Fond memories of long lost store

When a local landmark and familiar building that has stood for generations is earmarked for development, it is quite often the subject of controversy and dismay among local people with different views.

It was during the 1970s that large scale destruction took place and Ashford was torn apart for a number of sizeable and many smaller projects, which saw some of our interesting ‘heritage value’ buildings disappear.

History and heritage is not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ and one wouldn’t force the subject on another. However, more often than not, it’s an interest and talking point.

Others are shocked when they don’t remember a one-time feature of their town but are then shown a picture of the way things used to be.

One stalwart Ashford building, until its destruction for redevelopment in the early part of the 1970s, was the former long-standing premises of independent department store Lewis and Hyland who had established themselves in a substantial local landmark premises at New Rents after initially starting business in a smaller premises at the top of New Rents (now demolished) which during the 1960’s had become Record Corner prior to its moving to the corner of the Upper High Street and Castle Street.

Following the completion of the neighbouring Tufton Shopping Centre (today known as County Square), Lewis and Hyland took a new store in the development and their familiar New Rents

store was demolished in readiness for Phase two of the shopping development.

Their menswear store in the High Street had already been bulldozed for the new shopping centre a few years earlier.

This week’s Remember When illustrates the former and muchloved New Rents store prior to demolition and pictured in 1972 and then during the demolition process in 1975/6.

■ Have you got any photographs or slides of Old Ashford that you would be willing to loan me, to enable them to be scanned for possible feature in the Kentish Express?

Please don’t delay, get in touch!

Write to me: Steve Salter, Kentish Express Remember When, Unit 4, Park Mall Shopping Centre, Ashford, Kent. TN24 8RY

E-mail me: rememberwhen_ kmash@hotmail.co.uk

Follow me on Twitter @SteveKMAshford

Or you can also leave a telephone message for me with brief details by calling 01233 623232.