Originally published in The Bookman (Hodder & Stoughton) vol.1 #1 (Oct 1891).
The collapse of the old firm of Groombridge and Sons starts one thinking of Paternoster-row as it was forty years ago. In the corner of Panyer-alley old Mr. Groombridge was a well-known figure, and a comfortable business he and his sons—counterparts of the father—carried on, but the day of good Scotch agencies has passed, and the old firm had for a long time been going, and has now gone. What wonderful changes have taken place on the same side of the way since Groombridge and Sons were agents for the Christian Treasury and Hogg's Instructor, etc. The Scottish publishers of the former, Messrs. Johnstone and Hunter, once a prosperous house, subsequently had a branch establishment not far off (under the management of Mr. Theobald, formerly trade manager of the Religious Tract Society, and Mr. Dalgleish, now of the firm of Dobbs, Kidd and Co.), but the firm has long since passed away. Close to Panyer-alley, Messrs. Aylott and Jones, two much respected members of the trade, conducted a wholesale bookselling business, but their capital was not sufficient to compete with the larger houses. A few doors lower down, the part-publishing establishment of Mr. Alderman Kelly stood, but the palmy days of the canvassing trade have ceased. Within a short distance were three second-hand book stores, viz., Messrs, Ives and Swan, Mr. Ebenezer Palmer, and Mr. Richard Baynes. The last named, perhaps equally well known as "Dicky Baynes," was a well-known "character"; he was succeeded by Mr. Alexander Heylin, who combined publishing with second-hand bookselling—unsuccessfully.
At the corner of Ivy-lane Messrs. Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper conducted a wholesale bookselling business in an old building which gave place to the excellent premises of Messrs. Kent and Richards, their successors. Two other firms close by have disappeared, that of Wertheim and Mackintosh and Hall, Virtue and Co.; this last-named firm was at one time the publishers of the popular prophetical works of Dr. Cumming, and the first work of Rev. C.H. Spurgeon, 'The Saint and his Saviour,' now published a few doors off, in premises on the site of which formerly stood the house of Ward and Trego, a celebrated theological business, where the Evangelical Magazine, Eclectic Review, etc., were published for many years. The partners have long since been dead, but Mr. Trego's respected manager, Mr. J.C. Crisp, is still living. The business was bought by Jackson, Walford and Hodder, who removed from St. Paul's Churchyard (the premises were rebuilt by the present firm, Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton). Their near neighbours were Messrs. Partridge and Oakey, the enterprising publishers of a three-volume 4to edition of Matthew Henry's Commentary; and Mr. John Snow, who published the Christian Witness and the Christian Penny Magazine. Mr. Snow, who only recently passed away, was succeeded by his son and his assistant, Mr. Gogerly, who removed to Ivy-lane, nearly opposite to the old-established house of the founder of Messrs. Virtue and Co.'s business, and where a few years previously Mrs. Virtue (all honour to her) took an active part behind the counter.
On the site now occupied by Messrs. Nelson and Son, stood a large wholesale drug business, which, like the soap store on the other side of the way, had to "clear out" in favour of the literary lords of creation! It was a great satisfaction to the bookmen of "the Row" when Messrs. Knight and Co., the soap boilers, took their departure. Such good neighbours as Messrs. Hitchcock, Williams and Co. close by could be readily tolerated, for it has been affirmed, with some truth, that they were dealers in the same articles as some producers of old divinity—"dry goods"!
Of old-established firms on that side of the Row no longer to be found, there may be named that of Messrs. Duncan and Malcolm, where Messrs. Blackwood and Sons' premises now stand, and the almost forgotten but important house in its day of Messrs. Baldwin, Cradock and Joy. Just beyond the premises now occupied by Mr. Elliot Stock, and formerly by Mr. B.L. Green and Mr. H.J. Tresidder, was the shop of Messrs. Houlston and Stoneman. An interesting fact connected with this house is that Mr. Worster, who has survived both his old employers, is still identified with Messrs. Houlston and Sons in Paternoster-square, having been connected with the same business for sixty-two years.
On either side of Paternoster-row was found a rendezvous for literary men—authors and publishers—but "The Chapter Coffee House" and "Dolly's Chop House" belong to a day that is past, and their place has not been supplied elsewhere.