INTERNATIONAL STORES
1928 / 1971 / 2009
By Laurie Stonehouse
The first photograph shows the original International Stores situated at No 25 the High Street. Marmite seems to be the order of the day along with Cambells Continental Soup and Skippers, what were these? Note the doorway mosaic with the words "International Stores", the fourth picture shows what this mosaic would have looked like if it had survived. The former Freeman Hardy Willis shoe shop just a few doors up still retains the letters F.H & W in the open porch, a fine piece of work. The third photograph would have been taken in 1971/2 and depicts the nearly completed new premises for the International Stores, in this picture you can still observe this store occupying the Boots site at No 25, I have included a recent photo of Boots to show how the frontage has changed, does anyone know when this happened and have I dated the first picture correctly?
International Stores - C1928
Private Collection of N Honeyball
Boots - 2009
L J Stonehouse
High Street (New site for International Stores) - C1971
Kind Permission of K Lynch
Freeman Hardy Willis porch - 2008
L J Stonehouse