A Wymondham building formerly occupied by Jarrolds has been reclaimed by Williams & Parfitt, an independent seller of antiques and home interiors.

The shop is co-run by Donna Williams and Ryan Parfitt. They are both local business legends: Ms Williams is from the Wymondham Antiques Centre, and Mr Parfitt owns the Wymondham Sports Bar.

BBC Radio Norfolk reported that the building is ‘getting a makeover. It’s absolutely superb.’ Being reopened are old staircases, Victorian-age orangeries, and antique fireplaces.

The business ‘started about eight months ago,’ Mr Parfitt told the BBC. ‘We ended up with an MOT bay in Morley, and within eight months, we got an opportunity to get on the high street and we just took it. It’s amazing.’

‘We are an antique shop with over twenty dealers,’ Ms Williams said, ‘from antique dealers to people who deal in just home and lifestyle, so plants, flowers, candles, things that people will want to take back into their homes.’

The couple made a video of the work-in-progress filmed on a camera leaning on ‘a bottle of Diet Coke. We just went for it. We woke up in the morning, I rang Ryan,’ Ms Williams said, ‘and told him, “Ryan, my phone has rung off the hook.” We’ve had so many people want to get involved. It’s been amazing. Without putting one bit of paint on the wall, the building has sold itself. Dealers came, saw the space, and visualised their own brands in here.’

Wymondham’s latest local go-to for antiques and home décor will open officially very soon. All their news and updates – including the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of setting up the building! – are available on their Facebook.