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Commercial Street, NEWPORT, NP20 1QY

Viewed on April 25th 2020. In common with many other businesses in the UK, WH Smith at 166-167 Commercial Street is closed until further notice during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In an era of frequent changes such as shops closing, new ones opening up, familiar names rebranding etc, Wildings is an oasis of stability. The family-run independent department store has been here at 165 Commercial Street since 1931. The business traces its origins back to 1874, when Alfred Wilding, a native of Shropshire, came to Newport at the age of 21 to serve the merchants and trade created by the expanding docks. He opened for business as a hatter and glover at 154 Commercial Street. UPDATE August 2018. Wildings is to close down just before Christmas 2018. See https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5869629

Wildings department store at 165 Commercial Street viewed on August 11th 2018. Two days earlier, the South Wales Argus reported that Newport's oldest department store will be closing its doors at the end of the year. Wildings has played a prominent role in the centre of Newport since 1874. Managing Director Peter James announced to staff on August 8th 2018 that after 144 years of trading, the department store will close just before Christmas. He said: "This is a very sad moment for the business but the losses we have been experiencing in recent years have been too great to sustain."

In April 2020 text showing "This is Wildings" remains on the former city centre department store which closed down in January 2019.

The notice on the left here https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6453301 records that in 1874 Alfred Wilding aged 21 came to Newport from Shropshire to set up as a hatter and glover catering for the new merchants who also arrived to ply their trade via the docks. Over the next 145 years the business expanded well beyond the boundaries of Newport but the city was always the head office and heart of the firm. So it was extremely sad that on Saturday January 19th 2019 Wildings closed its doors for the last time. Although an excruciatingly hard decision to make, it was the right time to bow out. Times have changed - Newport is no longer the grand trading centre it used to be.

Viewed in August 2020. Wildings department store closed at the end of December 2018. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5869629

The shop at 168 Commercial Street was formerly a branch of Mothercare. A branch of W H Smith is next door.

The Commercial Street clothes shop is in premises formerly occupied by Mothercare. WHSmith is on the left.

In January 2015, 168 Commercial Street is occupied by Blue Inc clothes shop. A Google Earth Street View taken in August 2012 shows a Mothercare shop here.