Liz Torode has replaced Caro Drake as manager of the National Trust’s Victorian Shop and Parlour, which has opened for the summer season.
‘It’s a complete career change, but I’ve been enjoying it even more than I thought I would,’ she said.
‘I’ve been interested in Guernsey and tradition and history for a long time, and the shop really preserves a lot of that historical feel. We try to offer something a bit different from all the other souvenir shops in town.’
The shop is not just a recreation of a Victorian shop either. It was established in the 1870s by the Le Poidevin family, which ran the business for nearly 100 years.
After it closed in the 1960s, it remained empty for some time, until it was taken under the wing of the National Trust in 1983.
A photographic portrait of the family who started the business still hangs above the mantelpiece near the back of the shop, watching over the displays of Guernsey tea trays and felt Easter decorations arranged around the room.
‘We have such a diverse collection of goods here,’ said Mrs Torode.
‘When I did stock-taking in January, I was surprised by the diversity of the stock – and by how long it took.’
The store does certainly boast an eclectic range of products, from stacked shelves of glass-jarred Victorian sweets to children’s books to a significant selection of Victor Hugo novels and memorabilia.
‘We sell a lot of Victor Hugo goods – my guess is that they’re the most popular items during the summer season when the boats come in from France,’ said Mrs Torode.
‘We also try to support small businesses, so we have a lot of items that you don’t really find elsewhere.’
The shop will be open for the rest of the summer, closing at the beginning of October. Though it operates seasonally, it also opens its doors for the late night shopping evenings in December, as well as for some time on from mid-November to exhibit popular festive stock.