“The Old Tea Rooms” has a long history. This building was at the centre of the site of the Angel Inn. The shop was once one, but now is divided into two, The Old Tea Rooms and The Book Hive. The Angel was a large and complicated site, covering the area between where today Whites Butchers and the dry cleaners stand, and all the land and buildings behind to Oakfield Road. The main part of the building was where The Old Tea Rooms now stands. When the building was refurbished the work uncovered 16th century construction. The land and buildings on this site were gradually sold off and it seems to have ceased trading in the early 1700s.

Before the site was divided into two units, the whole shop used to be Greens an outfitter which was a much loved store with a slightly old fashioned atmosphere that sold school uniforms, ladies and gents clothing and shoes.

Before this, in the early 20th Century, the shop was Bond’s - a tailors. Jas F Bond the “Head to foot Outfitter” issued his own trade tokens, which were oval and coloured gold. Before this - between 1908 and 1925 - the shop was Barker’s ironmongers. Before this, the shop was Starling’s Ironmongers. In the Cellar beneath Starling’s Ironmongers was also a basket makers. Arnold Tuddenham (Tuddy) wrote in his memoir: “I remember Fred Starling’s ironmongers shop in Red Lion Street with its trapdoor opening on the pavement to where the men sat, under the shop, basket making of skeps for cattle feeding.” 

Starling's memoirs were published under the title “Memories of Aylsham” and provide many interesting insights into life in Aylsham. Starling Close is named after him. His daughter – Kathleen – became a well-known opera singer who performed with Dame Nellie Melba and appeared at Covent Garden Opera House. She performed under the name Kathleen Destournel, which is French for Starling. She was born in Aylsham on July 30th 1890 and was the youngest of 4 girls. She had singing lessons while she was growing up, some of which undertaken in France.

Dame Nellie Melba brought Kathleen to Australia to sing. Kathleen sang in operas with Melba in Australia and in London at the Royal Opera house in front of the King and Queen. She performed for troops in WW1.

She married an American Robert Taylor and together they entertained British forces in England as part of the Entertainment National Services Association (ENSA) They also entertained troops overseas.

In 1946 she went to America with her husband and lived in Arizona. After his death she returned to Aylsham where she lived until her death in the 1970s.