Roomes memorabilia on display in Upminster

Upminster residents travelled back in time with a display of never before seen local history at the weekend.

Andrew Skingley and Stephen Roomes. Picture: Isabel Infantes - Credit: Archant

Visitors to the Upminster Tithe Barn open day were able to see an original invitation to the opening of Roomes department store – dated October 1 1927.

One guest was particularly impressed by the invitation, as well as a Roomes mangle from the same era which had been donated to the barn.

Stephen Roome, a member of the family that runs the store, had never seen either before.

Volunteer Andrew Skingley said: “We have donations each time we open and a woman from Upminster said she had a mangle from Roomes which was being used as a garden ornament and another user has give us the invitation for the season.

Roomes memorabilia. Picture: Isabel Infantes - Credit: Archant

“Stephen came along and he was amazed because he’d never seen either in the archives.”

Upminster Tithe Barn, in Hall Lane will be open next weekend (Jun 20/21).