Tyrrell and Green; The Winchester Branch

Miniature branch opens

On Monday 9th December 1940, the Winchester branch of Tyrrell and Green opened in Winchester. Principally specialising in the sale of Fashions and Fashion Accessories, the new shop was both old and minute in space compared to the old Southampton branch. The historic Butter Cross sat on the pavement just outside the shop. The Cross was 43 foot high, and was said to be built by Henry IV. Through good sales at Winchester, Tyrrell and Green was crawling back on to its feet. Within two months, a temporary building had been resurrected back on Above Bar Street. Tyrrell and Green had returned to Southampton. Remarkably, the shop had only been away for two months.

Success and expansion

Happily, this did not spell the immediate closure of the Winchester branch. Rather, that particular store went from strength to strength, as further properties were obtained on the High Street. As space increased, many new departments were added, such as an extensive children’s department. As many as five small shops down the High Street would operate under the Tyrell and Green banner in the post-war years.

No longer neccessary

In a similar vein, the Southampton branch also went from strength to strength acquiring further properties and extending product lines and departments. It was the construction of a brand new permanent department store on the Above Bar site that eventually prompted the closure of Winchester. As the new Tyrell and Green Southampton edged towards completion, the Winchester branch bade its last farewell on the 22nd January 1955.