Gregson’s Shop

When we first moved here I remember this building in Appleby as a Grocer’s Shop. It had a counter and everything was on shelves behind the counter. I think it must have closed soon after that, but the sign in the doorway is still there. Apparently ‘Gregson’s Shop’ was once a vital part of the town; there had been a Gregson family shop in Appleby since 1840.  

A few years ago the building was turned into an Asian Restaurant – Ashiana - and a good place it is too. Interestingly the owner of the restaurant comes from Keighley in Yorkshire, not far from where we lived. However, the curries are milder here in Appleby than they would have been in Bradford!
   
The other thing about this picture is that this is Bridge Street and a year ago, when the river flooded, it was underwater. The extra picture was one I took five days after the floods. The water had subsided, but the buildings along the street were being completely emptied. You can see Ashiana at the end, its contents out on the street. It was closed for many months whilst the place was dried out.