High Street high jinks

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November 9th, 2014 · 33 comments

Writes our submitter from London: “I can only imagine the local politics that brought about this pre-Christmas gem of a note in the historic town if Lewes, England.” Any Lewes locals out there who could shed some light on this light-box snub?

We were not asked to join in the high street archive display (despite being the most photographed building!) so instead of a light box we have a cardboard box! enjoy!!

FILED UNDER: retail hell · U.K.

33 responses so far ↓

#1 Jami

Hm – well, an American here but it seems it’s pretty clear to me.

They’re a historic building and one of the most photographed in Lewes. Yet they were not asked to do a light display for the annual High Street Archive Display, which, I assume, means they get some lights to use. That part might be wrong, they might have to supply their own lights.

So, put out that they’ve been snubbed, they put up a cardboard box to explain to people why they’re not all done up for Christmas. It’s not really because they don’t want to, it’s because they weren’t allowed to play in any Lewes Reindeer Games.

Nov 9, 2014 at 5:24 pm rating: 90

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- #1.1 Sarah
  
  A lightbox isn’t a festive light display, it’s like one of those internally lit ‘history of this site’ things. So I guess most of the other shops and buildings were provided with one, thus creating a ‘high street in the past’ trail from shop to shop that they’re pissy about not being part of.
  
  Nov 9, 2014 at 7:40 pm rating: 90
- #1.2 Jami
  
  Okay. But I guess I was close all the same. Just not about the Christmas lights part.
  
  Nov 9, 2014 at 10:56 pm rating: 90
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#2 Marci

I’m not a local (I’m a mere 5,000 miles away) but I did find something on the internet about the event. http://www.reevesarchive.co.uk/project/

Nov 9, 2014 at 6:05 pm rating: 90

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#3 lo-fi pi

Jami, we all already understood the parts you ‘translated’, I’m fairly sure I can say. It was specifically the ‘lightbox’ part that was a bit unclear. I assume they were lent a lightbox to display historical archives their specific buildings once housed, or photos of the buildings through the ages. I assume that they’re displayed in the window just like the cardboard box.

Nov 9, 2014 at 11:23 pm rating: 90

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#4 Nell

I can’t shed any more light on the politics, but here is an image of one of the light boxes in question, as well as a bit more information on the project. http://bpb.org.uk/2014/event/stories-seen-through-a-glass-plate/

Nov 10, 2014 at 1:25 am rating: 90

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#5 Dave Child

That looks a lot like the 15th Century bookshop in Lewes to me. Difficult to tell for sure from the angle, but it does look like a bookshop and I can’t imagine another shop getting photographed more than that one!

Their site is: http://www.oldenyoungbooks.co.uk/

Nov 10, 2014 at 2:13 am rating: 90

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#6 Nat Newman

Looks like they were left out of this project: http://leweshistory.org.uk/2014/09/02/the-edward-reeves-archive-project/

Nov 10, 2014 at 2:55 am rating: 90

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#7 TRT

On the plus side, it being Lewes, they can always create a 40 foot high effigy of the mayor and burn them at one of their November 5th events, widely acknowledged as being the most vicious and dangerous Bonfire celebrations in the whole of the UK.

Nov 10, 2014 at 4:50 am rating: 90

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#8 The Elf

When I read signs like this, I mentally add a “Meow” to the end of it. Even real life cats aren’t that catty.

Nov 10, 2014 at 7:09 am rating: 90

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- #8.1 DaveS
  
  Well I suppose that would depend on whether it was an indoor cat or an outdoor cat. See the difference is…
  
  Wait … why is that mob with pitchforks and torches coming this way?
  
  Nov 10, 2014 at 1:48 pm rating: 90
- #8.2 Madrias
  
  I’ve solved my problem of not being able to decide on whether to carry the pitchfork or the torch, so I wrapped the pitchfork in oil-soaked rags and set it on fire.
  
  Now, does someone have a debate they need set ablaze?
  
  Nov 12, 2014 at 2:48 pm rating: 90
- #8.3 Clumber
  
  Always remember the 5th of November, of gunpowder, treason, and plot!
  
  May 1, 2015 at 7:39 am rating: 90
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#9 kaetra

Since it’s a bookstore I can’t help but imagine the main character from “Black Books” scribbling up this display in a drunken fit of rage. (Special thanks to Netflix for keeping me 14 years behind in British sitcoms.)

Nov 10, 2014 at 8:57 am rating: 90

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- #9.1 Dave
  
  14 years behind British sitcoms is a pretty decent place to be. There’s not been much of note since then. The IT Crowd maybe, but not much else in the multi-cam, laugh track genre.
  
  Nov 10, 2014 at 9:55 am rating: 90
- #9.2 lj
  
  Coupling maybe?
  
  Nov 11, 2014 at 6:55 am rating: 90
- #9.3 lj
  
  Just realized that’s also 14 years old. Whoa, I’m old!
  
