Blow for Castle Place as trader moves to The Shires shopping centre

The haberdashery, fabric and crafts trader Ann’s Trimmings has spent the past 40 years trading at the centre.

Now Deborah Fox, granddaughter of its founder Ann Hayden, has decided to relocate the business to The Shires shopping centre.

Deborah Fox has moved Ann’s Trimmings out the Market Hall in Castle Place to The Shires shopping centre. Image: Trevor Porter 7686-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

She is following in the footsteps of Shaun Clarke, owner of Phoenix Computer Systems, who recently moved from Castle Place to a retail shop in Roundstone Street.

She is taking on the unit which has recently been vacated by Trowbridge Future, which is moving to the other side of the centre.

Ann’s Trimmings is taking the unit in The Shires formerly occupied by the Trowbridge Future community hub. Image: Trevor Porter 76867-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Deborah said: “The market has been very badly managed for the last six, seven, eight years. There has been no investment and no interest.

“Over that time, it has gradually declined to the point now where there are only six or seven traders left in a market hall that can accommodate 36 or 37.

“The loss of Wilkinsons was a big blow and then Shaws. The footfall just isn’t there anymore and therefore the trade isn’t there anymore.

“It was a big wrench because I have loved being in the market and, of course, we’ve been there a very long time.

“People know we’re there. My regular customers know we're there. So it was a difficult decision.

“I spoke to The Shires and they were very positive and they’ve done a lot to help me move in and to make life as straightforward as it can be, so I have taken the plunge.”

Deborah Fox outside Ann's Trimmings new shop in The Shires. She is hoping to open it by Saturday, March 23. (Image: John Baker)

Mrs Fox is hoping that Ann’s Trimmings will be opening its doors in The Shires on Saturday (March 23) and is planning a celebration on Easter Saturday  (March 30).

“If all goes well, I hope to be able to open the doors on Saturday but it will be very low-key. 

“I will just open the doors and, if customers want to come in and I can help them, I will.

“And then next Saturday, which is Easter Saturday, we are planning to have a bit more razzamatazz.”

The business was founded by her grandmother Ann Hayden after she retired and moved to Trowbridge.

When Ann grew too old to run the business on her own, her daughter Audrey Hickerton took it on. Deborah has been running it for the past 12 years.

“All our customers remember my mum, she was universally loved,” said Mrs Fox. “She grew the little business into what it is now.”

Trowbridge Future has moved its hub in The Shires across the centre to a unit recently occupied by the Bath Cancer Support Unit’s pop-up shop.

The independent charity, which supports community growth and wellbeing in Trowbridge, was recently awarded more than £430,000 of National Lottery funding to support people through the cost-of-living crisis.

Trowbridge Future will be moving its community hub in The Shires shopping centre into this empty unit. (Image: John Baker)

A spokesperson said: “We will be closed for a few weeks while we decorate the new unit.

“Our new space will be larger, more comfortable, and better designed to handle our activities and services in the ways that they have developed over the last six years.

“It is the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one. With the new youth space as well, it's set to be the most exciting era for Trowbridge Future ever.

“In the meantime, all of our other provisions will remain open, including the Seymour Hub and Community Fridges.

“Thank you so much to our main funders, Nationwide Foundation and The National Lottery, for allowing us to make this incredible move.”

It is not yet known when the new Trowbridge Future community hub will open.