Stuart sent me a picture to show that the newsagent in the Peachcroft shopping centre has closed. The shops were built in the early 1980s and this one has always been a newsagent, firstly called Mallows, then Dillons and finally McColls or Martins (Martin is the newsagent arm of McColls). A sign in the window directs paper girls and boys to McColls @ Northcourt.

The McColls at Northcourt Road is also available to rent. It was announced in February 2020 that McColls will be be shutting over 300 stores nationally, including a lot of the smaller shops.

Beclean Abingdon have been providing cleaning services in Abingdon since 2015 and have now become more visible with a shop at 6 The Square, Abingdon, which opened on 27th February. This shop was previously Art and Stuff.

The shop will sell their professional materials, and also allow people to enquire about their domestic and commercial cleaning services. There is more information on their website http://www.beclean-abingdon.co.uk/.

Jewellery chain H. Samuel will not be renewing the lease on their store in Abingdon. They have been at 25 Bury Street since 1984. A sign says, ‘Sorry we’re leaving. This store is closing.’ The other sign in the window saying ‘Make Valentine’s Day last forever.‘

The company commented recently on similar closures in Bridlington, Hereford, and Llandudno, ‘We continually re-assess our portfolio of stores on a store-by-store basis, particularly when individual store leases come up for renewal.’

There remain about 300 H Samuels nationwide. Four jewellers will remain in Abingdon.