WAY back in 1871, Charles Townrow paid £55 a year to rent number 65 High Street in Braintree for his fledgling business.

Back then he had no idea how much Townrow would flourish.

Nearly 150 years later, the town’s oldest department store has started packing up its boxes.

The store will say its final goodbye on Saturday.

It has moved around town, spending some time in Bank Street, until it moved back to the High Street as a fashion and home store in the 1980s.

Richard Townrow, the fourth generation of his family to work there, started working at the store in 1966.

He was made managing director in 1982.

He said: “Everything was easier when I started, you didn’t have the competition you have got now.

“We survived a number of recessions — the current is probably the worst to have hit the country for a number of years.

“All the others were a lot shorter, staff didn’t get pay rises but nobody lost their jobs.”

The family opened other branches in Frinton, Maldon and St Ives — one of Mr Townrow’s favourite memories.

He said: “When we bought all the other branches, that was great fun — my father James and I worked well together.

“For most of my life I have worked six-days a week, but if you enjoy it then it’s worth putting the hours in.”

Sadly, due to a change in retail, he did not see a future in the town.

He said: “Braintree has always been a wonderful town, it’s the people that make Braintree.

“However, with Freeport expanding it has taken some of our suppliers, and the entertainment has moved there.

“It’s hard for the town to compete and attract people.”

The business announced its closure in February, and shoppers expressed sadness.

Mr Townrow said: “We were seeing where the company would be in five years time.

“We didn’t see our store would follow the way Braintree is going.

“People have been supportive, upset and understanding, and they have said some nice things about us.

“Having spent most of my life trying to build it up, it is disappointing we are closing it.”

The building is being rented out, and it is expected British Heart Foundation will move in.

This news caused a stir, but Mr Townrow defended the role of charity shops.

He said: “The charity shops are all very busy, they have got a lot to bring to the town.

“People look to see a Primark, but the town isn’t big enough.”

He said since the announcement business has gone exceptionally well, and wanted to thank staff for their support.

He said: “We are sorry to have made 40 members of staff redundant, many of them have been with us for some time.

“They understand our decision and have been lovely to work with.

“The town had wonderful big stores, like Crittall, which have closed. There were so many stores offering something different — and we are the last one.”