I have just been on a trip down Coombe to see if I could pick anything up in Chas N Pedlars seasonal sale as year on year it never fails and sure enough this year I was over the moon to come away with a pine Exmoor National Park mug tree complete with half a dozen mugs with scenes of the moor on them which include Pinkworthy Pond, Dunkerry Beacon Valley and Tarr Steps. Half price it was from their china department probably worth a darn site more now that Tarr Steps has been washed away (shocking news). I also picked up a selection of small hardware pieces hooks, curtain rings, galvanized nails and such like, plus a finely crafted pair of British made wool boot socks just the job when worn with a pair of Grafters or waders. These weren't in the sale but you don't see such things very much these days so I just had to have them.
Of course, it goes without saying, that when I was in there I made a point of congratulating them on there recent anniversary, 90 years of trading on Ilfracombe High Street. I told them how I always think of their emporium as an Aladdins' cave full of practical essential items at reasonable and competitive prices. Where else can you buy a pair of slacks and a tin of paint in one place? To my mind, it really is a department store in the true sense of the word. If by chance you have half a mind to go up to the new John Lewis in Exeter I gather you would have no problem buying some swanky electrical stuff, fancy coloured plugs, softfurnishings galore and overpriced wallpaper made by George Osbournes dad but you try asking them for a wrench, some eyelets for a groundsheet or an Dunlop airtex tennis shirt I reckon they wouldn't know what you were belddy on about.
Nope to my mind Pedlars really does have all your shopping needs under one roof and here's to wishing them another 90 years of profitable trading!
90 years trading that is quite a milestone to reach and I don't see many of the businesses recently arrived here in Barum High Street lasting a fraction of that time. As we were sat in the Thursday lunch club which was moved to Friday this week and I was telling all about my bargains and expounding upon the virtues of Ilfracome High Street as a much maligned retail zone Annie Cawood pointed out that another family owned store of equal renown had just celebrated it's 75th year of trading. Govers,
Although their range of stock range is not as wide and all encompassing as Pedlars they do manage to give you a run for your money on the gentleman's clothing and workwear front. Hats! that's what they are good at
and remains a local institution. I remember going in there with mother to get my school uniform of course all the Grammer School and public school we likely to get theirs fitted out at Samuel Daws us secondary modern kids had Govers and over the years I have stuck by the place and I tell you you can't fault them for good value work wear, Grafters toe-tectors £20 cotton shirts £15
