Would Alfred Lord Tennyson still know it? How Orchards Brothers’ heritage goes back five generations.
Orchard Brothers in Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight is an institution. Alfred Lord Tennyson used to pop across the road to the shop from his beautiful house, Farringford, to buy some ciggies or a clay pipe (I reckon). I am not sure how much it has changed over 150 years, but probably not by much. It is the iconic old fashioned grocer. Mark Orchard is fifth generation. Look at: http://www.orchardbros150.com for more.
Image by courtesy of the Orchard Brothers web site.
There are a good few institutions like this on the Island. It is just that sort of place. Pascall Atkey in Cowes High Street also feels like a step back in time with its worn wooden floors and cabinets full of goodies as you would find at a true Yacht Chandler. You feel as if Sir Thomas Lipton might pop in at any moment to order a shackle for Shamrock on the way to the Royal Yacht Squadron. Beken further up Cowes High Street towards the Floating Bridge is where you will find the third generation Ken Beken with his world renowned archive of marine photographs including, no doubt, Lipton’s J Class yacht Shamrock, photographed by his grandfather in 1930.
Sarum Hydraulics has only been going 30 years, so nothing compared with these institutions. Look at what we do on www.sarum-hydraulics.co.uk .
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