Nostalgia: The death of the department store

Department stores are sadly becoming a thing of the past. 

Years ago a town of any size would boast at least one and maybe more large stores which sold a range of goods.  Now there are only a few left and none at all in Paignton.

The biggest and best known was Rossiters, opened  in Palace Avenue in 1858 by two sisters Jane and Sarah Rossiter who moved from Winner Street where they had outgrown their previous premises.  From a small drapery outlet Rossiters grew in to a large store selling everything including Ladies, Gents and children’s clothing, homeware, furniture and haberdashery.

A splendid café on the first floor was a popular meeting place for coffee or lunch. The store traded successfully for many years and was rumoured to be the inspiration for the popular sit-com “Are you being served”.  However due to changes in shopping habits, the growth of out-of-town shopping areas and the increasing popularity of internet shopping, the store finally closed its doors in 2009 following several poor trading years. The building briefly re-opened as a discount store but has now been closed for a number of years and stands empty. 

Another department store to appear in Paignton, this time in Victoria Street was Emmanuel Beare. Opened in 1890 the store was situated approximately where W.H.Smith now operates.  A smaller store than Rossiters selling a less extensive range of goods, it remained much the same until its eventual closure in the 1960s  The Victorian façade of the outside together with intriguing rows of small drawers in the large haberdashery department are probably now only remembered by Paignton’s older residents.

In 1903 John Perrot having moved from Wiltshire to Paignton in 1901 opened a men’s bespoke outfitters at 21 Torbay Road. By 1930 the business had expanded to include Ready to Wear and in 1938 a Ladies Outfitters was opened at 37 Torbay Road.

The store continued as an upmarket retail outlet until 1997, surviving a fire in 1965 which caused the men’s department to temporarily relocate to the Ladies store further down the road.  Sadly by 1997 trading conditions were such that the Perret family decided to cease trading.  Three generations of the family were involved in the store, it was much missed by local people.

The only other store of any size was the Co-op, opened in Winner Street in 1907 where it sold groceries, drapery ,millinery, electrical and fashions on its three floors. Originally the Paignton Co-operative Society, it later merged with the Plymouth and South Devon Co-operative Society.

From the 1970s things started to change and the Co-op became  purely a grocery store and very much smaller than the original. The upper floors have been converted into flats.

No department stores remain in Paignton, although most items can be purchased here, no longer all under the same roof.

Paignton Heritage Society while valuing the past and working to retain all that is good and worthwhile for future generations is also aware that time change.  The work can only continue if we encourage the next generation to become involved.  A Junior Heritage Society is starting in the Autumn for children 8-13 who are interested in History and would like to learn more. 

It will meet on the last Saturday of the month in the morning from 10am -12noon.  Further details will be available shortly. The Heritage centre on the first floor of the library is open Monday Thursday and Saturday 11am t0 3pm and is free to visit.  The extensive archive together with pictures and maps are all available to see.  There is much work still to be done but the volunteers are happy to help with any questions in any way they can.

We are coming to the end of our season at Kirkham House. We will be open from 1pm to 4pm 0n Sunday 31st offering tours of the house, the clink and the Bishops Tower. Those wishing to do all three tours should arrive by 3pm.