Byrne Brothers in Beacon Hill Road was a family-run business that started in 1922 in a wooden hut and finally closed down in 2002. It was the biggest independent newsagent in the area at one time.
William Matthew Byrne started the business in 1922 when he bought a paper round from another Fleet newsagent for £20. He opened the business in a wooden hut in Green Lane (renamed Beacon Hill Road in 1936) and by 1932 the hut had been replaced by the present house and shop on the same site.
William George and Thomas James took over the store in 1945 and named it WG and TJ Byrne. It became known as Byrne Brothers in about 1959 because "it rolled off the tongue better".
In the latter years, it was run by William's son Ray with help from his brothers Kevin & Bill. In 2002, Ray decided to retire which led to the shop being closed.