From the time of the abbey, bakers, potters, wheelwrights, blacksmith and tanners were needed, as well as builders and roofers to lay the distinctive Cotswold slates.
The building which now houses the chemist's shop, taken around 1890 when it was Major's butcher's shop. The front display is actually in the road.
When Winchcombe's fortunes declined, the resilient residents tried to scrape a living with cottage industries such as making gloves, baskets or straw hats, and women and children were employed in the silk mill in the 19th Century.