THIS week, the team from the Live Borders Museum and Gallery, Tweeddale Museum take a look at the Old Town with some help from Peebles resident Eric Stevenson.

Henry C Liney’s shop was next to the dairy and the buildings are now occupied by take away food premises. 

It was well known by all the young people of Peebles (of a certain age!)
The shop was open all hours. It was run by Henry, his wife and his sister Barbara. 

They sold sweets, cigarettes and general groceries. 

It was laid out with a counter for general goods and a shorter one at right angles which sold penny drinks. 

This held a partitioned box with bottles of various cordials and beside it a machine which produced carbonated water. 

Two sizes of glasses were on the shelf behind the counter. 

Your cordial of choice was squirted into the glass and the carbonated water pumped into the glass. 

This cost an old penny or, if you were flush, a larger glass or stronger concoction for 2d!

A wooden bench seat on the wall opposite the counter provided a focal point for young people to gather after school or Sunday School. 

Older boys stopped to buy a single Woodbine cigarette and two matches!

The buildings were demolished in the 1930s as part of Peebles Town improvements and to widen the street. The dairy and Henry Liney’s shops were re-established and a new frontage entrance was built next to the St Andrews Church.

Also located at the bottom of the old town was the Co-operative which had a grocery department on the ground floor and the hardwear department up on the first floor. 

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