Rant & Tombs - Abingdon Grocers

Today, the products of out-of-town superstores and high street multiples fill the weekly shopping basket. In Abingdon however, the briefest glance at the number of shops listed in trade directories reveals that it was not uncommon for independent businesses to dominate this market in the past. In the 1950’s Rant & Tombs, boasting 10 shops in Abingdon and district, was an outstanding example of the way a privately owned and well-run grocer and provisions merchant could prosper.

George Rant, the founder of the firm, moved to Berkshire from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk in the 1870s and acquired the long-established grocer and tea merchants business of Thomas Richardson situated on the south side of Ock Street next door to the old Methodist chapel. Thomas Richardson had been a prosperous master grocer: his entry in Billings Gazetteer and Directory (1854) describes him as a grocer, tea dealer and provision merchant, dealer in hops and British wines. He died in January 1874 and his son Charles opted a few months later to sell the business plus fixtures and fittings to George Rant. Another branch of the Richardson family continued to maintain an interest in the family business in Blewbury which was trading under the name of Rant Son & Richardson, Drapers and Grocers in 1876.

George and his wife Sabine settled down in Abingdon and their two younger sons James and William George were enrolled at Roysse’s (Abingdon School) in the nearby Albert Park. Directories for the 1870’s record the business as George Rant & Son or George Rant & Co. The firm flourished and in 1904 Rant entered into partnership with Charles Burgis of 58 Ock Street who was trading as a grocer at number 89 on the north side of the street (formerly Simpson’s “Castlewell” stores). Rant & Burgis are advertised the following year in Hooke’s Almanac as the “BERKSHIRE SUPPLY STORES” at numbers 56, 58 and 89 Ock Street with branches outside the town at Steventon, Marcham and Longworth. George’s son, William George Rant, who had followed his father into the grocery trade, is listed from 1898 as the proprietor of Dickey and Arnold’s Stores at 4 Ock Street, yet another grocery business in the street.

In 1924 the first indication of further growth is recorded. A. E. Tombs had been trading as grocer and postmaster at West End, Spring Road but by 1924 the business had become Rant and Tombs Ltd. A. E. Tombs became well known as a borough councillor and was created Honorary Freeman in 1948 on account of his dedication to providing badly needed council housing after the Second World War.

The increasing dominance of the firm in the local market can be charted through advertisements placed in the Abingdon directories. Hooke’s Almanac of 1930 quotes a total of 10 shops in Abingdon and district. The business is reported to be the largest local firm for grocery provisions wholesale and retail and all household wants. In 1941 the advertisement reads nine shops in Abingdon and district with the head office at 56 Ock Street.

Twenty years later in 1961 the advertisement for Rant and Tombs Ltd in the Abingdon Who’s Who contains a list of the branches: Abingdon, West End Post Office tel.108 and Oxford Road [No.7], Longworth, Marcham, Milton P.O. tel. Steventon 221, Stanford in the Vale tel. 206, Steventon, Sutton Courtenay, with the head office at 56 & 58 Ock Street. This was the last advertisement to appear in the Abingdon Who’s Who and Directory although the entry under Ock Street continues until 1964- a successful business for almost 90 years. This area of Ock Street was redeveloped in the late 1960s but many Abingdon residents will remember the distinctive façade and the clock over the doorway.

I am grateful to Miss Pamela Rant for allowing me access to personal family records.
Jackie Smith.