City centre shopping precincts

Greg said "Sorry, Pixrobin, what I meant was the shop name. It doesn`t look anything like Marks & Spencer." Thanks Greg, hadn't noticed it under the canopy. I downloaded the image and fiddled with it in my image editor. Because of the low contrast and low resolution of the digitised image the letters are so distorted (the supposed 'M' is just 7 pixels high) that it is impossible to decipher. Perhaps the original poster could help out.

That's a great shot Dutchman - not that I like the content but it totally demonstrates the old with the 'new'. The final remnants of old Smithford Street being replaced with Smithford Way Last days of The White Lion as well - even the parked car references old/pre-war - but those new bricks are on the way.

The Display Case and Police Box were entirely different structures. There is a photo somewhere on the Forum which shows this, plus there was more than one 'Display case' in Smithford Way

The picture of the Stalingrad people looks as though they have just come round the corner from the Leofric and down the precinct it also looks like about the time the precinct on the right was down to about two shops below woolies, level with the camera man.

Dutchman, your post192 would that be opposite the casino snack bar?

Afraid not Kaga. The Casino was much further down in Fleet Street, opposite the City Arms hotel.

What's odd to me is that Woolworth and Marks & Spencer were originally on the same side of Smithford Street with British Home Stores facing them but when the precinct was constructed Marks & Spencer switched places with British Home Stores. I would have thought they would want to have been as close to their pre-war locations as possible.

Dutchman, The Marks and Spencer location is more imposing as they are on the corner, whilst BHS had the "phone shop" on the corner so BHS had less of a presence (was the "phone shop" original or a later addition?). Given the changes to the City Centre I think presence, floor area and rent would have been more important than keeping the exact location. The original site would have been compulsorily purchased for the re-development. Peter.

The 'phone shop' would be a relatively new 'of the era' occupation. I remember it like this - it was a shoe shop on that corner for ages.

A 1960s postcard showing the shoe shop - "Dolcis" (I bet Dreamtime's in there!)

The 'Mayfair' Ladies Hairdressers was above Dolcis. Is it still there?

Yes MR, I have to admit, many many many times, but I am cured now!

Oh Noooo! In yesterdays Telegraph: "...A new entrance will be provided into West Orchards Shopping Centre and empty upper floors will be brought back into active use with the provision of new student accommodation." Full report here.

OMG, TonyS Comments: Does councillor Boyle eyesight need testing as the carbuncle that is Cathedral Lanes still obscures the view of the spire. Also do we really need yet more student accommodation in the city centre.