Ellesmere's Fred Roberts shop closes doors for final time

It was an emotional day for Debbie Hayward and her mother Beryl Hewitt as they brought the curtain down on 140 years of serving the needs of the people of Ellesmere.

And on their final day of trading, 300 loyal customers came through the doors to say goodbye to the women behind the counter of the town's oldest shop. Fred Roberts in Cross Street closed for good yesterday.

And Mrs Hayward said throughout the day they received messages of thanks and support from hundreds of their customers.

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One of the last two people through the doors was Pearl Sidoli, of Market Drayton, who was actually visiting the shop for the first time.

She said: "I'm here with my family who use the shop regularly, but for me it's my first time.

"I have been very impressed and it's a shame it's closing."

The other was Community Support Officer Liz Walmsley who said she regularly used the shop and was sad to see it close.

Lincoln McMullan, chairman of Ellesmere Chamber of Commerce, said: "Any business closing is disappointing with the way the economy is at the moment, especially one that has been in the same family for virtually 140 years.

"It is a very sad loss. Hopefully it won't be empty for long."

Councillor Alan Clarke, mayor of Ellesmere, added: "What they had was unique and the business is steeped in history.

"I doubt it will ever be replicated.

"They should be congratulated on the wonderful work they have done over the years they have been trading in the town."

Charles Roberts first took over the tenancy of the property in 1872 when it was a printer's.

His son Fred took over the business after 1914 and began to sell stationery as well, with the printing side eventually dying out.

Fred Roberts died in 1940, although his name remains above the door.

Mrs Hayward, Charles Roberts's great-great-granddaughter, came into the business in 1979 and said she was extremely proud it had remained in the family for so long.

Last year the shop interior underwent a £10,000 makeover – the first in about 50 years – but the shop front has remained exactly the same since the 1970s.

When the shop celebrated its 135th birthday in 2007, BBC Midlands Today visited to film a feature on its long history.