A Brief History of Urchfont Community Shop

When Bill Ford retired and closed his much-loved butcher’s shop in 1999, Urchfont was left without any retail outlet – a loss felt strongly across the village, especially as the Post Office would soon follow.

In response, local resident Ted Collins encouraged Richard Hawkins to explore a solution. This led to a meeting on 12 June 2000, where a group of villagers formed the Urchfont Amenity Project to consider creating a new community facility. Ideas ranged from a coffee shop and creche to a heritage centre – but support quickly focused on a community-run shop.

A village-wide survey showed strong backing, and an Open Forum drew more enthusiasm. With support from Community First and other organisations, the group pressed on – visiting other community shops, drafting a constitution, and applying for grants. The biggest challenge? Finding suitable premises.

After several options were explored, a breakthrough came in 2003 when Wadworth Brewery agreed to let the group convert an outbuilding at The Lamb Inn. With planning, permissions, and funding finally secured, the Urchfont Community Shop and Post Office opened in February 2005– five years after the first meeting, run by a manager, post mistress, and 50 dedicated volunteers.

Today, it stands as a thriving symbol of what a determined community can achieve.