Plowright’s Ironmongery Shop 1962.

Part of the touring exhibition – Tradition and Innovation: The Story of Market Towns.

From the press release: The exhibition will be touring to museums in Sheringham, Diss, Swaffham and Wymondham from November 2013 to July 2015, before making its way to museums across the East of England. The exhibition tells the story of the development of market towns and Britons’ changing shopping habits from the medieval period to the 21st century. It discusses the issues facing market towns, such as the rise of out-of-town shopping, as well as the ability of market towns to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.

The exhibition has been created by Museums Norfolk, and was funded by SHARE Museums East, the organisation that delivers museum development across the East of England.

Tradition and Innovation: The Story of Market Towns will be displayed Sheringham Museum (November 2013 to December 2015).

These images are now also forming part of an exhibition at Swaffham Museum to celebrate 800 years of the Market (or at least 800 years since it was first recorded in writing).

Market Place 1979

Church Walk c1900

Co-op on London Street between 1925 and 1930

All composite images © Nick Stone 2014, original images copyright respective owners (Swaffam Museum) Not to be reused without explicit permission.

With thanks to Laura Crossley, Museums Norfolk, and Share Museums East.