The displays at Hope & Co included a small pond lined with raincoats to show how waterproof they were
HOLMES Music in Faringdon Road has one of Swindon’s most familiar shop frontages.
Long before the arrival of the music business, however, the site was home to a business perhaps equally well known in its day.
The decorative stone pillars at the extreme edges of the photograph are still in place, although the building itself has been dramatically altered.
When the picture was taken, probably in the 1930s, numbers 21 and 23 were occupied by Hope & Co, the proudly self-proclaimed outfitters of distinction.
Its wares included not just ‘tennis togs’ and swimming costumes but macs so water-resistant that they were used to line a pond in a display inside.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here