Comments from American friends on my recent post, ‘An Historic High Street’, have led me to reflect on our different terms for the main shopping streets in towns. The U.S. ‘main street’ is the U.K. ‘high street’. That of New Milton is Station Road, which I visited with Ian this morning as he needed to have a discussion at the Santander Bank.
When we left the bank, Ian left me at Fagan’s mens’ outfitters where I bought a jacket whilst my future son-in-law walked up to Costa Coffee where I joined him later.
En route from Fagan’s I photographed elements of this high street which could be no more different from that of Brockenhurst, only a handful of miles away.
This first image demonstrates that earlier architecture has made way for that of the modern era. Sandwiched between a toyshop and the Halifax Building Society is the British Heart Foundation, on of the many charity shops which are taking over from so many defunct small outlets in our towns.
That particular shop is reflected in the window of the Charity Boutique across the road. The Alliance Healthcare van speeding through the window display is a reflection of the gradual privatisation of our Health and Social Services.
Further up towards the eponymous station the NatWest bank stands at the corner of Ashley Road.
On the opposite corner stands Boots Pharmacy. On the other side of Station Road is to be found Charles Nobel, one of several jewellers.
The New Milton Lighting Centre gives us Christmas decorations all the year round.
The Hearing and Mobility Centre reflects the demography of the town and its environs, although Naomi House, a children’s hospice is a sad exception. Pets are a necessary addition to the local households, especially now their children have flown the nests. PamPurred Pets is quite a chain.
Flower Vogue has one of the few original shop fronts, and another jeweller alongside.
Morrisons is one of the supermarkets that has a presence here.
Satisfied customers are often to be seen outside waiting for a lift or having a fag. I think the fag in this picture was probably something else gripped in the lady’s teeth.
No self-respecting English high street is without its Betting Shop. This one is next to a greetings cards outlet.
Although there is a cycle rack outside Morrisons, mobility scooters, like this one outside Boots Opticians, are as plentiful in the town. Acupuncture & Herbs, off-licences and money lenders offer different curative measures.
Barclays Bank was also visited by someone with a disability.
Opposite Costa Coffee can be seen Scope, another charity shop, Lloyd’s Pharmacy and further hearing centre.
A little further along we find the Lloyd’s Bank building, a rare survivor from the early twentieth century.
This evening Jackie provided a superb sausage casserole, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, carrots and Brussels sprouts, followed by apple crumble and cream. She drank Blanche de Namur, I drank more of the Sotillo, and Ian drank water.
Very good analysis and excellent observations. It was nice having some ‘men time’. Thank you!
Thank you, Ian
Derrick, you have this gift of making what we all take for granted look interesting! The expression “woman having a fag” could be misconstrued depending on what part of the world one inhabited!
So it could, Bruce. 🙂 Thanks
I always admired those eponymous street names – you knew where to head wherever you were in the country. In these here parts every street has a different name and you have to hunt around to find out where the misnamed ‘High St’ is. Although of course now it is mostly being taken over by shopping malls – and they are to be found in all kinds of odd places.
Thanks, Pauline. Much the same here.
I had to look up “eponymous”. Sometimes on these blogs with the erudite comments, I feel like a stray mongrel dog that has inadvertently wandered onto the grounds of some ancient and cultured manor.
I was just following on with Cynthia’s eruditity on your blog post this morning. Don’t feel bad, we love you any way 🙂 [And if ‘eruditity’ isn’t a word it should be!]
Big words, exclusive cat breeds… I’m quite out of my league!
Oh yes, but we don’t mind.
😀
I do love these exchanges between my friends
Ah, Bruce, you should meet in person the Lord of this manor… 🙂
They might well be one and the same!
I think our towns must have similar demographics as you could have been describing our main street – mobility scooters, pet shop, betting shop, op shop, hearing centre, the lot!
Thanks, Mary. New Milton is a particular example
I’ve never heard of Betting Shops before. Interesting.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22934305
They’re kinda like the 7-Eleven of gambling casinos. But with a maximum stake of 100 pounds, I’ll bet this activity gets a lot of people in trouble. I never understood the lure or fascination with gambling. Do people not understand the odds or do they think they’re lucky?
I visited one of the casinos when I moved to New Mexico. Talk about boring. Even people watching was boring, with everyone staring intently at computer screens, not even pretending to have fun. The whole experience made me sad…
And now I’m thinking I need to add money to my list of legal, addictive drugs, like sugar and caffeine. Money and power, both highly addictive. Considering the rewards, I guess that’s understandable.
Okay, I’m done thinking out loud now… 🙂
Thanks, Johnna. I think the people who can least afford it are addicted to gambling
You know how much I love your little trips, Derrick. It looks like I am right there and I like it so much.
That’s lovely, Monica. Thank you
Always, Derrick 🙂
Bruce is right. The word “fag” has only one meaning here in the US and it isn’t “cigarette.”
The “Main Streets” here went through a slow time in the last forty years, but seem to be coming back, as interesting, friendly and “quaint” attractions that have their own important niche which is different from the big box stores and malls.
Thank you, Cynthia
But presumably women wouldn’t be interested in having one? 🙂
🙂
I love this, Derrick. I’m curious about the Betting Shop. Is this where lottery tickets are sold? Here in the US we have a Power Ball drawing that’s currently up to 1.3 billion dollars, the highest in history. People are waiting in long lines for hours to get that winning ticket.
Lottery tickets are sold in almost small and large retail outlets (newsagents, garages (= gas stations), general stores, food shops, etc, generally you place bets in a betting shop (though much now happens online, to dangerous levels sometimes), but I expect they sell lottery tickets, as well.
Interesting. I never thought about it, but I have been to several U.S. cities that use High Street for their business district. Main Street is more popular though.
Thank you, Van
Another great trip down an ordinary, but familiar “Main Street” or “High Street.” Ordinary, not really, it is anything but – this place has a lot of character and totally enjoyed seeing it through your lens and narrative were perfect for New Milton.
Thank you Mary
I love the Flower Vogue shop with the stained glass effect on the windows. I also like the English Tudor design to the second story above the Bank. Lovely counterpoint to the Brockenhurst shops. Modern here on Station Road and not as interesting except through your camera lens, Derrick.
Many thanks, Robin