General Chat

Just got to mention the above programe. I haven't been able to watch the first 4 episodes but watched them on catch up last night back to back.

What a brilliant programme. It really opens your eyes to see what life was like in Victorian and Edwardian England for shop keepers and 1st and 2nd world war times. I loved it. Tonight it is the 1960s, the era in which I was born, but can't wait for the 1970s next week to see what I can remember of it.

For the first time in doing my family history, my husband thought this programe was really interesting and we talked about it for ages.

Well worth watching if you haven't already seen it folks!

Dee

I have to agree with you. Dee.
The 'contestants' are fantastic too - real characters.

Hats off to the 21st century shopkeepers. They really give you a feel to what things were like. And the community for taking part and buying their stock! The shop keepers' kids really get into their roles too. Brilliant viewing!

For us the butcher's son takes centre stage!!

Only 14, but didn't he do well covering the shop whilst his dad went to war WW1? Didn't like having a female scottish manager during WW2 though, did he? Ha, His face was a picture!

Just finished watching the 1960s episode. Not quite as good as the previous ones but how sad to see the butchers and bakers out of business. You can really see the start of the supermarkets creeping in. Shame. 1970s next week.

When is a beehive not a beehive? Do not recall small supermarkets until the 70's but then perhaps they did in other parts of the country. Bakeries were still in demand with their selection of breads, cakes and pastries as they survive today. Not as enjoyable as the previous.

I liked how the young girls tried the sixties hairstyles and they looked good with todays fashion.
I was a bit young to remember the 60s, but I think the supermarkets arrived in 70s but self serve was in some shops in 60s. It was interesting to see the shoppers views after they had been enjoying the counter service in previous eras!

We had a supermarket in the 60s, about 1969 it wasn't huge but was bigger than we were used to with a row of exit tills.

But did you notice the judges comments. The people were bemoaning the loss of the small shops, but, just like in real life then, they were the ones who defected to the supermarket because it was cheaper and the small shops couldn't compete with prices.

And the same happens now with small 'supermarkets' and individual shops bemoaning the fact that Tesco takes the trade. But it is the public who go to them, they are not forced. We want the best of both worlds I suppose.

Hello Ann
What do you think of the series? Have you watched them all? I find it fascinating how things have changed since 1870. I doubt things would have been done differently if they knew then what we know now.