Romsey and District Society

SHOPFRONTS and COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS in ROMSEY TOWN CENTRE ASSESSMENTS 2004/5

4.1 Some unkind treatments

21a Market Place A fine 19th century building of yellow brick built on a curve with a slate roof. The shop housing the Romsey Advertiser (owned by the Hampshire Chronicle) is contemporary but the modern shop to the left, at present occupied by Rapid Travel, has at some time been brutally inserted.

1-3 Latimer Street This Grade 2 listed, 18th century building is host to both Atherley Cleaners and Trowmill Classics. It was formerly a large butcher's shop as can be seen from the two well maintained advertisement boards on the first floor. The treatment of the two shop fronts is in marked contrast. Trowmill Classics is nicely proportioned and thoughtfully painted whereas Atherley Cleaners shopfront looks out of place.

No.4 Cornmarket and 1 The Hundred
The delightful little shop in the Cornmarket, now occupied by KJC telephones, faces perhaps the ugliest shopfront in the town, Boots the Chemist. The fascia on Boots is far too deep and the company seems to have no idea what to put in its windows so it usually fills them with garish advertisements. Both the borough council and Society members have appealed to the company management to improve the building but these requests have been ignored.

4.2 Window dressing What retailers put in their windows makes a huge difference to their appearance. The two shops below were built at the same time and the windows have the same attractive curves at the top to soften their lines. Romsey Stone echoes these curves and gives essential data about the shop by painting on the window. Motor World fills its window with garish advertisements in bright blue and yellow to match its equally gaudy fascia.

4.3 Cabling Some of the cabling over the shopfronts is truly awful. Look at the attractive double bow-fronted shopfront on the smart 18th century listed building on the left. It is well maintained and the windows are immaculately dressed. However the wiring over the fascia (picture on right) is a nightmare. Somewhat alarmingly, this building is owned by the council.

TOP Romsey Shopfronts 2