With snow around, a relatively quiet Market Street is shown in these photos from January 1963, but a month earlier, sixty years ago, it had been abuzz with shoppers looking for Christmas presents and festive fare. Before the advent of superstores and internet shopping, Clarke & Co, seen on the right of the first picture, was a multi-purpose emporium with grocery, drapery and millinery departments, but in 1962 the town also boasted an impressive range of varied independent shops, for example Claude Slaughter’s in Damgate, catering for every need. With decorated window displays and “pretty lights” it was a delight. So what were some of the sought-after gifts in Wymondham that Christmas?

Popular children’s presents included annuals of the Beano, Dandy and Eagle comics, which could be purchased from Geo. R. Reeve Ltd in Market Street, then on the other side, and H. G. Stone & Co’s in Town Green. Stone’s also offered Corgi and Matchbox models, while Dinky toys, Meccano and Hornby train sets were available at Fred Standley’s, then on the Market Place. Gifts for teenagers reflected the growing pop culture of the time with record players and the then much in vogue transistor radios, colloquially referred to as trannies, on sale at Fred Standley’s, Eddie Buttoph’s and George Smith’s, all in Market Street, and C. H. Standley & Son Ltd in Town Green. At Smith’s, pop-pickers were able to choose from 3000 records, among them that December were Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”. Aldiss & Hastings and John Little’s, almost facing each other in Market Street, offered a range of menswear, including gloves, scarves and socks, while Mrs. G. Bedingfield in Middleton Street and Geraldine Barber on the Market Place catered for the ladies with everything from handbags and jewellery to frocks and coats. Then there was Proctor’s famous shoe shop, where a pair of slippers, always a favourite present, could be bought. Other gifts, say a box of chocolates or a tin of biscuits, could be bought from Corstons in Damgate or Rusts in Fairland Street, while there was also F.W.Woolworth & Co Ltd in Market Street, as well as the Co-op and the International stores on the Market Place. A good bottle of wine from Ken Whitehand’s in Market Street always went down well!

With a wonderful selection on offer Wymondham folk had no need to visit Norwich for purchasing presents for family and friends. Christmas celebrations and life were great in the Swinging Sixties!