THE final days of the oldest shop premises in Abingdon are drawing to a close as developers begin demolishing the property to make way for a town house and nine apartments.

The oldest shop premises in Abingdon

The building which used to house ironmongers Beadles in Ock Street, is clad in scaffolding and the rear of the 250-year-old structure has been demolished in preparation for building.

Under planning directives, the front of the structure has to be kept.

Eight of the nine apartments and the town house have already been sold. The one remaining home is priced at £177,500. Estate agents Thomas Merrifield said the other properties were snapped up within two months.

The homes at what is now called Queen Anne Mews should be ready for occupation by early spring.

Berkeley Homes is developing 130 homes and apartments on the site of the old Morland Brewery behind the Beadles site.

It bought the Beadles property to develop it, but later sold it to Abingdon builders Cranbourne Homes. The shop closed in August last year, ending a 50-year family tradition. The building had been an ironmongers since 1836.

Falling trade and intense competition forced Beadles to close the old-style family-run business.