The Bookshop, The Draper, The Candlestick Maker: The history of the high street

About this event

What makes a high street? And are they really dying – or merely changing, as they have always done? What were they like in the past? How did we shop in the days before ready-to-wear, self-selection, pre-packaged food or even affordable glazing? And is it really all about the retail – or do people, buildings and a sense of place play a role in it all as well?

Historian Annie Gray joins us to give us the lowdown on one of Britain’s best-loved spaces; one we purport to love, but which we often neglect. Based on the research for her most recent book, she’ll whiz us through what she'd bring back, bringing to life the high streets of our parents, grandparents and many great-ancestors, and putting the modern shopping experience into historic context. Expect humour, nostalgia and Annie’s trademark forthrightness: you'll never walk through a city centre in quite the same way again.

Boundless members stay tuned until the end of the event to be in with a chance of winning a copy of Annie's book.