So we've now got a new date for the house. I had previously narrowed the build date down to sometime between 1898 and 1903, this was based on a map dated 1898 with the plot empty and a local directory entry for 1903 naming the occupant at the time. Still don't know if the house was build for the first occupant I know of. Can't make-out the whole name  George Richard A?f??he Brown. Jo has established there was a decorators firm called Brown & Son advertising in the town around the 1890s but it's a long shot it's the same Mr Brown given how common the name is. Next step is a trip to the library for another look at the local directory I mentioned.