We are so lucky here in Weston-super-Mare that we have a really first class independent department store in the centre of town on the High Street. If you know Weston, you’ll know the place I mean, and if you don’t know Weston, if you’re a fan of the BBC’s popular programme, “The Repair Shop” you might have seen the recent episode featuring this shop. In the episode which was in the ‘on the road’ series, the repair shop experts were servicing and repairing the old fashioned Lamson tubes. Not many shops still have the old system but “modern pneumatic tube systems are also now used in supermarkets for moving cash in bulk from tills to the central cash office.”
The marvellous shop I’m talking about is Walker and Ling
Walker & Ling was established by William Ling and Samuel Walker in Bath in 1892. In 1904, Samuel Walker opened a branch of the now successful drapery business in Weston-super-Mare. His son Charles Walker (‘Charlie’) became a partner in 1908 and took over sole ownership in 1925 when his father died. The Ling family came out of the partnership in 1936, and Walkers have run the business ever since.
Walker and Ling is a department store selling women and men’s clothes for every occasions, shoes, knitting/needlework/embroidery/craft materials, and at Christmas, all sorts of quality gifts at reasonable prices. I guess I pop in most times I’m in town, usually to see what new things they have (especially bags of every sort!) but also clothes, and a tempting selection of shoes and boots. On the rare occasions I have an event such as a wedding, I’ll drop in to find something new and different, and I might also see something suitable for a gift. It’s not just the goods they have in store, they also have friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff, always ready to help or advise.
I was intrigued by the ‘Repair Shop’ programme as it gave a behind the scenes look at the store, and also more about their history. If you ever come to Weston, do have a wander along the High Street, and reward yourself with a visit to Walker and LIng, or as our family call it, Walkerling!
Needless to say, my featured image isn’t of Walker and Ling, but of a market in Spain!
https://www.walkerandling.co.uk/copy-of-about-us
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamson_Engineering_Company_Ltd
Lois Elsden 