Shop closure the ‘end of an era’

The country’s oldest shoe shop closes in Canterbury on Saturday, after more than 160 years in the city centre – but still has almost 2,000 pairs to sell.

Bosses at Kennedy’s in Sun Street say there are bargains to be snapped up they look to clear out the remaining stock.

The business was opened by Alexander Kennedy in 1865, but current owner Roger Bickerton says none of his descendents want to take it on.

Speaking to the Gazette in May, when he revealed the planned closure, 83-year-old Mr Bickerton, whose father owned the shop in the 1950s, said it would be “the end of an era”.

He says his children and grandchildren, who do not live locally, are not interested in continuing in the shoe business.

He said: “Of course I feel very sad about it and for our long-serving staff, because the business is certainly still viable and we have many loyal customers.

“It will be quite emotional to close the door for the last time.”

While Mr Bickerton has continued to keep an eye on the accounts, the shop has largely been run in recent years by business partner Debbie Howland with a team of five staff, who are all losing their jobs.

She said: “Saturday will be a very sad day for us all because the shop has been a big part of our lives.

“But we still have around 2,000 pairs of shoes in stock which have to go, so there are some bargains to be had.”

The 2,000 sq ft grade Ii-listed premises, which has medieval origins, has now been sold through estate agents Finns, but the identity of the buyer remains unknown.

It had an asking price of £750,000, but cost just £700 when Mr Kennedy bought it in 1856.

Back then, shoes were made and repaired on site.

They were wholesaled to outlying village shops and delivered by bike until the firm bought a van in the 1950s.

It also had a contract from the Department of Trade to supply Wellington boots across the county and down as far as Rye.

Mr Bickerton joined the business in 1964 and worked with his father, Harold, until his death in 1971, when he and wife Jenny took over the shop.

Roger Bickerton, left, will close Kennedy’s, the oldest shoe shop in the country, for the last time on Saturday, ending its association with the city which dates back to 1865; Kennedy’s in Sun Street pictured around 1910, with the then owner, Bert...