Northfleet History Group - April 2011 Meeting.
GRAVESEND'S BYGONE SHOPS
Sandra Soder
At the April meeting of the Northfleet History Group members and visitors went shopping around old Gravesend from the comfort of their chairs, with Sandra Soder as their guide.
Many remembered the days when individual stores were the way we shopped before the arrival of supermarkets and chain stores. Bryant and Rackstraw’s brought back memories, it was the towns leading drapery and haberdashery store which was located at the corner of the High Street and King Street, which burnt down and later Woolworths was built on the site, which has also now closed.
Other familiar names were Posner’s the dress shop, Timothy Whites the chemist and Caldicott’s newsagents, to name just a few. The town also boasted four cinemas, The Majestic, Plaza, Regal and Super. The Plaza opened in 1911 and was the first purpose built cinema in Gravesend. it was located in Windmill Street where the carpet shop and barbers is now.
Listening to the speaker and the audience it was obvious that people regretted that the Co-op, especially the department store, was no longer in New Road apparently it was the shop where you could always get what you wanted!
Following a break for a cup of tea and chance to reminisce about old shops and cinemas , I gave a fifteen minute talk about the Reverend Frederic Southgate’s time as the Vicar of St Botolph’s 1858 to 1885.
Many remembered the days when individual stores were the way we shopped before the arrival of supermarkets and chain stores. Bryant and Rackstraw’s brought back memories, it was the towns leading drapery and haberdashery store which was located at the corner of the High Street and King Street, which burnt down and later Woolworths was built on the site, which has also now closed.
Other familiar names were Posner’s the dress shop, Timothy Whites the chemist and Caldicott’s newsagents, to name just a few. The town also boasted four cinemas, The Majestic, Plaza, Regal and Super. The Plaza opened in 1911 and was the first purpose built cinema in Gravesend. it was located in Windmill Street where the carpet shop and barbers is now.
Listening to the speaker and the audience it was obvious that people regretted that the Co-op, especially the department store, was no longer in New Road apparently it was the shop where you could always get what you wanted!
Following a break for a cup of tea and chance to reminisce about old shops and cinemas , I gave a fifteen minute talk about the Reverend Frederic Southgate’s time as the Vicar of St Botolph’s 1858 to 1885.
