Great Limber Village Stores

"Great Limber" (Lymburghe Magna in the Domesday book) means "lime tree on the hill", and is named after the ancient British burial site on Mausoleum Hill. During the middle ages Limber grew around a Knights Templar establishment and a small Carthusian Abbey - so much so that in 1274 Caistor traders complained Limber's market was harming trade. Limber's right to a market was upheld in 1275, and Hugh de Baumer, the lord of the manor, obtained a charter for an annual fair, too, in 1280. The Dissolution of the Monasteries and outbreaks of Plague (2 bells in St Peter's were given in thanks for the passing of the Plague in 1593/5), led to the end of the market by 1636. The village's needs were supplied by "petty chapmen", whose stalls developed into permanent shops as the years passed by.

The current shop was built into the market square on the side of some 18th Century cottages. In the 1820s George Fytche (1799-1846) and Catherine Fytche (1800-1871) from Irby took the shop. Daughter Lucy was born in 1825, and son William in 1831. They were grocers, newsagents and haberdashers - the post office was at the New Inn coaching inn across the square. By 1861 the post office had moved to Fytche's shop (now run by Catherine, William, Lucy and son-in-law John Dann).

William died in 1865. Lucy and John Dann ran the shop after Catherine's death - Lucy survived John by 11 years. Village carpenter and undertaker Arthur West acquired the business on her death in 1907.

The post office, now combined with telegram, money order and savings bank services, was transferred to tailor Edwin Cooper at "Hunter's Moon" on Grasby Rd. It returned to Arthur West's in 1926. Newspapers were sold by Les May from a shack next to the New Inn, but when Arthur West retired in 1948 Les moved into the shop. Britain decimalised in 1971, and Les May retired and sold the shop to Mr & Mrs Potter. The Potters sold out to Bob and Florrie Cooper 9 months later. In 1985 Sue and Alan Caine took over the shop, followed by Dave & Marie Spencer in 1989, and then by Paulette Lymbrick. Barry & Cheryl Moor took the business in 1995, and transferred it to Jayne & David Irons in April 2000. Jayne & David celebrated their first 2 years with an extensive refurbishment and grand re-opening in 2002.

Keelby Village Stores

We are still researching the history of the Keelby shop - can anyone help us flesh out this outline?

For many year an old thatched cottage stood on the site of the present shop.

After its demolition, the site became storage for building materials etc.

In 1980 the site was acquired by Hugh and Rhona Durkin, who built the present shop

They sold the business to Mr & Mrs Papworth in 1982, and it passed to Mr & Mrs Barnard in 1984.

The Barnards are very fondly remembered in the village. They are especially remembered for the the splendid fresh fruit and vegetables for sale in the shop. In all, they ran the shop for around 15 years.

Pat tells us that they used to sell Christmas trees outside the shop. A customer left his dog tied to one when he came in the shop, and the dog took off down the street, pulling the tree behind him.

In 1999 the business was acquired by Mr & Mrs Cook, and they sold it on to Mr Lobley in 2003.

And in 2006 it was our turn to develop the business!