This house plays a central part in the history of the Priors. It sits on the eastern end of the village amongst cottages built by Lord Wantage for workers on the Lockinge Estate.
At one point the single story building to the left housed the village fire engine. Later it converted to the village newspaper shop.
In this picture we see Louise Stevens Prior (nee Stevens) wife of George in the dark dress together with her daughter Francis Curtin (nee Prior). The girl on the right is Louisa Curtin (daugher of Francis) and on the left is Victor Lewis, boarder with Louise and son of Ernest Lewis who had also boarded with Louise as a child. The picture was taken around 1911.
And here we see Francis holding Gweneth and in the foreground are Victor and Louisa with Irene generally known as John on the left. This picture was taken around 1914.
Here we see the front of the building. By 1940 Mrs. Mobey lived in the house and managed the shop. She moved in 1947 at which point Winifred Lewis (nee Prior) married Horace Lanfear and took over both house and shop. This picture was taken in 1950.
In 1960 the estate installed running water, bath, flushed toilet and electricity. As part of the refurbishment the tiles were installed on the external walls. Maybe this was to improve the appearance, but more likely the objective was to keep out the damp.
