Sadly Pilgrims Antiques remained closed for 4 days. People travel some distances to come and sell, and do duties in the shop, and most were unable to make the journeys during the worst of the snow.
We must assume that very few people were in Dorking during those days - just those who could walk in to buy a needed loaf of bread.
But apologies if you had wandered along West Street, hoping for a soothing browse in the antiques shops. In fact only one antiques shop opened, the owners being very local.
Maybe the "cabin fever" which is a phrase that has been used to describe the shut in feeling many have been experiencing, finally got to me.
I forgot to take my camera yesterday to the shop.
Yes, we are back open again now.
It was a lovely day, with much conversation.
But, without a camera I was unable to take pictures of any stock in the shop. The idea of lots of rich orange and red to remind us all of the warming flames of an open fire had to be forgotten. Maybe we will still be glad of it next week!
But the Pilgrims Antiques Centre blog goes on.
I will share with you some knowledge and views of Dorking.
Many people collect old post cards. My own, personal collection focuses on places that have been important in my own history and also of those family members long gone.
My husband's family have been part of Surrey for very many generations - I can trace them back to 1630.
There are tenuous links with Dorking - a gr grandfather and gr grandmother were married in Dorking and my husband's grandmother was born in South Holmwood.
But I have not chosen to include Dorking postcards in the collection.
I have quite a lot, though. And next Monday I will ensure that my Dorking post card album can be in the shop with cards for sale.
Below are a few examples.
This is West Street in the 1930s. It is taken, looking west and from a point just beyond Pilgrims Antiques.
The Kings Arms is on the right hand side.
The buildings in the High Street have changed little really.
Different shops now occupy the spaces of course. Dorking has the usual shops found everywhere - Boots, Smiths etc. There are also far more individual shops than in many towns.
Modes of transport changed a lot during the last 100 years.
No horses and carts are seen now.
Time moves on. The policeman directs the traffic. He is at the point where the High Street splits into West Street and South Street, now a one way system controlled with traffic lights.
Time moves on. The policeman directs the traffic. He is at the point where the High Street splits into West Street and South Street, now a one way system controlled with traffic lights.
Traffic can be heavy at times - the High Street is part of the main A25 from Guildford to Reigate.
This is the A25. The house on the left would have been about opposite Dorking Halls on the junction with London Road.
This shows some changes. The road has been widened. It is taken at the same spot as the card above.
South Street.
The band stand is gone.
Has it been taken away, restored and installed somewhere else I wonder.
Post cards are able to give us recent history.
There is a good museum in Dorking - but it is shut at the moment for complete renovation.
There is a Dorking Museum web site.
The web site has details of a coffee morning later this month and also lists local history books for sale.
The museum, almost opposite Pilgrims Antiques, will re-open this year.
Keep your eyes alert - even standing in the boring Waitrose car park, it is possible to enjoy the view of the old roofs of West Street with the graceful church spire beyond.
This picture is of West Street - Pilgrims Antique is a little up the road on the right.
Keep your eyes alert - even standing in the boring Waitrose car park, it is possible to enjoy the view of the old roofs of West Street with the graceful church spire beyond.
This picture is of West Street - Pilgrims Antique is a little up the road on the right.
The picture was taken 18 months ago. The shop on the left is no longer Hampshires - now Talbot House Antiques.
There is a West Street Association and a West Street web site.
Lots of information on this page.
And here is the front of Pilgrims Antiques.
And here is the front of Pilgrims Antiques.
It looks small - but the shop space goes back a long way. There is so much to explore.
The little streets round the church are enchanting with original cottages.
The water pump /road sign post at the junction of West Street and South Street.
Guildford has been blanked out because of the one way system - everybody bears left at that point.
The White Horse - coaching inn, situated in the centre of The High Street.
The High Street, looking East, from roughly outside Sainsbury's.
There is so much to be thankful for in Dorking. Old style shops, smart shops, antiques shops, character, interesting buildings, guided historical walks with plaques on relevant buildings, famous residents through history, sign posts to all sorts of places - must get to The Glory Woods some day.
There are pubs and coffee shops.
Come and explore Dorking, look into the history.
Come and explore the antiques shops in West Street and enjoy all the old items and the memories.
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