To which may be added Maddox (greengrocers). many shoeshops, MacFisheries, Butler's, with its timber-framed shop (demolished to erect the early Tesco's in brutalist 60s concrete) & Sainsbury's, with its tiled walls (hidden behind the fittings of the present company's premises). During the 50s, in Sainsbury's, one had butter for instance, made up with butter-pats before wrapping and bacon sliced to requirements. Because each counter sold a separate item, payment was made using the overhead 'railway' to a cash-desk in the pulpit at the end of the shop. Regarding Oakley's, it was what was known as an Italian Warehouse. During and after the War (II) it sold exotic items like foreign cheeses, Italian salamis, dried fruit and a lot of otherwise unobtainable products taken for granted in the supermarkets nowadays .... but they don't have the marvellous smell of an Italian warehouse, which was a characteristic of others around the country. Earlier on, of course, Woolworths.. nothing over 6d. One could go on but can only regret the loss of a traditional high street.

Can anybody remember what Caters was called before it was Argos?

I think Caters was Presto and before that it was the Green Shield Stamp shop.

Does anyone remember the shop that sold hay and pet food [all we bought there] in George Street [right side going down] please. I still remember the smell of Oakleys, the sugar on string and the wonderful sugar Easter eggs with pictures inside. Now you can only get similar eggs from America - I've looked [sigh]. What about Liptons too and Deverells, the toy shop in French Row. And Blundells department store in Market place, It included the old timber framed building too. The Wetheralls part of Blundells used it. I'm sure everyone remembers Heath and Heathers, with their large warehouse too. I think my mother bought my pram in Faith Heaths, Market Place, and I bought my son's one there too. Near there was a lovely bookshop that sold bags of beads that I loved buying.

Yes Sandra I remember buying a bale of hay for our chickens from that shop but can't remember what it was called. There was a similar shop halfway down French Row that you could walk straight through from Chequer Street. Your mention of that tiny little shop Deverells in French Row reminded me of my model making days, also of the shop at the top of Hatfield Road close to the Blacksmiths Arms and my favourite, Green and Winters down an alley way off Market Place.