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Traditional High Streets
Sorry that this is such a loose question, but when did the traditional High Street with butcher, baker et al become common place in the UK?
How did people shop before the high street?
How did people shop before the high street?
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They probably bought from farms or trade-carts, most high streets are now losing traditional shops in favour of big-brand outlets or the internet. It is a shame when you see how the high street is dying because of this. My parents live in a village where they swap produce but for clothes, out-of-season goods etc they have to travel to a bigger town.
You need to look at what is referred to as The Enlightenment, a time when new ideas and prosperity from the impact of the Industrial growth created a consumerism that had not been known before, Shop windows did not exist prior to that era, the wealthy gentry class demanded a home service and everyone else managed with what they had.
Just taking slight issue with Dotty's use of 'enlightenment' - this describes a philosophical movement. While it is arguable that philiosphical changes led to consumerism, I'd suggest there's a stronger link between the growth of factories,town growth, the creation of a huge weekly-waged workforce, greater prosperity and by the later 1800s the growth of printedmedia that contained adverts.
Large shop windows became possible with the production of sheet glass.
But I don't think enlightened philiosphers did any of this.....
Large shop windows became possible with the production of sheet glass.
But I don't think enlightened philiosphers did any of this.....
During the Roman occupation of Britain, when a new Roman garrison was built then often just outside the garrison a Vicus would grow up.
A Vicus was a collection of houses/businesses who hoped to offer services to the soldiers in the Garrison. These would be food, drink, clothing etc as well as metal or glass working.
One assumes there would be a main road leading into or out of the garrison, and I suppose the prime spot for one of these "shops" would have been alongside the main road so any Roman soldier entering or leaving the garrison would see the things available for sale.
I guess this may have been the first "high street", though I am not sure what businesses would have been available - hairdressers maybe, or shoe menders that sort of thing.
I guess a lot of these Vicus would have collapsed when the garrison closed or moved, but I am sure many grew up to become vilages or towns in their own right, and the collection of businesses would form the basis of the high street.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicus
A Vicus was a collection of houses/businesses who hoped to offer services to the soldiers in the Garrison. These would be food, drink, clothing etc as well as metal or glass working.
One assumes there would be a main road leading into or out of the garrison, and I suppose the prime spot for one of these "shops" would have been alongside the main road so any Roman soldier entering or leaving the garrison would see the things available for sale.
I guess this may have been the first "high street", though I am not sure what businesses would have been available - hairdressers maybe, or shoe menders that sort of thing.
I guess a lot of these Vicus would have collapsed when the garrison closed or moved, but I am sure many grew up to become vilages or towns in their own right, and the collection of businesses would form the basis of the high street.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicus
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