In the latest of our special features on Morecambe businesses GREG LAMBERT takes a peek at more than 100 years of history of The Grove cafe/restaurant on Pedder Street.

TODAY The Grove cafe and restaurant occupies both number 3 and number 5 Pedder Street.

But before the turn of the 20th century and for a few years before that, the buildings were entirely separate addresses.

In the 1881 census, the occupier of 3 Pedder Street is listed as tailor and draper Edward Marshall, while 5 Pedder Street was occupied by
another draper named Elenor Buckhouse.

Soon afterwards the Walling family moved in to number three and draper (yes, there were a lot of drapers back then!) John Wilkinson, moved into number five with his wife Edith and daughter.

Head of the Walling family was Abram Walling – a stonemason. His wife Grace Turner was one of the Turner family who built much of central Morecambe – including the churches on Clarence Street and Clark Street, as well as Pedder Street, Townley Street and many others.

The Walling family were all staunch Methodists and worshipped at the now Central Methodist Church on Clarence Street.

The premises was first used as a confectioner's in 1904 when Abram's son William got married. It was known as Walling's Bakers and Confectioners.

The building also served as a guesthouse.

The two buildings first became one circa 1923, when the living room of number 5 was merged into part of the shop.

Back then the business was run by William Walling and known as W H Walling.

In 1936, the Wallings sold up after William suffered a stroke and couldn't manage the stairs to the living accommodation on the second floor.

It was some time in the late 30s/early 40s when the premises first became known as The Grove Restaurant and Cafe.

Current owners Maurice and Liz Lomas discovered this part of the Grove's history quite by accident.

When they bought a sideboard for The Grove from Stephen's second-hand furniture shop on Heysham Road, they found out the shopkeeper's aunt was William Walling's grand-daughter Anne Marley.

Anne then contacted the Lomas' and supplied information and old photos from The Grove's history.

Maurice and Liz acquired some other historic snaps of The
Grove thanks to another surreal moment.

A Mr Smallman, who was visiting Morecambe from Australia, popped into The Grove a few weeks ago.

"He came in for a coffee and said how nice it was to see The Grove still going, then he said his mum used to work here as head of finance," said Liz.

"We asked him to e-mail us some photos when he got home, and he did!"

One photo of The Grove staff, taken in 1948, shows that the restaurant has been using the same chairs for the past 60 years.

The original chairs came off a sister ship to The Titanic, according to Maurice and Liz.

The 1948 picture also shows a pair of Staffordshire dog ornaments on exactly the same shelf where two ornaments of Staffordshire dogs stand today – quite uncanny because they're not the same ones!

Other proprietors of The Grove throughout the years included Mr W Booth, Mrs Wilson, and Arturo and Pat Diaz.

Arturo was originally from the Canary Islands and managed The Grove for 23 years during the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Under his management the business was known as The Grove Grill.

Helen Wilson, who still works at The Grove, started there as a waitress in 1979. She actually had her wedding reception at The Grove.

And coincidentally, Helen's auntie also had her reception there in 1947.

Nine years ago, the Diaz family sold up to Maurice and Liz.

The Lomas' are originally from the Carlisle area and moved down to Morecambe in the mid-80s.

They have an extensive background in hospitality having run a hotel in the West End, worked at Regent Leisure Park and then managed Ocean Edge Caravan Park as employees of South Lakeland Caravans.

But The Grove has been their favourite.

"When people come in The Grove for a meal they always comment on what a nice atmosphere there is," said Liz.

"It's because there's been so many people through these doors over the years.

"I think these walls have absorbed people's emotions!"

Today The Grove is open 365 days a year. Whenever Maurice and Liz take a holiday, Helen runs it for them.

The restaurant specialises in good, home-cooked traditional food and Maurice's Lemon Meringue Pie has such a reputation that some customers call the restaurant The Lemon Grove (hence the lemon tree symbol on the cafe signs).

Maurice and Liz are proud of The Grove's long history and the fact that it has survived the test of time.

"Morecambe is doing so well now but it hasn't always been like that," said Liz.

"Through all the ups and downs, The Grove has been here all this time and has never faltered."