Timewarp corner shop virtually unchanged since opening in 1923 is closing down
- last year
A time-warp corner shop virtually unchanged since opening in 1923 is closing - leaving locals gutted.
Moore and Toop opened first opened in 1923 - and still looks largely the same as it did back then.
But Ernest Clothier, who became owner in 1969, has decided it's finally time to shut up shop.
He described the sale of the property in Frome, Somerset, as the "end of an era".
Ernest, 77, said: "Everybody's been saying, 'What are we going to do without you?'. Even people that don't shop here.
"But I'm creeping towards 80 and I want to retire. Time is time, isn't it?"
Moore and Toop sold agricultural supplies to farmers when it opened 100 years ago - and has not been repainted since.
The original owner - referred to as "Mr Moore" by Ernest - then stepped down in the late 1960s.
So Ernest and his late wife Mary took the job on.
Despite growing up on a farm, Ernest had plenty to learn and had the extra pressure of being under the watchful eye of Mr Moore for the first six weeks.
And he gave Ernest two options: perform well and the original 'Moore and Toop' shop-front sign could stay up, if not, it had to come down.
Thankfully, Ernest passed the test and the sign remained firmly in place for another 54 years.
Original advertising board from brands of the past remained on the walls throughout Ernest's tenancy.
They have since been taken for auction in Chippenham, Wilts., where they are expected to fetch as much as £600 a piece.
But, after becoming a staple of the town, Ernest has decided now is the time to retire and shut up shop as he "creeps towards 80".
Ernest and his wife spent five decades supplying the local farming trade with seeds and supplies - with business booming up until the mid 1990s.
Ernest also sold dog food, something he says was one of his bestsellers, often shifting over 400 bags.
Historic brands like Entwhistles and Spratts are just some of the old companies that took up advertising space on Ernest's walls.
The advertisements date from before World War Two and add to the historic feeling of the shop.
The shop is also home to original Avery weighing scales - which Ernest claims are better than their modern electric counterparts.
Asked if he ever though about modernising the place, Ernest said: "Not really, we were so busy we didn't even think about."
Ernest will continue trading until the planned handover of the property on February 24 - marking the end of the Moore and Toop era.
And he said: "I don't think anyone would want to carry the business on. We've got a warehouse as well so you'd need more space to store feed. The end of era really.
"The gentleman that has bought the space said he just wants to make it better because it's never had any work on it - I'm not sure what he plans to do after."
After 54 years of trading, Ernest said: "I will miss the people without a doubt but I'm sure I'll see most of them, if not all of them."
Moore and Toop opened first opened in 1923 - and still looks largely the same as it did back then.
But Ernest Clothier, who became owner in 1969, has decided it's finally time to shut up shop.
He described the sale of the property in Frome, Somerset, as the "end of an era".
Ernest, 77, said: "Everybody's been saying, 'What are we going to do without you?'. Even people that don't shop here.
"But I'm creeping towards 80 and I want to retire. Time is time, isn't it?"
Moore and Toop sold agricultural supplies to farmers when it opened 100 years ago - and has not been repainted since.
The original owner - referred to as "Mr Moore" by Ernest - then stepped down in the late 1960s.
So Ernest and his late wife Mary took the job on.
Despite growing up on a farm, Ernest had plenty to learn and had the extra pressure of being under the watchful eye of Mr Moore for the first six weeks.
And he gave Ernest two options: perform well and the original 'Moore and Toop' shop-front sign could stay up, if not, it had to come down.
Thankfully, Ernest passed the test and the sign remained firmly in place for another 54 years.
Original advertising board from brands of the past remained on the walls throughout Ernest's tenancy.
They have since been taken for auction in Chippenham, Wilts., where they are expected to fetch as much as £600 a piece.
But, after becoming a staple of the town, Ernest has decided now is the time to retire and shut up shop as he "creeps towards 80".
Ernest and his wife spent five decades supplying the local farming trade with seeds and supplies - with business booming up until the mid 1990s.
Ernest also sold dog food, something he says was one of his bestsellers, often shifting over 400 bags.
Historic brands like Entwhistles and Spratts are just some of the old companies that took up advertising space on Ernest's walls.
The advertisements date from before World War Two and add to the historic feeling of the shop.
The shop is also home to original Avery weighing scales - which Ernest claims are better than their modern electric counterparts.
Asked if he ever though about modernising the place, Ernest said: "Not really, we were so busy we didn't even think about."
Ernest will continue trading until the planned handover of the property on February 24 - marking the end of the Moore and Toop era.
And he said: "I don't think anyone would want to carry the business on. We've got a warehouse as well so you'd need more space to store feed. The end of era really.
"The gentleman that has bought the space said he just wants to make it better because it's never had any work on it - I'm not sure what he plans to do after."
After 54 years of trading, Ernest said: "I will miss the people without a doubt but I'm sure I'll see most of them, if not all of them."