AN HISTORIC curiosity discovered behind a wall during a Peebles shop renovation has astonished its new owners, who now want to see it re-homed locally.

When Stewart and Patricia Robb acquired the keys to their new business premises at the former Young & Co footwear shop, Eastgate, they found more than a shoe lace left behind. The removal of ply board revealed an old cooking range, filled with bottles, and led the couple on a quest to find out more about its origins.

Trading has taken place at the Eastgate premises for more than 125 years, and it wasn’t the first time the old kitchen range had been uncovered.

Speaking from the former shoe shop, now being refurbished as a Keystore, Patricia said: “We were told that there was an old range in the shop but that the previous occupiers never had any need to remove it and so they just covered it up.”

Discovering the range wasn’t the only surprise for the Robbs, who opened the door to the cooker to find a virtual time capsule inside. This collection of old bottles included leather treatment for shoes, writing ink, and Pearce’s Cola.

The Peeblesshire News has learned that builders first uncovered the range in the 1980s when well-known local man Billy Ferguson, a partner in the former business, was building an extension.

But the family were told it could not be removed, because it was holding up the property.

For Billy, this was a remarkable discovery, as his employment history with Young & Co dates back to 1946, when at the age of 12 he worked as a message boy for owner Miss Bessie Young. He was made a partner in the 1970s, and all this time he never knew about the historic gem hidden in the shop.

Despite the shop being called Young & Co, it became fondly known in the town as “Billy’s”. His daughter, Deb Sterricks said: “My dad didn’t know it was there until the builders uncovered it when the extension was being built back in the 80s.

“He retired with my mum is 1999 and sold the business. People always called it Billy’s before then. Even the Robb children got their shoes from the shop. I’m glad it’s them who have bought it.”

Now the Robbs are moving from the former shop they leased opposite, they plan to open up their new premises to maximise retail space.

So the historic cooker will need to find a new home, as incorporating it into the shop isn’t going to be an option.

Patricia explained: “Although we would have liked to have kept it, we need as much retail space as possible. I’m not sure how easily it will come out, but we are hoping it can be removed still intact as it would be nice for it to stay in the local area.”

Email millburnrobbs@aol.com.