City centre shopping precincts

Well, I did find True Form's, Helen!

Where the lorry is in front of the vehicle crane would be about where the 'Round Cafe' was built. The foundations for Wade's Furniture Store look in place to the left as would the foundations for the Mecca, (Locarno) behind the photographer at that time.

Dreamtime, I had to look up what True Form was. I thought it was some kind of architectural term. LOL. At first I only noticed Woolworths and didn't see the shop at the bottom.

True Form was one of many nice shoe shops in the 1960's Helen. Stiletto era.

Don't forget 'Elizabeth the Chef' cake shop next door nearly to Woolies at the start of the Lower Precinct upstairs which is in view or the 'Pancake Parlour' on the upper floor on the other side above 'Gibberds' and 'Fennell's' which is the side the photo was taken. Talking of shoe shops, what about 'Manfield's which had been in Broadgate since before the war and again after it was rebuilt at least until the mid 1970's.

I've been walking down Smithford Way for years, but only today noticed this plaque. I presume it will disappear with the current refurbishment. I wonder if the new look will last 28 years? Peter.

I'm unsure if this is the correct thread but I shall ask anyway. I can remember a shop from the Upper Precinct, around on the left going past Woolworths, that sold tea. You could buy loose leaf from boxes/caddies. I would have been younger than ten so maybe my memory is questionable. Can anyone help me out with this?

Could it be Darlington's?

Thank you for your info. I really can't recall other things being for sale. I can only remember my mother buying Earl Grey Tea loose leaf. I'm sure the shop was fitted out in wood, it was quite dark in there.

Gumnut Doubt if I can help you. If I can remember there was a tailors next door down from Woolies and then they stopped building for a couple of years about 1955 time. I rather think it was nearer 1960 time that they built the Lower Precinct, and I forget that part. But the old market sold most things loose in very small amounts - butter, cheese, sugar, tea, salt, eggs, almost everything. Yes, and shops that sold "fork 'andles" or a single candle! Tea came loose in three ply wooden chests, sealed with silver paper. You could even buy butter at the odd weight of ten ounces, but that was Victorian times. How's the book coming on?

There was the Kongoni Coffee bar in Market Way Arcade who sold coffee and tea, but I am sure I can remember a little shop selling coffee and tea in the side of BHS opposite the side of Woolies.

The Upper Precinct 2020

Market Way 2020

Market Way, from Shelton Square Top: 25 Mar 2016 Bottom: 21 Sep 2020