Changes in the landscape

Established in 1908, Swain and Jones has been a huge part of Farnham and East Street. It was reported in the paper the other day that after all these years they are going.

Actually, they have gone as I discovered today when I walked into town for the second time. I don’t normally walk into town along the main road but was racing the bus today (I won) and so decided to check out the dealership as I passed.

And I can report that while the showroom remains, cars there are none.

They were, until recently, selling Jaguars and Land Rovers after a long franchise agreement with both companies. Now, according to their website, they will be selling second hands cars.

There was no evidence of them selling anything today. Maybe they’re on holidays for a bit waiting for stock. Maybe the website is a lie and they’ve actually gone out of business. I don’t know but will keep an eye on it.

While I’m in this unattractive neck of the woods, I feel it would be remiss of me not to include a photograph looking along the awful Woolmead.

This will, perhaps, change one day if the East Street Development every gets off the ground. Planning has been going on for nearly as long as Swain and Jones have been around.

Who knows, I might get another photo in the same location but completely changed, sometime in my lifetime. Though I’m not holding my breath.