Thompson's Shop, Osmotherley

The weather is still being kind and it has been a super day today. As it was so nice we decided to come back from Northallerton via the scenic route. We parked in Osmotherley so that I could find something to blip. This old shop has looked like this since we moved to the area 14 years ago but there is a notice in the window saying that refurbishment is going to start. So I had to photograph it before it changes and have it for this week's Derelict Sunday.

I found this information on the internet: The shop was sold in 2013 after having been in the same family for over two centuries. Edward Thompson began selling groceries from his front room in 1786 and as the business grew it was passed on from father to son for the next five generations. In 1943 with no son to take over it was left to Miss Grace Thompson to run the shop until a fall in 2004 forced her to retire. With no one to take over, the shop and all its fittings and contents were sold by auction in 2013.

However Miss Thompson placed a restrictive covenant on the new owner that it has to be run as a shop and not converted into a house or cafe. This has the support of the town council and the National Park.