AN UNUSUAL Weymouth store was the subject of conversation in Looking Back recently.

Thanks to Richard Samways of Weymouth Museum for supplying us with some information and these two photos of the Weymouth town centre furniture shop Hawkes and Freeman.

He said: “Hawkes and Freeman was first started in Hope Square in 1845 by Thomas Hawkes, moving in the 1860s, as the Dorset Furnishing Company, to 39 St Thomas Street.

“In 1884 Thomas Hawkes was joined by Charles Joseph Freeman and the firm became Hawkes, Freeman & Company, later in 1900 Hawkes, Freeman Ltd.

“The premises were subsequently rebuilt, and later enlarged by taking in the Bear Inn yard next door.

“It was taken over by Webb, Major & Co in 1955, keeping the Hawkes, Freeman name. It closed in 1969.”

Esmee Nicholls, of Weymouth, got in touch to say she remembers Hawkes and Freeman.

She said: “It had a funny rough wooden floor and they used to sell china and bric-a-brac. It always looked quite dark in there.

“There was a cobblers next to it which was where the 99p store is now.

“I went into the airforce and when I came out Hawkes and Freeman’s was gone.”

Vivien Wade, of Weymouth, also remembers the store – and still has a memento from there!

She said: “The shop appeared very spacious. Just before I got married to my husband we went in there to choose some items.

“We had a lovely dinner service from there and I still have one small item left from it from over 60 years ago which is quite remarkable.”