The monthly talk for March was on the history and development of the Hundred in Romsey. The speaker, Charles Burnett provided an interesting insight on how the Hundred developed into the present day shopping centre with many shops changing hands, yet plying the same trade. For instance, Godfreys, who were the main draper and clothier in 1897, sold his premises to the Sharland Bros, another draper , who was next followed by E G Capp. So for almost a century, the premises 20A was owned by three different drapers and clothiers.
Charles Burnett also described how the Hundred reflected the changing trends in shopping through the 19th and 20th centuries. At the beginning of the 19th centuries, The Hundred comprised of game and fish dealer, a bookmaker and tobacconist, a toy shop and general store, grocers, bakers, drapers, corn merchants and ironmongers. By the turn of the 20th century, new businesses, such as laundry, garage and building societies were moving into the area. The 21st Century saw the arrival of Woolworth with its new shopping experience of aisle shopping. At present, the Hundred has a mosaic of retail and charity shops, banks and a departmental store.
The photographs that accompanied the talk gave a vivid of life in Romsey, its changing needs and fashions and the growth of the town.
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