When the railway came to Haslemere in 1859 the area began to earn a reputation for its unspoilt beauty. As tourists and new settlers arrived, so locals set up and expanded into new businesses, such as horse–drawn carriage hire and tea–rooms. Haslemere has sustained hundreds of independent shops and businesses. The national chain stores have largely been more recent arrivals. Woolworths came in 1951 and its Haslemere branch is said to have been the only store in Britain not to have the classic trademark red in its sign – a concession to the shop’s surroundings. The UK chain and the local store finished trading at the start of 2009. An independent, R. Miles ironmongers, holds the record for the longest continually running shop in Haslemere.
Track 11 Parking Lines In Front Of Shop
Credit line: Joe Nobbs talks about the first parking lines outside his family’s shop.
Transcription:
Interviewee: Parking lines appeared. I remember Dad used to be able to park outside the shop at one time, and then he got fined because there were lines there, which didn’t make him very happy.