Rialto Restaurant: Samuel Provis probably from Warminster owned it when it was the French Horn
The houses formerly Bryant's Hardware Shop were identified in 1808 as being the French Horn Inn owned by the Provis family (of Warminster). John Provis was shown as the owner in 1808, and Joseph Provis the tenant with a small part of it lived in by John Bull. Joseph Provis was also renting the cellar under no 8., probably as a narrow alleyway between the two buildings, now part of the entrance to the shop called Bindings. One would assume that the house formerly Bryant's did not have a cellar or if it did it was too small for the purpose of storing beer, etc.
In 1836/7 John Long (Late James Long) is shown paying 2-3d rates on the property.James Long was a Coal Dealer, and he died in 1836. Charles Long was the Executor for his father, but he became bankrupt and eventually that property was sold to William Long, Mason. He was a member from 1826 of the Independent Chapel (now United Church). William Long erected the first School room at the Chapel in 1835 and it was enlarged to its existing size in 1850. He had married Michal Derreett in 1820 at Westwood and their eldest son, James eventually built the Town Hall in 1854 with another Builder.

Site and history from a Report by P.M.Slocombe for Wiltshire Buildings Record. in the year 2000

The site is on the side of a fairly steep small hill on the south side of the ancient ford of the river Avon and is thought to have been developed since the Saxon period. The plot, which faces slightly S of W (but taken as W in this report) therefore rises to the rear and narrows. At the top it joins the end of a lane running S.E. -
The house was first visited during the last few days of Mr Clive Bryant's ownership. He ran an ironmonger's shop in the premises and there has been no domestic accommodation there for some while. According to Mr Bryant the earliest main deed dates from 1701 though there is another earlier deed which he could not read. He believes the building was the Plume of Feathers Inn in the 18th century and at a later stage four shops. An early photographer's studio at Bradford was on the attic floor at the N. end of the rear range.
The site is probably plot 454 on the Bradford Tithe Map of 1841, house owned and occupied by Dinah Long. It is not shown as double pile and has no rear wing. The OS 1 : 500 scale map of 1887 shows the house as double pile with an open leanto at the rear, the N. wing in existence and a separate building in the back garden.
The photographer once at the house was perhaps Frederick Shettle who operated from 5 Trowbridge Road in 1898-9 and St Margaret Street in 1903 as the Fine Art Photo Co. After him H. and G. Morse were definitely at 9 and 10 St Margaret Street in 1911 and Walter G. Collins and Miss Agnes Collins were at 10 St Margaret Street in the period 1915-23.
Interpretation
This is an old site in the town which may have been redeveloped several times. The wall of 26"thickness at the rear of the front rooms indicates that it may have been a single pile stone house
in about 1600. At that time the main living room was the S room with its inglenook fireplace and the N room was probably an unheated parlour.
Considerable alterations took place in about 1700. The roof was probably raised and the gable dormers front and back were accommodated by extended collar trusses. At some point later in the 18th century the parallel rear range was added and the S front room was changed from a kitchen to a parlour. The rear wall of this range has a thickness typical of the 18th century. At this time there may have been doorways connecting the house with the next house to the S.
Further alterations including the insertion of the good quality staircase were made in the mid 19th century. A rear wing behind in ashlar stone was added and a wash-house leanto and garden building. The S shop window is of 19th century type.
The timber-framing visible in the rear attic is interesting as so little framing survives in the town but it may be part of the next door building.