Chelmsford's oldest established independent town centre store, J H Clarke, is to close.
Receivers moved in on Monday to wind up the debt-hit booksellers and stationers, and the company was placed into liquidation.
The shock news means the loss of jobs for managing director Adrian Symonds and 41 staff employed at the Exchange Way and High Street, Maldon, stores.
Both will remain open for at least a week while remaining stock is sold off, and Saturday's 50 per cent sale is expected to attract bargain hunters and those wanting to buy a nostalgic reminder of the town's once flourishing store.
The firm was founded by John Henry Clarke around 1850 at the High Street offices currently occupied by Lloyds Bank.
His widow, Sarah, sold her family interest to the store's manager, Ernest Arnold, in 1911.
He ran it until his son, Ralph, returned from war in 1946.
Ernest's grandson, Neil Arnold, a director, who joined when the store moved to Exchange Way in 1971, said: "It is a very sad day for our loyal staff and customers, and for myself."
Published Thursday, January 30, 2003
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