Allans Mens Clothing Store Petworth

I was very happy to get this picture and write up from the folks at my favourite clothes shop. Allens is located just off the Market Square and stocks some good clothes for the discerning gentleman of fashion. They also provide the soundtrack to Christmas by broadcasting carols from their shop.


45 years ago in 1964 Marion and Fred Sneller and their seven children moved to Petworth and took over Allans, a Ladies Fashion and Haberdashery business based in New Street. The first day’s trading finished with a grand total of £1.87 in the till. The business quickly expanded and at one time the whole family plus several local shop assistants were employed in six different shops occupying four premises in the town. By 1974 the shops which included the original ladies fashions now traded in menswear, children’s clothes, dress fabrics and knitting wools and carpets, curtains and homeware.

Following the death of Fred in 1971 and Marion’s subsequent retirement in 1979 plus various family members moving on to other things, the present business is run by Bob and Dick Sneller although their sister Wendy Reynolds still does all the alterations for the shop. Another sister Jane Welch has just written her mother’s memoirs which Allans have published to celebrate the 45th anniversary.

Age of Oak and Walnut Petworth

The Age of Oak and Walnut is a new antique shop just opened. I don't know anything about it other than looking in the window and seeing that they do furniture. Something about the name hints to me that they might specialise in oak and walnut pieces, but that is pure speculation.

This building was until recently an office of Christie's, the auctioneers.

Update 13.4.09 - I have just discovered the Age of Oak and Walnut website. As I guessed, oak and walnut furniture is their speciality. They do some other stuff as well- all gorgeous.

Petworth Butchers

Petworth Butchers can be found in the road leading into and out of the car park.

The shop is run by a local farmer who sells his own produce and also sources from other local producers, so this is a great place to get locally produced meat.

Despite appearances, this is a business that is run on a major internet router straight out of silicon valley using the latest high tech IT systems. The butcher can just as often be found rewriting his DLLs or configuring his code calls as he can slicing his bacon. And all this goes on behind this modest brick building's walls.

Pips of Petworth

Petworth's greengrocer.

Pip's has only been open for a couple of years now.  In addition to traditional green groceries they also do soup and freshly prepared smoothies. There is usually something interesting to see in there.

Spriggs Florists Petworth

Spriggs is the only florist in Petworth and has the most impressive premises of any florist I have come across. I don't know how old this building is but it looks like it could easily be Elizabethan.

The brickwork on the chimney is particularly impressive.

And they have a website.....

Spriggs

Petworth Bookshop

I find it rather amazing, and also very convenient, that a place the size of Petworth manages to support a bookshop. The Petworth Bookshop is not only about as accurate a name as any shop could have, it is also small but very well stocked.