Tuesday 23rd September 2025
Danny Howell writes:
The Baby Shop & Schooldays at 7 George Street, Warminster, photographed by me on Sunday 7th August 2014, when it was in the process of closing down.
The business had traded in these same premises for 56 years. There had previously been a small shop here with living accommodation, occupied by a Mr. Perry. He ran a boot and shoe-repairing business here. But in 1958 he let the shop to Diana Turner (nee Ball), and her sister-in-law Kitty Woods (nee Turner). They began by selling children’s clothes. Mr. Perry died during the early part of 1966, which made the purchase of the premises possible and allowed Diana and Kitty to enlarge the shop space and add prams and nursery goods to the stock. Knitting wools and accessories also proved popular with the customers. Sadly, Kitty passed away during the latter part of 1968. She was only 45. Diana then continued as a sole trader.
My father, Ben Howell used his carpentry and joinery skills to make the shop signage and also the stairs inside the shop. Diana’s husband Bernard did a lot of improvement work on the shop over the years too.
Diana and Bernard lived at Victoria Road for many years. Bernie passed away in April 1997. Diana, now aged 90, is now resident at Ashwood Care Centre, Warminster. My mother, Gwen Howell, was Diana’s older sister.
My mother Gwen Howell worked at the Baby Shop during the 1970s and early 1980s. Celia Harris from Bishopstrow worked there in more recent years. I’m sure Margaret Moody also worked there, and if my memory serves me right Amy Powell worked for Diana too.
Of course, over those 56 years of business Diana saw generations of Warminster folks – the parents who shopped here in the 1950s and 1960s, then their children when grown up and starting families of their own in the 1970s and 1980s and 1990s, and of course some of the mothers who shopped here in the early days came again many years later to buy things for their grandchildren.
The premises today are those of Sweetman & White, traditional upholsterers.