Village shop has been run by same family for 130 years – survived Post Office

A quaint village shop, Springfield Stores in Hardington Mandeville, Somerset, has been run by the same family since 1890, weathering 130 years of high street upheaval and even the Post Office scandal. The current proprietor, Daphne Creed, 77, is the third generation to manage the store, having taken over from her mother in 1991.

Her mother had managed it from 1936 after taking over from Mrs Creed’s grandmother who had run it since its inception in 1890. For Daphne, stepping into the role was a ‘natural’ progression as she used to assist her mother in the shop.

She said: ”The best part is meeting my customers and all my friends every day. ”When customers come in I support them – it gets me up in the morning.

“I don’t have to travel to work. I can do my own thing and got my family close by.

“It is quite different from when granny had it obviously.

“I remember the old sweet jars and the cheese with the rind on.

“Decimalisation came in and mum didn’t think she was going to cope – but she did it fine!” Prior to running the shop, Ms Creed worked at Yeovil District Hospital in the maternity unit as a secretary to the senior nursing officer. However, she returned to the family business following her father’s death.

The grandmother of four said: “I had my children and helped mum out more and more and then when dad died we came back to live with her.”

The shop, which started in the attached house, now sells a wide range of groceries and toiletries, with Daphne making an effort to keep produce as local as possible. Bucking the trend of the dying village shop, Mrs Creed, Springfield Stores’ lone warrior, has valiantly stood against the onslaught of supermarket giants. She humbly remarked, “I am really just a top-up for people really. I wouldn’t be able to supply everyone in the village with everything they want.

“Strategically situated, she said, “I am quite lucky with my location really because there is nobody that close. Her establishment not only serves as a local convenience store but also houses a life-saving Post Office, which thankfully dodged the infamous Horizon scandal.It is good that I still got the Post Office.

“You need the retail side to supplement the Post Office – one can’t really work without the other,” she elucidated, reflecting on how the scandal was widely unknown until its filmic revelation.

By the grace of god I never got involved in the Horizon scandal. It wasn’t really until the film came out that you really realised what the extent was.

The community’s embrace is evident, with businesses relying on her store for cash transactions through the Post Office. Celebrated by Somerset County Council with an award in 2009 and in 2012 by none other than Her Majesty the Queen with an MBE for services to Hardington Mandeville’s people, she recounts her Royal experience: “I went to Windsor Castle and Queen Elizabeth gave it to me. It was lovely and beautiful.”

“It was all like a bit of a dream. Left awe-struck by the honour, she recollected, “You get the letter and you are not allowed to tell anybody.”

She has also served as the Churchwarden of St. Mary’s Church, Hardington Mandeville for over 25 years and has been the Honorary Secretary for Hardington Mandeville Village Hall for the same duration. She stated: “I get involved with all aspects of village life and try to help with fundraising etc. whenever I can.”

Mrs Creed is hopeful that the shop remains within the family and has no plans to close it. “Not until if I am not making any money or my health makes me give up. I should try and keep up for as long as I can,” she expressed.