Amersham shopping: 6 stores lost in Buckinghamshire town and the history behind the buildings

Our towns’ high streets have been struggling for some time, as more and more stores close their doors.

After years of suffering due to online shopping and a lack of footfall, the coronavirus pandemic has proven to be the final nail in the coffin for many retailers across the country.

Unfortunately, despite it being a town that effectively has two high streets, Amersham is no exception to this.

Read more: Royal Mail apologises for ‘months’ of delays to post in Buckinghamshire

The town’s civic leaders have this week pledged to begin a programme to revitalise the town as a destination for visitors from London to shop both in Amersham on the Hill and Old Amersham.

Councillors are launching the new initiative in an attempt to fill some of the empty shops in Amersham.

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Some of the town’s vacated stores were home to some popular independents as well as chain brands.

We take a look at a handful of the shops now looking for new owners and what the buildings have housed over time.

Jigsaw

The clothing brand is the most recent occupier of a store on Whielden Street on the corner of Old Amersham’s main shopping street.

Jigsaw had been in situ since 2016, taking over from women’s fashion store CC.

CC was last at the premises in 2015, selling clothing as well as a range of costume jewellery and handbags.

Before that, however, was jeweller Brian Fuller, which occupied the store in 2010.

Going back even further, Amersham Museum states that the shop used to be a hardware store from around 1850 to the mid-1900s.

The store, which is a Grade II-listed building, became a grocer’s shop called Cressman’s Corner long before it was occupied by Jigsaw.

Orvis

The American outdoor retailer Orvis occupied this spot on the Old Town High Street until 2019, when it closed down in Amersham.

The store had been at 38 High Street since 2016, but like many of the buildings in Old Amersham it has a long history.

Between 2009 to 2010 the premises was occupied by Liz Quilter, an antiques dealer, but before that the shop was a chemists.

Run by Albert Haddon and later his son, Laurie, Haddon’s would become an opticians through Laurie’s profession and his optical instruments are now found in Amersham Museum.

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The Original Bedstead Company

Now closed, The Original Bedstead Company occupied this historic building in Old Amersham that dates back to the early 17th Century.

The premises was vacant in October 2009 but by May 2015, The Original Bed Co had moved into 42-44 The Broadway that once housed a cafe and a tailor’s shop.

Having been built in the 1600s, the site was refaced in the 18th century. The tailor was run by Gerald Punton, who then moved next door, and before that was a cafe owned by Mrs Powlesland.

It was known as No 11 Cafe, taking its name from the house it stood in before the street was renumbered.

Allfloors

Moving on to Amersham on the Hill, an empty store at 11 Hill Avenue once housed home improvement company Allfloors.

The business moved into the premises in 2015 and stayed there until at least 2019, but is now vacant.

Before 2015, the building was home to Amersham Outdoor Sports, which occupied the store between 2009 to 2010.

But the store laid empty from that point until Allfloors moved onto Amersham’s new High Street.

Unfortunately, the site is once again empty following the coronavirus pandemic.

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Gatsby & Miller and Walton Clothing

The site at 45 Sycamore Road sits between Holland and Barrett and cafe Harris and Hoole, and was most recently occupied by Gatsby and Miller.

The hairdressers however moved from the property by 2019, and now operate down the street at 63 Sycamore Road.

Before Gatsby and Miller moved into the store, the premises was home to Walton Clothing between 2009 and 2010.

But by 2012, Gatsby and Miller had moved in and remained in situ during works on the buildings further down the road in 2015.

The hairdressers stayed there for some time but by April 2009 had relocated to its new home.

Much before then, the site was home to television retailer Multibroadcast, who moved in in 1972. The site was previously Meyers greengrocers between 1939 to 1961.

Sue Ryder

The charity shop chain occupied a spot on Sycamore Place, at the train station end of Hill Avenue, for a number of years.

Situated next door to what is now the Post Office, Sue Ryder had been at the premises since at least 2015.

However, the site used to be a part of a larger Post Office and convenience store, Select Convenience, which extended from next door between 2009 and 2010.

Sue Ryder were operating out of the store as recently in July 2021, but the shop is now closed and the store is empty.

What are your memories of the High Street in your area? Let us know in the comments below.