is there a website that tells you what shops were before?

[sair5412]

I was in town today and noticed a shop has closed down and was trying to remember what it was before. This particular building has been many things from tourist information, a clothes shop and an ice cream parlour. I then started looking at the other shops surrounding and wondered if there is any way to find out what they were before? Thanks

[reinganum]

If you have a local history society, join it. They often have old photographs (now often in electronic form) which you can browse.

The funny thing is, that shop premises are one of the things that local historians tend to ignore, or have only a passing interest in.

When I was a boy fifty years ago shops seemed to stay the same for a long time but I have noticed where I live that the turnover is now much more rapid.

What I suggest is that you walk down your local town centre making a list of all the shops and where they are. Date the list. Then repeat the exercise every year on the same date. Or, whenever a new shop opens or an existing outlet closes, note the date on the list. This will do for the future, anyway.

[daisy48]

Try your main library sair54. They have plenty of info there.