End of shoe shop's era

A family-run shoe shop which has traded since 1927 is up for sale – and its owners blame the decline of the Black Country town where it started for moving out.

Sowerbys, one of the longest-established traders in Stourbridge, was created by William Sowerby in his front room. The business grew with shops in Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Worcester, Blackheath and other Midlands areas. Wartime bombing destroyed a number of shops and Sowerbys concentrated on Stourbridge.

The business passed from William to his son Arthur.

He died last year, passing it on to son Clive. His son, Jack, came on board and set up an online business specialising in footwear for equestrian events.

Jack and sister Joanne recently bought a shop in Evesham – and Clive, now 62, said the business would be concentrated there.

He said: "The life has gone from Stourbridge. As much as I generally love the place, and I was born and bred here, you can only hang on for so long before you realise you have got to move on.

"It is very sad because we have been here since 1927. It is a family business and it is not a decision you take lightly.

"Stourbridge used to be a town of quality, but it is far from that now.

"I blame successive councils for poor planning, and I blame MPs for failing to stick up for the town.

"The ring road has throttled the town centre. There is nowhere to park.

"The Crown Centre has been a failure.These are the main reasons why the family have decided Stourbridge is finished. We really do a good job of selling footwear and have people come from as far as Scandinavia for our riding boots.

"But it takes a long time to fit boots, and when they get back to their cars there is a parking ticket for them to deal with because there is nowhere to park.

"It is terribly sad but the only good thing I can say about Stourbridge now is the quality of the customers, who have been fantastic for as long as I can remember. We will miss them terribly but the time is right to go."