Photographer calls for Rickards of Ludlow to be preserved

Rickards & Son has been trading since 1864 but now its future is in the balance. The three-storey Grade II listed building housing the old-fashioned shop – number 6 and 7 in the Bull Ring – has been up for sale for the last two years.

Ray Hobbs, a professional photographer, has produced a series of photographs and an essay as part of his mission to save the 150-year-old shop fittings.

“I was captivated by the original shop fittings that are still in daily use serving customers. I was alarmed however, upon seeing the ‘Sale’ sign,” he told the Ludlow Advertiser.

There are over 100 wooden hand-made drawers in the shop (Image: Ray Hobbs)

He is calling for the fittings to be preserved and "cherished" when the shop is sold, rather than being "ripped out".

The original shop fittings at Rickards include over 100 original hand-made timber drawers, a 'pay point' with a sliding door and an ammunition box now used for storing and displaying spades.

Mr Hobbs even found some black and white photographs tucked away in the shop.

An old photograph showing the original shop fittings (Image: Ray Hobbs)

In his essay, Mr Hobbs writes: “Rickards is one of those shops where one can find whatever is needed to fix or replace that forever broken item.”

The building is being marketed for sale as a freehold by property consultancy Carter Jonas and has a guide price of £595,000. There is potential for a purchaser to continue the retail arm of the hardware store, or for conversion into residential accommodation.

The shop, which maintains many of its traditional features, is set in the heart of the town’s main shopping area and close to the castle, making it an appealing spot for businesses.

It includes a separate building, the Courtyard, currently used as a warehouse accessed via the shop or through a side passage leading onto Corve Street.

The advertisement on Carter Jonas’ website reads: “Herber Richards established Rickards at 6 and 7 in 1864. It has been a much-loved hardware shop for over 150 years serving the local community.

“The property sits within the main shopping area of Ludlow as well as one of the primary vehicular through routes off Corve Street.”

Editor's note: We previously wrote that Rickards was listed at £695,000. The price has been reduced to £595,000 and we have changed the article to reflect this.