MrsIHN has a shopper bike that she uses for rising to work, Dawes Duchess, it’s a cracking thing. However, the wheels (and especially the hubs) were always a bit ropey and given it’s use in all weathers, pi$$ poor sealing and little maintenance, are probably now about dead.

Any recommendations for some 26″, rim brake, screw-on freewheel wheels (for a 7spd freewheel) with reasonably decently sealed hubs?

You’re unlikely to find something to match that criteria. Best bet would be a cassette wheel and 7spd cassette. You’re unlikely to find a decent 7spd hub but the cassette will fit on an 8/9/10 spd one with a spacer.

You can still get dis compe screw on freewheel hubs with sealer bearings – won’t be cheap though.

Spa cycles have some zenith sealed ones for £40

What SDB said. The Hybrid of Doom had 7sp Shimano on it, used a cassette and spacer on a free hub and it was fine.

Are you sure they’re 26″ wheels? Mrs Pierre had a Dawes Duchess for a while, IIRC it had 26×1 3/8″ or something else non-standard.

Buy a cheap new wheel and fit a grease nipple. Grease as needed. No need to worry about sealing or stripping down to grease.

I’ve done it on a deore hub and it’s remained silky smooth. Much more than anything else.