‘There it is.’ I pointed to the cherry-red frontage of Elliott’s Stores in Saltash, Cornwall. My eight-year-old grandson is enthusiastic about history, and I had told him about the licensed grocery that had closed and remained unchanged since 1971.

Frank took over from his father, Harry. It was a thriving enterprise. However, Frank shunned decimalisation and opposed the introduction of business rates, so it was decided that after restoration, it should function as a museum under the care of the Tamar Protection Society.

It was also the Elliott family home. Their living quarters were upstairs, which is now an exhibition room, and there is an office behind the shop floor.

Invited behind the counter by a volunteer, my grandson was shown items needed to give good customer service. It was strange seeing him sporting a citron-yellow Adidas football top in front of vintage shelves lined with tins such as Ambrosia Macaroni dessert, Nestlé’s Cream and Princes Pink Salmon with their old, original labels. I was curious about their contents and learnt that after the shop stopped trading, Frank had opened the tins at the base. Once the food was removed and consumed, he returned the empty cans to the display.

I imagined the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee emanating from the manually operated metal grinder situated by the entrance. No doubt it lured passersby in as they wended their way to the ferry or railway station. It was a bustling thoroughfare then, unlike today’s quiet but picturesque location. Frank was fortunate to have a garage on the opposite side of the road. The door is still painted with an advert for Simonds Beer, a brewery that discontinued in 1980.

The office is cosy, with its antique bureau and telephone still in place – the rotary number dial sounds so special. And as my grandson held the defunct handset to his ear, I tried to recall the hum of the dial tone.

The business was established in 1902; monochrome photographs from those days hang on the walls and impart a warm atmosphere, including those of Frank and his twin, Harry, and their sister Laura Sophia.

Views of the River Tamar and Saltash’s Celtic Cross are splendid from upstairs, where glass cabinets are full of enthralling memorabilia. Another volunteer gave us a tour with fascinating information. Mannequins dressed in the fashion of the era gaze from a corner, and a brass-trumpet gramophone needed a detailed explanation of how it works to my grandson.

Back downstairs, we had a second look around. There are some blasts from the past in the alcohol section: Pony cream sherry, Baby Cham and Cherry B. But the family-sized tin of Cheeselets and Blue Bird assorted toffees made me feel a tad peckish. Mind you, the boxed Ox tongue was a different matter – but I won’t go into that.

Best wishes,
Sue. X

PS. Elliotts Store’s opening hours are limited, so check before visiting.