windows – where the journey takes me 2

Linking in with the windows photo challenge at Wild Daffodil https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2019/07/02/windows-4/

I confess that, not only do I have a fascination for windows, but I also take photos of shop windows – over the years I have managed to record a bit of social history that is interesting to look back on and notice how things change or not. I hope you enjoy these, they are just a few of the many starting with …

…the memorable

**Early 1960’s location unknown (possibly Maidstone, Kent)**
On holiday with my mum, dad, brother, aunt and uncle in the 60’s we came across this street of quaint little shops and had great fun posing for this picture. I am the one with hands on hips in the tartan trews – too small to reach the overhang of the shops. If anyone recognises the street please let me know where it is.

**Jewellers – Cheltenham High Street, 2018**
My engagement ring – two small diamonds either side of a deep blue saphire, came from this shop in 1974. We were students back then and £28 was a lot of money on a student grant. The shop looked just the same back then as it does now and I still have the hand written receipt.

**Bah Humbug traditonal sweet shop – Masham, Market Place, 2008**
Younger daughter’s wedding day – memories of fun photos taken around Masham market place.

**Dress shop – Vicenza Italy, 2018**
I walked passed this beautiful shop window everyday during our stay in Vicenza – I was very tempted by this delicate pink lace dess and if I had a spare £300 and was only a size 6 I might have tried it on.

…the ones lost in time…

**Chemist – Buxton, Terrace Road, 2014**
I love these old shops where time appears to have stood still. This chemist has hardly changed in all the years we have been going to Buxton, note the beautiful large glass jars in the upper windows.

**Butchers – Castle Douglas, King Street, 2018**
Castle Douglas was awarded the status of ‘Food Town’ in May 2002. Family butchers going back generations are at the heart of this.

**Butchers – Castle Douglas, King Street, 2018**
They may have original shop fronts but both are moving ahead with the times and have websites to take internet orders.

**Homewares shop – Newton Stewart, Victoria Street, 2013**
Newton Stewart like many of the little towns in southwest Scotland is a whole town lost in time and the high street is full of independant shops similar to this – gaudy shop fronts and higgledy-piggledy window displays – it feels like walking back into the 1950’s, a street full of little Woolworths and a great place to find nails by the pound or an enamel basin (long before they became fashionable again)!

**Electrical shop – Stranraer, High Street – 2008**
One of my favourite shops, believe it or not this is where we go for our light bulbs and cable. Despite the dilapidated exterior it is a delight to shop here – inside there is an old fashioned counter behind which you will find two lovely ‘older’ ladies serving and behind them are boxes of bulbs and electrical goods in no particular order piled high – surprisingly they can always find what you want. Note the boxes of electrical goods displayed in the window are all so old now they have faded to a pale blue colour.

…and the ones that didn’t quite make it

**Corner shop – Kirkudbright, corner of Castle Street and High Street, 2010**
It is always sad to see the closing down and for sale signs on these once thriving shops.

**Shoe shop – Newton Stewart, Victoria Street, 2013**

**Possibly an old hardware shop – Bonsall Cross, Derbyshire, 2019**
Whilst meandering around the open gardens in Bonsall village this window caught my eye with the shop dummy in the corner. Obviously an old shop, one of 26 in this tiny village before the second world war and now a house but one where the residents change the dummies outfit quite often.

….and the modern

**John Lewis Store, Sheffield, Barker’s Pool 2018**
Another favourite store of mine and a timeless piece of modern architecture that looks as modern today as it must have done when it opened in September 1963. Situated opposite the City Hall, John Lewis has quite a prime central positon in the town. I was born in Sheffield in the 50’s and this store, once Cole Brothers, has played such a key role in my life and that of my family. So many items in our household have been bought from here over the years. They are one of only a few stores now who actually still ‘dress’ their windows.

**Olivetti showroom – Venice, Piazza San Marco – 2018**
Designed by architect Carlo Scarpa in 1958 to house a collection of modern typewriters and calculators. Another timeless building.

…the local post office

**Post Office and newsagent – Wigtown, S Main Street, 2018**
As well as a Post Office this is one of those wonderful newsagents that sell a variety of children’s toys and novelty gifts. Take a closer look at the wonderful haphazard display of jigsaws and toilet rolls that are often a hallmark of these small village shops.

**Village Post Office – Gainford County Durham, Main Street – 2014**
I love this pretty little post office that we came across on our meanderings – it is so typically English.

**Post Office and general store – New Luce, Scotland – 2019**
So lovely to see so many post offices are surviving still and often relocated into people’s homes and sheds. These windows have window boxes full of herbs for any customer to help themselves.

…and bookshops…

**Bookshop – Buxton, High Street – 2014**
I can never walk past a bookshop window and if you have a spare hour or two and you find yourself in Buxton then browsing the 5 floors of Scrivener’s second hand books is an absolute must. It is rated as one of the best in the UK. Whilst you are there enjoy a tea or coffee from the small cafe tucked away on the first floor.

**Bookshop – Wigtown, N Main Street, 2018**
With a population of only 1,000 Wigtown was awarded the staus of Scotland’s National Book town in 1998 and has become a book lover’s haven – with the Book Festival in September being the highlight of the year. The program is extensive with many famous and up and coming authors speaking as well as a variety of arts events. Now given charity status this is one of the best loved literary events in the country. This is the bookshop that is famous for the recent best seller, The Diary of a Bookseller – written by the owner, Shaun Bythell detailing daily life in a book shop in a small remote Scottish town. His famous twisted pile of books outside the door, once made I believe from actual books, have since been replaced with a concrete stack that will better survive the weather.

**Bookshop – Wigtown, S Main Street – 2018**
This must be the tiniest bookshop window I have seen. Hidden away just off the main street you walk through a beautiful wild garden to discover this delightful little book shop specialising in folklore and mytholgy.

…the eye catching and well presented…

**Glove shop – alleyways of Venice – 2018**
Typical of Italy, a shop dedicated to sell nothing but the finest leather gloves in every colour imaginable.

**Homewares shop, Vicenza – 2018**
Everywhere in Vicenza, no matter what the goods being sold, from china to bread, the window displays are absolutely beautiful.

**Green grocers – Saltburn by the Sea, Station Square – 2012**

**The Birdhouse – Masham, Market Square – 2013 (now closed)**

**Sweet shop – Tissington, Derbyshire – 2013**

**Flower shop – Glossop, George Street, 2019**

….and finally the Christmas windows

**Emporium – Tissington, Derbyshire – 2013**

**Bakewell Pudding shop – Bakewell, The Square – 2018**

**Hair and Beauty Lounge – Stranraer, Charlotte Street, 2018**

**Bakers – Stranraer, Hanover Street, 2018**

So many interesting windows and a little snapshot of daily life recorded for ever.

Joining in with the monthly meet up photo challenge – the theme for the year is windows. I have always been attracted to windows so this is a great opportunity to display those captured moments when we are out and about.

Other people’s windows have always fascinated me – whether they are the well presented, the shabby, the unusually placed, the tiny or the hidden… wherever I come across anything of interest you can bet I will have taken a photo. These are a few I have taken when I have been meandering out and about.