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Much of the magic of Christmas is created by our
shops and there is still a fondness for those Victorian scenes which
illustrate our seasonal greetings cards today. Many survived until recent
times such as Smith’s of Bourne, a family grocery shop business based at
No 25 North Street for almost 150 years, a time capsule of the retail
trade where a personal over the counter service managed to survive the
pressures of the supermarket revolution.
Customers were greeted by the aroma of freshly-ground coffee and the scent
of spices, unhurried personal service, scrubbed floorboards and a polished
counter worn smooth over the years by thousands of daily transactions
while the window displays and metal advertising signs reminded us of a
bygone age.
The shop eventually became a victim of progress and closed in December
1998 when the town lost a small part of its traditional role for customer
service. The refurbished 18th century building, however, survives as
Smith's of Bourne, a popular bar and restaurant which retains many
reminders of its immediate past.
This delightful photograph by Geoff Bell was chosen by South Kesteven
District Council for their annual Christmas card in 2016, a fitting
tribute to that year’s chairman, Councillor Judy Smith (Bourne East),
whose late husband, John, was the last owner of the business. |
