| County | Devon, South West |
|---|---|
| Postcode | EX21 5NE |
| Opened | 2001 |
| Post Office | Yes |
| Premises | Previous shop |
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In recent times two dates have had a significant influence of the small Devin village of Sheepwash; the 27th August 2000 and the 7th July 2001. The first date saw the closure of the Village Shop and Post Office; the owners retiring and unable to sell their property and shop as a going concern.
This was a sad blow to may of the villagers, particularly the older residents as the next nearest Shop and Post Office was 1.5 miles away. In October 2000 following a meeting with most of the local residents, the first steps were taken in the long road to re-open the Shop and Post Office. Volunteers from all sections of the community formed a committee to spearhead the project.
From the outset they were determined that this would be a community orientated venture and if they succeeded in their objective, any profits from the new shop would be ploughed back into the other projects and improvements in the village.
Contact was made with many organisations – Torridge District Council, various funding agencies, ViRSA, Devon Village Shop Scheme at Devon County Council, the Post Office etc – to gain ideas and information as to how then could translate their plans to a successful conclusion. All of these organisations were very supportive and positive in their desire to see the project succeed. The new owners of the “old” village shop property were persuaded to lease back to the community the shop part of their premises. This decision enabled the shop committee to gain the offer of funding from the Key Stage Funding agency to re-equip and fully refurbish the Shop and Post Office.
In addition, they planned a series of local fund raising events but these were severely affected by the onset of Foot & Mouth disease in this area, which curtailed many activities.
A local charitable trust (the Bridgeland Trust Fund) gave them generous financial assistance to enable then to buy all of the initial stock for the new shop.
The culmination of all the efforts was a grand re-opening of the shop on 7th July 2001 – accompanied by a Lamb roasting and raffle – to raise more funds. The first two months of trading have met all of their expectations with very strong local support – people are now very much aware of the inconvenience caused by the failure to shop locally.
Article from Talking Shop, November 2001
People in a tiny North Devon village have achieved the unusual feat of reopening their only village shop which closed down last year.
All the profits from the shop, at Sheepwash near Hatherleigh, will be put back into the business and used to support local causes.
When the Mermaid Stores closed last August, so did the community spirit of Sheepwash. Thanks to a bit of foresight though, the shop now lives on.
That was the last thing on Chris Vincent''s mind when her family moved from Berkshire and bought the shop and its adjoining house.
"I did not want the responsibility of running the shop by myself because I have two small children and it was not what I was planning to do," she said. "We just loved the house and bought it and thought we would turn the shop into a family room."
But she was persuaded to lease the shop back to the village and head a group of volunteer helpers. It has now got everything that a corner shop should have - and a bit more. Customers will be able to order home deliveries by fax or the internet.
Buster Jones, who now helps in the shop, is delighted that the community has got its shop back: "The village was dead without it to be honest. Since we opened on Saturday, the number of people coming through here has transformed the place, it really has."
The recent history of Sheepwash is a familiar one of rural decline. Since the Second World War, the village has lost four shops, a post office, a pub and two workshops. Only the Mermaid Stores and the Half Moon pub remained as a focus for the community.
"It has moved backwards in the last 30 to 40 years and I am delighted to say that I hope that the recreation of this village shop is the first step in the other direction," said Charles Inniss, former pub landlord.
There will be a change of name though. As a mark of its new status, the shop will be called the Sheepwash Community Post Office and Stores.
Article and images from http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news/072001/11/community_shop.shtm
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