Taking another look at Newport in its heyday we can see in one of these pictures, Finlays, the tobacconists, next door to shoe shop Freeman Hardy Willis and then comes Etam for women’s fashion clothes shop, followed by Burtons menswear and finally Olivers shoe shop.

The aforementioned names probably will bring back a lot of memories to some Isle of Wight residents.

Scroll through the gallery of pictures above to see more...

A scene further down the high street, shows part of Weeks bakery and restaurant/cafe; Dewhurst butchers, and finally the Bugle hotel and bars.

Another photo captures The Vine pub, Frank Whitchers countryman’s traditional outfitters and Michael Jon hair stylists.

Isle of Wight County Press: Pyle Street in Newport, with A J King and Terry’s snack bar, plus the large building which was to become a supermarket. Photo: David White.Pyle Street in Newport, with A J King and Terry’s snack bar, plus the large building which was to become a supermarket. Photo: David White. (Image: David White)

Moving on to Pyle Street an empty shop waits for demolition, in order to make way for the biggest (at the time) Newport supermarket, and next door you can see A J King, the wet fish shop, and Terry’s snack bar.

Scarrots Lane once consisted mainly of butchers’ store rooms where meat was stored and prepared for the shops, sausages and pies made etc

These storage buildings belonged to the likes of butchers Stanley Stevens, Wooldridges etc.

There were also warehouses belonging to other Island traders and the whole lane was a hive of industry, notice the old Ford van, which was the workhorse of many traders.

Finally comes a picture of the dreaded Coppins Bridge in its early development stage.

Forecasters stated that bringing all Isle of Wight traffic to one large junction would eventually prove to be a gridlock disaster. 

The county council insisted that they new better — who do you think was right?

Like reading stories about the Isle of Wight and its characters in bygone days?

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