NO SCOPE IN ECCLES - A LOOK AT SOME OF THE LOST SHOPS & BUILDINGS IN ECCLES AS BELOVED CHARITY SHOP CLOSES

Over the years we have seen Eccles, lose some of it's finest buildings and shops, mainly in the name of so called progress.

Let's have a look at a list of some of those we have loved and lost...

Monks Hall Museum, The Broadway Cinema. Dolly Craft, Eccles Railway Station, Smiths Restaurant, Top House, Cross Keys, Hare and Hounds, Eccles market, Eddies Sausage Barm, Cafe, need I go on?

Sadly yet another fine Eccles establishment has announced that it will cease trading as from Wednesday, 3rd November at 5pm.

It with is with great regret that I have to inform you that.... Scope Charity Shop, 2 Church Street Eccles has been told by the owners of the property, that the shop is required for, yes. you guessed...development.

This fine establishment has been selling, tat, sorry quality reduced goods from as long as the late 1970s and I can recall it being called The Spastics Society Shop in the 1980s, a name that I am glad to say has been long since banished, there was even a collection box outside of a young lad, with a calliper, staring at you with desperation in his sad, little eyes...

I have to admit that I have had, some cracking bargains from there over the years, rare vinyl albums, by Elvis, Bowie, Hank Williams, bric-a-brac galore including a Troika Pottery Wheel, Scandinavian Glass, Harris Tweed jackets, (not sure why I bought those), books by the shelf load and God knows what else I carted home, or as my Daughter, Rachel so indelicately put it, "about two skip loads"

I had a quick look through a reference book and found that the shop has had several guises over the years, including a wool shop, a drapers and who can recall, Robinson's Cake Shop and Café? I can just about remember it, very genteel, with one half of the shop being dived into a posh café selling cakes and tea's for Ladies who lunched.

Happily, for me there are still quite a few charity shops in Eccles with bargains to be found, if you can get in there before me that is.

So  rush on down to the half price. closing down sale, and pick up, well I don't know what you will pick up, but I'm sure you'll find something.

A sad day for many and as Bob Dylan, so perfectly put it, "Bury the rag deep in your face, for now's the time for your tears".