| County | Gloucestershire, South West |
|---|---|
| Postcode | GL7 5QW |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Post Office | Yes |
View a map of where to find us
In June 1997 the villagers of Down Ampney, on learning that their only village shop and Post Office was to close in the August, sprang into action. Arrangements were made to continue the Post Office service but establishing a new shop was a more difficult proposition. Premises for a shop, in the shape of an old construction site building, were acquired with help from the local MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and RMG, the company building the new A419. Funds were raised in the village and matched by a community grant from Cotswold District Council. The building was transformed by enthusiastic villagers and in May the new shop was opened next to the village hall.
The shop sells a full range of food and convenience goods, toys, stationary, magazines and cigarettes – everyone is amazed by its “Tardis” appearance – how such a small building can contain so much. It has taken, and continues to take, a lot of hard work to open and run the shop. It is staffed by volunteers with a management committee overseeing things. Unfortunately the Post Office service is run in a temporary structure.
The shop and Post Office are very important to the villagers, there’s no other shop or even a petrol station or pub in the village. The ultimate aim is to raise funds and build a permanent shop and Post Office. This would be leased out at a minimal rent, and the tenant would take over full responsibility for running the shop and Post Office.
Article from "Talking Shop", issue 13, 1998
Down Ampney Village shop is a community run village shop based on a traditional village shop selling a range of electric goods - foods, cleaning, cards, doorstops, penny sweets, stamps. Housed in a small porta cabin. Local produce such as honey, eggs and in-season fruit and veg is donated by the villagers.
01793 752590