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What’s in a Photo: Shopping Local

Philip Yaxley Published: 01 April 2024

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Old black and white photo of Wymondham market street

These photographs from around 1900 speak for themselves. It was before the motor car took off and only an occasional horse-drawn vehicle was seen on the streets. There was no worry about crossing.

Old black and white photo of Wymondham market street

With a population of 4731 recorded in 1901, most inhabitants lived in the middle of the town or very near it with no estates on the outskirts.

Old black and white photo of Wymondham market street

Although the railway ran there were no bus services and no car ownership, so townsfolk almost certainly rarely shopped in Norwich and, of course, there were no supermarkets.

Three old handwritten shop invoices

However, the town was well served by a variety of shops, among the retailers being grocers, greengrocers, drapers, butchers, milliners, outfitters and ironmongers, among which even then there was Clements!

There were also a number of little general stores situated around the towns. In those days the townsfolk really did shop local!

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