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Haslemere Shops

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 31 Good Knight Club

Credit line: Alan Perry talks about the Good Knight Club.

Transcription:

Interviewee: The Good Knight Club.

Interviewer: You’ll have to explain where it is.

Interviewee: The Good Knight Club adjoins the Museum, it’s situated closer to the museum here, at the back. It was, in fact, the Three Counties Club, very smart for the smart business people of Haslemere. I went in once or twice; I just remember it being extremely stuffy, in those days I think everyone was puffing on cigars and fags as they would do. As they did indeed when it changed ’cause it was sold at auction, bought by Geoff Gogh and Gladys, his wife and I think Henry Stevens as well. And then a night club in Haslemere, believe it or not. And it was great. There was the bar, we’d go to the bar, there was a place you could eat, usually chilli con carne, at the back and then there was the night club. So that was usually, it was open most nights in the week.

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