It is five years since Prices, the stationer and art materials supplier in Stert Street, announced on 25 October 2021 that it would be closing. The Prices sign is still in place above the shop, even though the business closed in December 2021.
A planning application is currently being considered for internal fire safety improvements and modifications to the stairs. Some building work also appears to have taken place inside the property.
The building is Grade II listed and is thought to date from the 17th century. It has a stucco and timber-framed front elevation with two gables.
The building’s listed status, along with its current condition and the work needed to bring it up to standard, may be complicating plans for its future. I cannot see any sign that the premises will reopen as a shop in 2026.
P.S. Like the old building, this creaky old blog is also due for some work. It will be migrated to a new host within the next 72 hours, which could mean Saturday, Monday or possibly later. The blog may be unavailable during the move. Hopefully, unlike some old buildings, it will emerge at the other end without the need for too much remedial work.
Hope the blog relocation goes smoothly, Backstreeter. It’s such a valuable asset for the town.
I could not agree more.
I agree – good luck with the move. It’s a tragedy no-one has taken over the Price’s shop. Greedy landlords I expect.
I still miss Price’s now. They had a good art section at the back of the shop, and as an artist I bought a lot there, stocking a wide range of Windsor & Newton watercolour.
I miss Prices too, they had a huge range of stationery and art materials, nothing in town really compares any more. I think there was talk of Masons craft shop stocking some art materials but that hasn’t happened.
If I’m not too late – make sure you have a backup – I’ve previously found with my own blog that every move whether to a new platform or a new hosting co loses some things.
Hope the host move goes well.
There’s a sad lack of art material supplies in the town now – sure you can buy things online, but I did enjoy browsing for things.