MANY people were sad when F Cape and Sons, the Oxford drapers, closed their doors, but there was a silver lining for some.

They managed to secure bits of memorabilia from the St Ebbe’s store, which served the city for 100 years.

The shop closed in January 1972 and within days, what was left inside was sold.

Almost 250 lots came under the auctioneer’s hammer in a three-hour sale of retail stock, shopfittings and furniture.

There were 250 pairs of boots and shoes to dispose of, and clothing of all shapes and sizes.

One intriguing item was a safe – without a key!

The bargain of the day? Possibly the 65 pairs of women’s corsets, knocked down to just £3.50.

These pictures show the sale, conducted by Buckell & Ballard, in full swing, with buyers eager to snap up a bargain for their own stores or perhaps as a keepsake, a reminder of one of Oxford’s great institutions.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, January 6), Cape’s had a reputation as the shop where you could buy anything.

Hats, gloves, lingerie, sheets and shirts competed for space with hardware, crockery, luggage, stationery and furniture.

The shop stocked the odds and ends that you couldn’t buy anywhere else. And if the item wasn’t in stock, the friendly staff would do their best to get it.

The firm was founded in 1867 or 1877 – historians are uncertain – by Faithful Cape and prospered under the Lewis family, who controlled it from the 1890s.

In its heyday, it had premises in Little Clarendon Street, Walton Street, Windmill Road and Cowley Road.

One feature of the St Ebbe’s store was the marvellous overhead cash railway. When customers paid, the assistant shot the money by elastic catapult to the cash desk above everyone’s heads. Change came back the same way. If it was a small sum, like a farthing, you would get a button, a card of pins, men’s collar studs, lead pencils or a postcard view of Oxford instead.

Many of the staff lived over the shop and there were strict rules.

In 1913, “in consequence of the very unpleasant circumstances which have arisen” – the details were not revealed – the firm produced a small blue book, Rules for Assistants.

Unnecessary conversation between assistants in the shop was forbidden and eating sweets between serving could mean instant dismissal.

The old-fashioned store finally fell prey to competition and closed in 1972.

The premises were sold to a development company, which had planning permission for a new shop and offices on the site.

Any more memories of Cape’s to share with readers? Write and let me know.