The pressure of trade on the High Street made inevitable the conversion of 25 High Street into a shop and by 1844, the facade had been slightly altered by the removal of an ironwork balustrade, and the enlargement of the ground floor windows.  This was done, however, with taste and skill, and the character of the old house was retained.

From 1850-1878 Frank Apted carried on his brush and turnery business, until this was amalgamated with Mr Bull's saddlers' and tent-makers business, which extended over the outbuildings and the garden.  This was a picturesque feature of North Street for seventy years.  Bull's relinquished the High Street shop in 1914, and from then until 1928 it was a stationer's and booksellers', first under A.C. Curtis and then under William Goddard Clark.

For a few months in 1927-28, Simpson's who carried on a drapery business next door on the site of the Crown Inn, extended their business, redecorated the house, and opened it as a carpet department. 

From 1929-1956, 25 High Street was a restaurant first known as Lambert's Tea Room and Grill Room and later as Nuthall's Cafe still well remembered by local residents.