Shops sold everything from paint to peas

THESE photos from our archive show the variety of shops on one of Derby’s busiest shopping streets in the 1960s and 70s.

We feel sure many readers will remember some of the names of the businesses which were photographed in Pear Tree Road from 1966 to 1979.

We wonder how many of our readers frequented A Hill’s shop, seen here, right, in the early 1970s? Looking at the window display, it appears to sell everything from baby wear to adult men’s and women’s fashions.

Next door is The Bargain Shop advertising “Dave’s Surplus”. There is a sign advertising different types of paint on the upper floor.

The front of the premises of Mason’s in this 1969 photo, top middle, looks like it could do with a lick of paint. This appears to be a fruit and veg shop while further along the row of shops is Vivette’s hair stylist and a shop called Graham. We can’t quite tell what this sells. Perhaps you can remember? At the corner there appears to be a pub as we can just make out the word “Ales” on the front of the building and the sign hanging down is advertising Double Diamond beer.

Lady Bay Cleaners and Launderers, Peartree Wallpapers, Middletons and Rhodes carpets can be seen in the next photo, top right, which was taken in December 1970. We wonder what Middletons sold?

The photo bottom middle, taken in December 1966, shows a bakery, far left, a shop selling cigarettes, ice cream and sweets, Jane England’s (although this looks empty) and Page’s grocery shop.

Finally, we have the photo bottom right, taken in 1979 and featuring a wool shop, the Midland Bank and Wilson’s the chemists.