
The Bookshop, The Draper, The Candlestick Maker
11th March 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The Bookshop, The Draper, The Candlestick Maker: A history of the High Street
Tuesday 11th March 7pm
A talk by Dr Annie Gray
What makes a high street? And are they really dying – or merely changing, as they have always done? What were they like in the past? How did we shop in the days before ready-to-wear, self-selection, pre-packaged food or even affordable glazing? And is it really all about the retail – or do people, buildings and a sense of place play a role in it all as well?
Historian Annie Gray joins us to talk about one of Britain’s best-loved spaces; one we purport to love, but which we often neglect. Based on the research for her latest book, she’ll bring to life the high streets of our parents, grandparents and many great-ancestors, putting the modern shopping experience into historic context. Expect humour, nostalgia and Annie’s trademark forthrightness as we peep into the windows of exploding grocery shops, toyshops aimed squarely at adults, and – of course – eating houses and drinking venues from the medieval period to the only-just-past.
Tickets: £8.50