With the news this week that a part-planning application has been submitted to build flats at the former Brittains shop in St Neots High Street, Debbie Davies looks back at the history of the family store, and other businesses which have long since left the town.

Brittains was established in 1904 by Frank Brittain and he started out with a first shop in St Neots Road, Eaton Ford, and he sold second hand bicycles and furniture.

Four years later, his brother Archie, aged 12, joined the family business, helping with the paraffin delivery round using a hand truck. He also carried out bike repairs.

Brittains was a family business and became well known in St Neots.Brittains was a family business and became well known in St Neots. (Image: Brittains/Cambs Archives)

Then 20 years later, the shop moved to 62 High Street, in St Neots, where it remained until the summer of 2023.

Despite the uncertainty of wartime, Frank decided to expand and in 1940, the firm became Brittain's Furnishers Ltd.

The family business continued to expand over the years.The family business continued to expand over the years. (Image: Brittains/Cambs Archives)

Frank and Archie were followed into the business by Ronald and James. James's sons Nigel and Adrian also joined the business. 

Barretts was another much-loved, long-standing family businesses on the High Street, and again, from humble beginnings, the shop survived for more than 100 years before finally closing its doors in 2017.

The Barretts store was on the corner of High Street and New Street.The Barretts store was on the corner of High Street and New Street. (Image: Barretts/Huckle Family)

The store was opened in 1888 by Arthur Barrett as a men’s clothing shop and in 1889, Charles Huckle, aged 12, was employed as an shop assistant. When Mr Barrett died from meningitis aged 29, Charles Huckle continued working for his widow, Kitty, and took over the business in 1908 when she died.

The Huckle family continued to do business in St Neots, but despite huge efforts to diversify and keep the shop open, including plans dividing the shop into several smaller retail units, opening a cafe, a bookshop and a toy department, the store finally closed in 2017. The front of the shop is now Fat Face and there is a Waterstones and craft and knitwear business.

Most people have fond memories of Woolworths and the St Neots store, which is now an Iceland outlet, closed on January 3, 2019.

In April, 2017, the Fishers hardware shop on the Market Square closed, but this is now the Floors By Ian business.