35 -39 Eastgate, Louth

Image: © Richard Law Taken: 22 May 2023

Nos 35 - 39 Eastgate date from the early 19th century, and were probably built as houses in he first place, with the shopfronts being a later alteration. They were collectively Grade II listed https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101359882-35-39-eastgate-louth & https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1359882 in 1974. There seems to be some sort of local tradition in mounting the business's sign upside-down on the front wall - this began in the early 20th century when the place was a general grocery store and the sign came off in a storm. It was accidentally put back upside-down, and became a local talking point for that reason; the owner kept it that way at the time, working on the basis that "Any publicity is good publicity". Since then the place has changed hands a number of times, going through phases as a stationery shop & bookstore, a newsagent, a dance studio and latterly a footcare business, and touchingly all the proprietors have kept the tradition going.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0