Closure Of Time-Warp Shop

Warwick time-warp shop over 100-years-old set to close

An ironmonger's which has been trading for more than 100 years is set to close Photo: ITV Central

An ironmonger's which has been trading for more than 100 years is set to close because its owner says constant roadworks nearby are 'killing' his business.

The shop is a time-warp, selling bits and bobs you often can not find anywhere else but trade is down so much, the business can not go on.

The Period House Shop in Warwick town's Market Place is set to close on 18 October after 117 years.

The owner claims that constant digging up of roads close by and leading up to his shop has sealed its fate, forcing the closure. Credit: ITV Central

It opened in 1895 and under the name Wylie's became one of the best-known shops in the town.

It is still unique, selling all those long-forgotten items of bric-a-brac, paints from times past and bathroom accessories.

The shop is a time-warp, selling bits and bobs you often can not find anywhere else Credit: ITV Central

Problems with some suppliers and the popularity with shoppers of nearby Leamington Spa have led owner Simon Holloway, who runs two similar stores in Shrewsbury and Ludlow, to consider closing the doors on his Warwick shop.

But he claims that constant digging up of roads close by and leading up to his shop has sealed its fate, forcing the closure.

This morning Severn Trent Water has a busy road into Warwick closed for six weeks to install new sewer pipes. But the company insists it is mindful of the effect closures like this have.

And Warwickshire County Council told us:

0 0 1 96 551 ITV PLC 4 1 646 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-GB JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}“The county council iscommitted to delivering high standards in maintaining and improving Warwickshire’shighway network. We look after 3,800 kilometres of road and in order tominimise the delay or disruption to motorists, the county council seeks toco-ordinate all works that are undertaken on the public highway, and aim tohave them carried out when traffic flows are lighter.

“We are also actively pursuing our Going for Growth agenda forthe local economy which is helping us build many proactive relationships withbusinesses in Warwickshire, and we are working to help them to overcomebarriers to growth and thrive in the long term."

– Warwickshire County Council