WH Smiths | Welcome to Newtown
Source: https://www.newtown.org.uk/heritagetrail/view/wh-smiths
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:33
WH Smiths | Welcome to Newtown
WH Smiths
“The Newtown branch of WH Smith at 24 High Street was a unique surprise among the company’s many shops.
In the 1970’s a major modernisation programme of WH Smith’s outlets was in progress. It was decided that just one shop should be conserved as a living example of how all Smiths had previously looked.
Newtown branch had not been altered very much over the years, so it was an ideal location. The shop was restored to its original condition – as it would have been when first opened in 1927.
Modern fittings and fixtures were removed to reveal the original tiles, mirrors and decorations, still in good condition. Oak shelving was restored, replacement tables to display books were created, underfloor heating installed, and the tube lighting was replaced by specially made 1920’s style of fittings.
The restoration was a great success and attracted a lot of interested visitors. Three years later the company museum was established upstairs, on the first floor, in a space that was once a W. H. Smith Lending Library.
Did you know?
The shop originally opened in 1927. It was furnished to a high standard with Oak Shelving and underfloor heating.
The whole shop is a living museum, during the 70’s WH Smith updated all of their shops fittings except Newtown, restoring features to their original condition from the 1920’s
The company museum was established upstairs, on the first floor, in a space that was once a W. H. Smith Lending Library.
The small museum traced the history of WH Smith, from its beginnings in London, in 1792, to the present day.
The Full Story…
The small museum traced the history of WH Smith, from its beginnings in London, in 1792, to the present day.
Using storyboards, models and memorabilia, we chart the fascinating progress of a family run business that has flourished for over two centuries, to become one of today’s biggest British companies and a household name.
Visiting the museum you could learn about the members of the family who started it all. Discover how Henry Walton Smith founded the business as a newswalk around the streets of London.
His early death could easily have meant the end of this humble paper round, but his young widow Anna, left with three children to raise, was determined to carry on. As a result of her sheer hard work and dedication, the business prospered. Eventually she was able to leave her two sons a small but profitable concern that was ready for expansion.
Only one of the boys proved really interested in the challenge, and he became the great pioneering newsagent, William Henry Smith. The company has borne his name ever since.
In turn his son, W H Smith II joined the firm and, between them, they expanded the news business, became booksellers and stationers, and developed lending libraries.
The museum’s displays also explored news distribution, the work of newsboys and girls, the use of different forms of transport through the years, and the history of Smith’s railway bookstalls and chain of retail shops.” The shop and museum sadly closed in early 2025.
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WH Smiths
“The Newtown branch of WH Smith at 24 High Street was a unique surprise among the company’s many shops.
In the 1970’s a major modernisation programme of WH Smith’s outlets was in progress. It was decided that just one shop should be conserved as a living example of how all Smiths had previously looked.
Newtown branch had not been altered very much over the years, so it was an ideal location. The shop was restored to its original condition – as it would have been when first opened in 1927.
Modern fittings and fixtures were removed to reveal the original tiles, mirrors and decorations, still in good condition. Oak shelving was restored, replacement tables to display books were created, underfloor heating installed, and the tube lighting was replaced by specially made 1920’s style of fittings.
The restoration was a great success and attracted a lot of interested visitors. Three years later the company museum was established upstairs, on the first floor, in a space that was once a W. H. Smith Lending Library.
Did you know?
The shop originally opened in 1927. It was furnished to a high standard with Oak Shelving and underfloor heating.
The whole shop is a living museum, during the 70’s WH Smith updated all of their shops fittings except Newtown, restoring features to their original condition from the 1920’s
The company museum was established upstairs, on the first floor, in a space that was once a W. H. Smith Lending Library.
The small museum traced the history of WH Smith, from its beginnings in London, in 1792, to the present day.
The Full Story…
The small museum traced the history of WH Smith, from its beginnings in London, in 1792, to the present day.
Using storyboards, models and memorabilia, we chart the fascinating progress of a family run business that has flourished for over two centuries, to become one of today’s biggest British companies and a household name.
Visiting the museum you could learn about the members of the family who started it all. Discover how Henry Walton Smith founded the business as a newswalk around the streets of London.
His early death could easily have meant the end of this humble paper round, but his young widow Anna, left with three children to raise, was determined to carry on. As a result of her sheer hard work and dedication, the business prospered. Eventually she was able to leave her two sons a small but profitable concern that was ready for expansion.
Only one of the boys proved really interested in the challenge, and he became the great pioneering newsagent, William Henry Smith. The company has borne his name ever since.
In turn his son, W H Smith II joined the firm and, between them, they expanded the news business, became booksellers and stationers, and developed lending libraries.
The museum’s displays also explored news distribution, the work of newsboys and girls, the use of different forms of transport through the years, and the history of Smith’s railway bookstalls and chain of retail shops.” The shop and museum sadly closed in early 2025.
Search
Recent Posts
Celebrating a Lifetime of Service: Helen Kynaston Becomes the First Freewoman of Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn
Tidy Newtown 2026 – Join the Community Spring Clean!
Celebrate St David’s Day at the Charter Market
Town Council Pays Tribute To Local Businessman Aled Woosnam
Town Council assists Community Needs for Footpath improvements
Tourism Event Grants – Deadline Extended to 16th January
Mayor of Newtown – Christmas Message 2025
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
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Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
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The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
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