City centre shopping precincts

I’m unsure if this is the correct thread but I shall ask anyway. I can remember a shop from the Upper Precinct, around on the left going past Woolworths, that sold tea. You could buy loose leaf from boxes/caddies. I would have been younger than ten so maybe my memory is questionable. Can anyone help me out with this?

Could it be Darlington's?

Thank you for your info. I really can’t recall other things being for sale. I can only remember my mother buying Earl Grey Tea loose leaf. I’m sure the shop was fitted out in wood, it was quite dark in there.

Gumnut Doubt if I can help you. If I can remember there was a tailors next door down from Woolies and then they stopped building for a couple of years about 1955 time. I rather think it was nearer 1960 time that they built the Lower Precinct, and I forget that part. But the old market sold most things loose in very small amounts - butter, cheese, sugar, tea, salt, eggs, almost everything. Yes, and shops that sold “fork ‘andles” or a single candle! Tea came loose in three ply wooden chests, sealed with silver paper. You could even buy butter at the odd weight of ten ounces, but that was Victorian times. How’s the book coming on?

There was the Kongoni Coffee bar in Market Way Arcade who sold coffee and tea, but I am sure I can remember a little shop selling coffee and tea in the side of BHS opposite the side of Woolies.

The Upper Precinct 2020

Market Way 2020

Market Way, from Shelton Square Top: 25 Mar 2016 Bottom: 21 Sep 2020

What was the big building that's no longer there MR ?

Can anyone confirm when the Upper Precinct ramp was built? I think it was '83'ish but have been asked to confirm if members can help?

According to Council papers; Ernest Jones Jewellers have occupied the shop under the ramp from 8th January 1982. The planning application was approved on 28th March 1979.

I am pretty sure that when it opened the shop under the ramp was branded 'Zales Jewellery'. 'Zales' and 'Ernest Jones' are both brand names owned by Signet Jewellers (that itself was formerly known as Ratners).

Hi FadingMemoy, welcome to the Forum Nothing wrong with your memories