Shops and Shop workers
'Shops in general opened from 9am to 8pm with no closing for lunch. On Saturday it was 9am till 11pm'

A hundred years ago shops served essentially a local market, dealing with the necessities of life, food and clothing. As late as 1939, of the 96 retail businesses operating in Whitton 33 were food shops and 19 were clothing related stores. Hours were long: in the 1920's in Twickenham: 'shops in general opened from 9am to 8pm with no closing for lunch. On Saturday it was 9am until 11pm'. Many of the businesses in those days were family-run, sometimes with one or more 'assistants' from outside the family. Over the years the types of shop have also changed in other ways. A hundred years ago restaurants were not even mentioned by that name locally. The main places for eating were Inns and Public Houses and also 'Dining Rooms', with 'Tea Rooms' in tourist areas such as Hampton Court.