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Former shop's heritage accolade is 'mind-blowing'

John Devinein Littleport
News imageJohn Devine/BBC An old-fashioned shop from the Victorian era. It has dark green panelling and two large glass shop fronts, one on the second floor. It bears the name "JH Adams & Sons" in white capital letters.John Devine/BBC
The shop was built in 1893 and was unusual in that it was erected as a steel-framed structure

A former ironmonger's shop's inclusion in a list of remarkable historic places is "mind-blowing", according to one of the building's trustees.

The old JH Adams shop, now the Adams Heritage Centre, in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, has been described as a "time capsule of commercial history".

In the summer it was given Grade II-listed status and has now made Historic England's end-of-year list of remarkable historic places.

Jan Summerfield, a trustee for the centre, said she still could not believe what a great year it had had.

News imageJohn Devine/BBC Jan Summerfield has light brown, shoulder length hair and is wearing a maroon woollen jumper with a silk scarf with floral designs on it. Behind her is a dark wood shelf unit with several small compartments.John Devine/BBC
Jan Summerfield said the building was used by "the whole community", for activities including dementia cafes, and art and craft sessions

"In June, we were amazed that Historic England had listed us as a Grade II building. We were not expecting that accolade", she said.

Describing its inclusion in Historic England's top 19 list as "mind blowing", she said: "People nowadays don't understand how you used to shop: that you had to go into the shop and the shopkeeper stood behind the counter and had to weigh out things like nails and wrap them in brown paper, and tied them with string."

Also featured on the list are a rare working smock mill in Kent and a neolithic burial site in the Yorkshire Dales.

News imageJohn Devine/BBC Mid-19th Century shelving in dark wood, possibly mahogany. There are several rows of small drawers underneath the shelving, and lots of old-fashioned items on the shelves.John Devine/BBC
Ms Summerfield said the old fittings originally came from a mid-19th Century chemist shop in Ely

The former shop at 17 Main Street was built in 1893, initially for local ironmongers H and J Cutlack, before being bought by John Henry Adams in 1901.

It specialised in the sale of Norwegian ice skates, used by local fen skaters.

It continued trading as JH Adams and Sons until 2010, when it became a heritage centre.

It features original folding wrought-iron gates from 1892, a recessed entrance with tiled floor, etched and painted glass with original business lettering, and mid-19th Century full-height wooden shelving, relocated from Lincolne's chemist in nearby Ely.

News imageHistoric England A sepia-coloured photo of two men, one in a flat cap and suit and other in an overall - standing by the cast iron gates with a variety of goods, including a mangle, outside and in the window.Historic England
Ironmonger's assistants Jack Sparrow, who worked for the shop all his working life, and Charlie Lord, in a photo thought to have been taken in the 1930s

The former shop also boasts a steel-framed structure, technologically advanced for its time.

As well as recognising the building's architectural elements, the listing notes its social significance.

Heritage minister Baroness Twycross said: "I'm proud that we're safeguarding our rich history so future generations can continue to enjoy it."

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