Day 250 - Family businesses

Catch up on work day...despite the absolutely glorious sunshine. We did take a break to do a bit of shopping, aiming to support local businesses.

R.A. Willison's shop consists of one aisle. They've sold
fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants in this tiny location
for over 200 years.

Our first stop was for fruit and vegetables from a store called R.A. Willison. This is reputed to be the oldest business in Whitby, and has been in the same location on the corner of Baxtergate and Wellington Road in Whitby since 1800. The most amazing thing: it is still in the same family! Today, Richard Willison (age 78) was in the shop with his son Jamie (30), the present owners. Richard has worked in the tiny shop for 50 years. He told us that one day his father "said he couldn't come downstairs anymore when he was 84," and that was the last he worked in the shop, although he did live well into his 90s. Richard also told us he had an aunt who lived to be 108, so I guess access to all those fruits and vegetables proves we should all be paying more attention to our 5-a-day! Richard was actually born in the small flat above the shop.

Elizabeth Botham's, with a tea room on one side and a
bakery on the other.

From here we bought bread at Botham's second shop in Whitby. We've mentioned Botham's as the place we go to buy our breakfast items most mornings. Elizabeth Botham started her bakery business in 1865, and raised 14 children at the same time. Her husband died shortly after her last child was born. She continued to expand her business into several other shops, with two of her sons eventually taking over. Today the business is run by her great grandchildren, with her great great grandchildren also helping out.

This butcher shop was established in 1969. It no longer
looks like this, having undergone a modern design change.

Next up, the butcher's, R.M. Lander's of Whitby. No idea on the history of this place, other than that it was established in 1969. So we may have to go back when they're not so busy and chat with them...as small-business promoter and Entrepreneurship professor Phil so often does!