The original buildings, some dating back to the 15th century, had been demolished in the 1960’s and two new shops erected. I was given access to deeds relating to the original site. These revealed that the building had been called ‘Crackbones’, after a 15th century owner John Crackbone, and together with my previous research revealed that the site had been in continuous use as a butchers’ since 1796 showing a butchers shop had been on that site for over 200 years.

But the most incredible discovery was that the first people to establish a butchers business on this site in 1796 were William and Sarah Raymond. Not only has the Raymond family been living in Maldon for over 200 years but for part of the time five of the generations have traded as butchers from Crackbones/5 High Street.

Names and dates of butchers at Crackbones/5 High Street, Maldon

• William Raymond (1796-1812)
• Sarah Raymond, John Smith Raymond, Thomas Raymond, Joseph Henry Raymond (1812-1826)
• Robert Josiah Craneis (1826-1832)
• Richard Lamb Snr (1832-1855)
• Richard Lamb Jnr (1855-1858)
• William Wright (1858-1889)
• George W K Handley (1889-1894)
• Norris Blaxall (1894-1898)
• William Firmin (1898-1920)
• Maldon & Heybridge Co-Op (1920-1927)
• Leonard M Ansell (1928-1951)
• Albert Ansell (1928-1963)
• Sidney Raymond (1933-1993)
• Derek Raymond (Since 1963)
• Paul Raymond (Since 1993)