of the society at the museum is on 23 May at 7.30pm and will include the annual meeting and members' talks.

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