Corner shops

There was a time when many streets had a shop at one corner, a shop that usually sold everything from milk and potatoes to firewood and writing paper. Occasionally there would be a Post Office counter as well, although those were more usually to be found in newsagents, tobacconists and confectioners. Very few of those corner shops exist any longer, having been driven out of business by the growth of supermarkets with their greater selection and lower prices. Those corner shops were generally to be found in areas where the houses were built about 100 years ago or more. Areas where the houses were built later - especially in the last 60-70 years - are more likely to have had small parades of shops, say half a dozen or so, built at strategic points. One such parade was built just around the corner from our house. When we moved here 40 years ago - indeed, as recently as 25 years ago - those six shops were all in business. There was the Post Office, which was also the newsagent, tobacconist and confectioner, a grocer, a greengrocer, butcher, fishmonger and ladies' hairdresser. No longer. The Post Office is still there, but two shops have been converted to houses, two are standing empty and the other one is the head office of a flooring supply company.

The next nearest parade (that's it in the picture) has fared better. OK, two shops have now been converted into an Indian restaurant but the fish and chip shop next door has been there for many years, as has the newsagent next door to that. There has been a ladies' hairdresser in the parade for many years but the sixth shop has had a somewhat chequered career. I remember it as a chemist's, then a video and DVD rental outlet and now a washing machine salesroom.

Those few remaining general stores that have not already been driven out of business by the supermarkets are now under a different form of attack, albeit from the same supermarket chains. The supermarkets are now setting up their own convenience stores! They first appeared in petrol stations but are now springing up in High Streets everywhere. Even a pub close to us has been taken over and turned into one. That will doubtless affect the local convenience store seen in the picture.

Many of us moan about the loss of the corner shop - but happily do our shopping at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrison's or wherever which is really hypocritical.