Charles Steels is found in the 1861 census as a scholar aged 8 years old. He was later sent out to learn the trade of a grocer before returning to Pocklington to start his own business as a grocer which he did very successfully. In the 1881 census he is shown as living above the shop (19 Market Place) with his sister Mary who is shown as a grocers assistant and Laura Sessions a general servant. He must have been a popular man as in 1893 there was an election for newly constituted Local Board for Pocklington. He was one of the successful candidates but his brother William did not receive enough votes. Charles Steels shop in Market Place was taken over by his brother William after his death in 1896. This is now Age UK charity shop and Specsavers. Still visible today in the central keystone of the three windows are C - 1887 - S. So Charles Steels recorded the date he built the shop and used the Victorian trend for shop building of 3 storeys with top floor as store (for security), middle floor as accomodation and ground floor as shop.