  Nov 11, 2014 at 6:57 am rating: 90
- #9.4 NonnyMus
  
  I like “Spaced”, “The Mighty Boosh”, “This is Jinsy”, “Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy”, “The Armstrong and Miller Show”, French and Saunders’ Specials, “Moone Boy” and “Count Arthur Strong” (TV Series). I also like “Man Stroke Women”, “Hyperdrive”, and “Smack the Pony”, although those are older.
  
  Granted, comedic tastes vary and mine are offbeat.
  
  Nov 14, 2014 at 11:12 am rating: 90
- #9.5 Butagirl
  
  Have you tried “Toast of London”?
  
  Nov 24, 2014 at 3:14 pm rating: 90
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#10 lj

Just realized that’s also 14 years old. Whoa, I’m old!

Nov 11, 2014 at 6:57 am rating: 90

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#11 Moray Coulter

I live in Lewes. The Dylan Moran character in Black Books is an obsequious toady by comparison with the lady who runs the Fifteenth Century Bookshop, I write as someone who has actually tried to buy a book from her. The ‘most photographed building in Lewes’ was apparently not invited to take part in a vast installation across the town where buildings display photos of themselves over the last 150 years in their windows. I am reminded of the bad fairy who was not invited to Snow White’s christening. In 16 years, Lewes may disappear behind a thick forest for the next century.

Nov 11, 2014 at 10:53 am rating: 90

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- #11.1 Moray Coulter
  
  Reading my note above, it sounds more critical than I’d intended. Lewes is a dissenting, contrarian society which attracts and supports quirky characters. The Fifteenth Century Bookshop, and its misanthropic owner, add to the town rather than detract from it. She would be sorely missed if her shop was absorbed by a chain store or converted into just another twee residence. It’s fun to visit the shop, but best not done if feeling insecure!
  
  Nov 11, 2014 at 11:06 am rating: 90
- #11.2 kaetra
  
  Quite an about-face there sir.
  
  Nov 11, 2014 at 12:31 pm rating: 90
- #11.3 kermit
  
  Maybe it’s just me, but I like judgmental bookstore owners, especially for people who don’t necessarily know how to refine their literary taste. Everyone needs help refining their literary taste and a grumpy bookstore clerk is just the person for the job because librarians are too agreeable.
  
  I miss my local used bookstore guy who was forced to relocate out of the downtown core because the building owner conglomerate raised his rent beyond reason. Now the building sits empty because apparently it makes more sense to have no rental income and have half a block of vacant storefronts (for over a year and counting).
  
  Nov 12, 2014 at 3:16 am rating: 90
- #11.4 The Elf
  
  It’s just you.
  
  Nov 12, 2014 at 6:46 am rating: 90
- #11.5 Rattus
  
  Yeah, just you. While I am marginally ashamed by this, I was pretty gleeful when Nicholas Hoare went out of business. I loathe snotty bookstores and all the condescending shopclerks they employ. If I want to read Fyodor Dostoevsky AND Stephen King, Sinclair Lewis AND Harlan Coben, George Orwell AND Michael Connelly, that is my right. They can shove their supercilious opinions up their Madeline-crapping asses.
  
  Nov 12, 2014 at 8:29 am rating: 90
- #11.6 kermit
  
  It’s that kind of aiming to please everybody and not offend anybody attitude that make me really really glad that Oprah’s Book Club is no longer active (I hope).
  
  Just because someone makes fun of you for reading/liking X, doesn’t mean that you should take it personally, geez. It’s no different than sports, and cheering for different teams. Literary arguments are supposed to be fun.
  
  Nov 12, 2014 at 12:42 pm rating: 90
- #11.7 Sarah
  
  Hmmm. Snobby record store clerks are roundly derided for being pretentious nitwits; I don’t see why bookstores should be any different.
  
  Nov 12, 2014 at 2:48 pm rating: 90
- #11.8 The Beast Among Us
  
  I get all my best literature from PassiveAggressiveNotes dot com! It’s better than any paid author anywhere.
  
  Nov 13, 2014 at 5:45 pm rating: 90
- #11.9 Yossarian
  
  No, Moray, you were right the first time. The owners are awkward and mean spirited and very passive aggressive – this sign should be taken as proof of that. And also they have big signs on the door that you are not allowed to take photographs inside their shop, so this moan shown here has some chutzpah. Even using the internet or looking up your notes on books you’re looking for on your smartphone will incur their wrath. See reviews here http://www.inprint.co.uk/thebookguide/shops/location1.php?loc=South%20East&locc=East%20Sussex
  
  Nov 25, 2014 at 4:48 am rating: 90
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#12 Sarah

Hmmm. Snobby record store clerks are roundly derided for being pretentious nitwits; I don’t see why bookstores should be any different.

Nov 12, 2014 at 2:46 pm rating: 90

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#13 humoradda

The shopkeeper is ingenious to put these kinds of display

Nov 18, 2014 at 10:41 am rating: 90

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#14 torontooooo

Kermit: I am guessing Pages on Queen in Toronto. Though i am sure the same thing is happening in cities around the world.

Nov 20, 2014 at 2:27 pm rating: 90

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