An electrical retailer in Lincolnshire has been praised after using its shop windows to highlight the historic importance of the site it now occupies.
Hughes Electrical in Spalding’s Sheepmarket has turned the shop front into a storyline showing its previous uses. It was originally a prison built in 1826 and has also been a drill hall and garage. In 1927, the Regent Cinema opened and stayed until 1959 when the building became a bank and then a restaurant, before Hughes took over the premises in 2013.
The move comes after the Spalding & District Civil Society highlighted how many town centre shops had unattractive windows, with many using ‘garish’ vinyl. This prompted Graham Boor from Hughes to approach the Society and see if they could work together to come up with a mutually acceptable solution.
“The agreed way forward was to use historic images that depicted the site’s previous uses, along with accompanying text, which is what we have now done,” said Graham, who has been involved in the retail industry in Spalding since 1975.
“We have been delighted with the response from customers, while it’s also nice when people take the time to stop and look while giving members of staff great pride in what we have achieved.”
Hughes managing director Robert Hughes commented: “As a business we are guests in the town and it is only right that we work to be good neighbours in this vibrant local community.”
Civic Society projects and campaigns officer John Charlesworth said how delighted they were with Hughes’ proactive response and hoped other firms in Spalding would follow its example.
