Category Archives: Heritage

Traditions and Ghosts in Scotland’s Shops

Posted on September 3, 2017 by

Anyone following my twitter feed (@sparks_stirling) will have encountered my fascination and interest in ghost signs. It has also been included in some musings from me and a guest contribution to this blog.  I had a previous tendency to focus … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Architecture, Buildings, Edinburgh, Fife, Ghost Signs, Heritage, Historic Shops, History, Places, Retail History, Royal Mile, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Shopfronts, Streetscapes, Urban History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Embracing Failure in the Shadow of Success

Posted on July 24, 2017 by

This post’s title is the sub-title from a book I recently read.  It concerns Mick Channon Jnr and his relationship with his father, who he describes as “an arthritic workaholic grumpy old bastard” and only grudgingly as an ex England … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Bookmakers, Charity Shops, Closure, Consumer Lifestyle, Discounters, Heritage, High Streets, Local Retailers, Markets, Places, Planning, Pound Shops, Property, Regeneration, Retail Economy, Shopfronts, Social Inequality, Social Justice, Store Closures, Town Centres, Towns | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dublin’s Fair City

Posted on July 13, 2017 by

Every two years the conference of the European Association for Education and Research in Commercial Distribution (EAERCD) comes around.  Now in its 19th incarnation, this academic conference attracts retail scholars from across the globe to present and discuss their latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Architecture, Art Deco, Buildings, Burtons, Convenience stores, Corporate History, Dublin, EAERCD, Ghost Signs, Heritage, Historic Shops, History, Markets, Retail History, Shopfronts, Spar, Tobacco, Urban History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Lost Broch of Stirling

Posted on May 29, 2017 by

I am not sure what it says about me, but I have been seduced into some small crowdfunding projects over the last few years.  The subjects have been food, drink, rugby and history, so maybe I do know how and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Brochs, Buildings, Crowdfunding, Experiential, Heritage, History, Incredible Edible, Retail Change, Sexism, Social media, Stirling, University of Stirling, Urban, Urban History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ghost Signs and Retailing

Posted on April 3, 2017 by

As readers of this blog will know, I have always had an interest in the history of retailing and companies and businesses of the past. A good example has been the ongoing work with Neil Tyler around Sanders Bros, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Advertising, Architecture, Art, Brands, Buildings, Consumer Change, Corporate History, Ghost Signs, Heritage, Historic Shops, History, Retail History, Sanders Bros, Shopfronts, Signage, Stirling, Urban History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Asa Briggs and Marks and Spencer

Posted on April 5, 2016 by

The other week the eminent social historian Asa Briggs died.  Despite my not being an historian this was a name I knew.  I came across his work when I wanted to look at aspects of the social history of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Academics, Corporate History, Heritage, History, Marks and Spencer, Retail Change, Retail History, Sanders Bros | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Roman Remains

Posted on March 26, 2015 by

Let’s get the rugby out of the way first. It’s all Scotland’s fault; these days it always is. Another wooden spoon and apparently  such a poor performance that the true champions, Wales, despite a magnificent demonstration of world-class rugby against … Continue reading →

Posted in Eataly, Food, Food Quality, Food Tourism, Heritage, Logistics, Markets, Public Realm, Scotland Food and Drink, Slow Food, Urban History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments